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Childbirth

SPD and giving birth

11 replies

comeagainforbigfudge · 06/05/2015 10:15

I have SPD which has been manageable but as bump grows bigger I'm starting to feel much more pain. I'm 34+5 and starting to worry I won't be able to push this baby out.

Does anyone have some lovely stories of how SPD disappeared during labour? (Wishful thinking!)

I know that I need to keep mobile during labour but the actual thought makes me feel sore.

I'm not really sure what I'm asking. Just hoping for some stories to reassure me as keen to avoid cs if possible (thinking worst case scenario is my speciality)

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MarvellousMarbles · 06/05/2015 10:21

I had SPD with DC3. I wasn't on crutches or anything, but it felt pretty severe, and I couldn't walk more than a few yards. Going upstairs or turning over in bed was very painful.

The birth was okay. I always give birth kneeling up holding on to the headboard of the bed, and that position worked okay for my SPD. It didn't feel any different to my previous non-SPD births. Pushing was no problem, in fact this was the only birth where I feel I worked out how to effectively push!

But I'd opted for a natural third stage (i.e. no injection to expel the placenta) and that didn't work as well - the midwife insisted I lie on my back for that, and it was agonising. It definitely made my SPD a lot worse, and the next day was very painful. Physiologist came round and found I had an 8cm separation of the abdominal muscles.

3 years on (and no more babies) and I'm fine. Muscles haven't completely knitted together, but I don't have any pain. I do have an unattractively pouchy stomach despite not being overweight. Physio said it would take surgery to get rid of that, and I'm not bothered enough to do that. I think Pilates would help too.

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2madboys · 06/05/2015 10:25

I had spd with my DS2 (almost 12 years ago!). I'd been resting a lot since about 12 weeks so I think that helped with my recovery, which was very good. One thing I remember is that at my midwife appointment, she measured how far apart my legs could be before I was in any pain. This went onto my birth plan and meant that the midwives at the hospital knew exactly how far I could go before doing any damage. If you have an epidural, this is really important as you might not feel the pain and could end up causing problems later on.

Due to a very quick labour I didn't end up having any pain relief so this wasn't really an issue.

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comeagainforbigfudge · 06/05/2015 11:44

Oh thanks for replying.

Yes I'm hoping to avoid an epidural, and the tip of measuring is a good one. Will mention at my next appointment.

Also getting the injection for third stage - I think I shall after that story! I've been looking into pilates classes already for once I've been deemed fit enough to exercise!

Thanks again

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Chickenfillets · 06/05/2015 14:46

I had what felt like the worst SPD ever from about 32 week to about 37 week. I could hardly walk, couldn't turn in bed, was so so painful. Then it did just disappear. No pelvic pain at all now

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3rdbump · 06/05/2015 18:30

I have spd now at 37 weeks. It's getting worse as the pregnancy goes on.
I also had it in my previous pregnancy and can honestly say it disappeared during labour _ I think the contractions override the pain tbh!!

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hibbledibble · 06/05/2015 19:46

I had severe SPD.

To treasure you, it has no effect on your ability to push. In fact it makes the second stage (pushing) far easier and quicker. My second stage was around 1 minute, with no active pushing. Dd quite literally fell out, and this is quite common in women with SPD.

As other posters have said, just be careful not to open your legs too far, especially if you have an epidural (best to avoid as you won't be able to feel when you could be causing damage).

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Tillyscoutsmum · 06/05/2015 19:51

Severe SPD here with DC2 (crutches from 27 weeks). I honestly didn't notice the pelvic pain during the birth. As a pp said, I think the pain of the contractions blocks it out Second stage was very quick and my 10lb 5oz baby was out in 2 pushes. I gave birth on a birthing stool which I would recommend to anyone (albeit the poor midwife had to lie on the floor like a wrestling referee to see what was going on ). No pelvic problems since then (DS is 5)

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comeagainforbigfudge · 07/05/2015 10:27

Oh this is all very interesting.

I do keep thinking that the contraction pain will override everything else! Hopefully my spd will disappear soon too

I have phoned the physio for advice and managed to sneak in an appointment tomorrow so she'll check my pelvis.

Thanks for all your advice/experiences

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MarvellousMarbles · 07/05/2015 10:49

hibble - interesting you say it's common for babies to 'fall out' when the mother's got SPD. That's exactly what happened with DC3. She shot out at high speed which startled the massed onlookers (she came a little bit prematurely so they'd packed the room in case she needed special care.) Luckily someone managed to catch her! And she was fine, despite being a bit early. I think the dates were just wrong, actually.

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CityDweller · 09/05/2015 14:48

Had SPD w/ DC1. No probs or particular pain related to that in labour. Spent pretty much all of it on my knees, in a birth pool (recommend highly), leaning on DH for support. SPD went away quite quickly after birth. A few problems since (around time periods started), but think that's related as much to underlying biomechanical issues I have (non preg related). Have been seeing an excellent women's health specialist Physio and doing targeted, clinical Pilates (ie taught by a Physio), which has def helped.
I'm now preg again and no significant SPD issues yet (am 18wks).