TTC after SPD/Pelvic girdle pain

[sillyworriedmama]

has anyone else been through this? First time round I had a miserable pregnancy with SPD (crutches/codeine etc). I would love to TTC but I'm pretty scared. I don't know if I can do anything to protect myself or prepare this time. My DS is nearly one. I know advice is to wait 3 years or more if possible, but I am torn between being 'sensible' and waiting, and having the family I always planned... I guess if anything it would just be nice to have some people to talk to if/when we get that far!

[thelittlefriend]

bumping this as I'm ttc and had spd the first time too. Will look with interest at any answers!

[sillyworriedmama]

hi thelittlefriend :) welcome to the thread! Will be good to chat even if it's just the two of us! Did you have postnatal probs as well? I think I finally felt myself again about 9m after DS was born. Had physio for 7m. It's all be a bit of a palaver! How old is your LO?

[thelittlefriend]

Ah, well you might not like me for saying this, but I felt immense relief from the pelvic pain as soon as she was born. I could even tell when I was laying on the delivery bed! Sounds like mine might have been a bit milder than yours though as I managed without crutches. My dd is 20 months and we are now trying for #2. I'm a bit fitter than I was when I fell pregnant the first time which I'm hoping might help. I think I'll be relying on a lot of support from family if I do get it again though, as there is no way I'll be able to lift a toddler and I'm a SAHM!

[sillyworriedmama]

ah, that's good that it resolved. I am always happy when other people have a better experience! But I was talking to a friend yesterday who is TTC and having trouble, and although it's totally diff issues it was nice to have someone to chat to who doesn't think having a baby is all a bed of roses. I do want another LO and I will go through it again, but it's just not the same when getting preggo is likely to mean needing a carer for my DS, a wheelchair for me, or months of teeth gritting to get through it all. I don't think I'd be able to lift him either. He's 11mo and 22.5lbs!

Also, everyone who is close to us keeps saying how awful it was, and isn't it going to be years before we'd go through that again? I just know if I announced I was upduffed that the reactions would be negative first. They would be happy for us in the end, and I know it would be about them not wanting me to be in pain, but still... If I'm honest about it, I feel a bit cheated by my last preg, it was such bloody hard work! I have everything crossed that it won't come back (except my legs lol) but I'm prepared for the worst this time... at least I wouldn't be shocked.

[thelittlefriend]

I'm sure people will be surprised when I eventually get pregnant again too. I'm sure they think all I did was complain throughout the last one, so I wouldn't want to go through it again. It just goes to show, a baby is sooo worth the pain.

[sillyworriedmama]

completely! 100% worth it :)

[notcitrus]

Been ttcing for 2 years for no.2, finally 9 weeks in - and starting to get SPD already.
My regrets from last time round (got very bad round 17 weeks, signed off commuting from 22 weeks, using wheelchair for last 2 months, pretty much OK by 3 months post-birth and that was building all my muscle up again!) - I should have taken time off sick earlier, and hired a wheelchair earlier. And not embarked on the loft conversion of doom (short version: should havebeen done pre-dc, got roof on when he was 6 months, he got his bedroom for his 2nd birthday).

So I'm working from home when I can (er, like now, honest!), and have dug out the walking stick already - do get a stick, as apart from being really useful to lean on, it's a magic talisman to get people to give you seats! And for picking your bag off the floor. And when probably necessary will phone up wheelfreedom.com again, who were totally fantastic last time. Assuming the not-very-local Red Cross can't help. If I can't get outside much over the winter, I'm not that bothered - the internet can deliver everything I need.

Apparently the risk of getting bad SPD again is only 50%, too.
Good luck!

[sillyworriedmama]

good luck notcitrus! I hope it is at least managed better this time, I completely know where you're coming from about taking advice earlier this time. I hung in there trying to work right til the bitter end despite all evidence to the contrary that it was a bad idea lol. Next time I'll take my sick note as soon as I'm offered one and put my feet up (if I need it, FC for not!). It's a rubbish thing to have to put up with, but I'm working through my emotions around DS's pregnancy (felt cheated out of a 'normal' pregnancy). It's pg, but not as we know it Jim... well done for being brave and going for it. Let us know how you get on, and come back for a chat anytime!

We're NTNP (not trying, not preventing) at present, trying not to psyche myself up for anything and just take it as it comes this time around. What will be will be, and if nothing else, at least I know how to handle it this time. I'd not heard of wheelfreedom before, thanks for the tip :)

here's hoping you have the best pg you can! By the way, how old is your DS now? Did you wait a long time to try again? I'm not sure about the whole wait and see thing... I feel like we should ttc when it's right for us, regardless of the SPD, but maybe I'm looking through rose tinted glasses?

[notcitrus]

Hi silly - ds is 3 in Sept - I've been ttc for over 2 years as it took so long to conceive first time round. So started ttc before all the rest of antenatal class etc and finally preg after they've all had no.2.
I found apart from work I could do stuff I really wanted while pregnant (I live under 100 yards from a bus stop) - I use the net for everything anyway. I'm more worried about keeping my feet warm in winter! Suspect ds may watch more telly that is strictly desirable over the next year though. But at least he's old enough to be mainly out of a pushchair, starting to get sense, be able to bring me things, etc.

So I'm fairly optimistic atm though off work for a couple days thanks to other medical problems (one reason why the SPD wasn't such a shock, just one more for the long list of ways my body is buggered...). So can catch up on a bit of kip!

[OwlMother]

I had hideous SPD with ds1, lots of physio, mainly after giving birth. Three years later I was pregnant with dd1, the pain started virtually right away. Basically I was hardly mobile for the entire pregnancy. Eventually they induced me on my due date as my mobility was so poor.

BUT there was no pain after delivery, relatively speaking. This was such a relief as first time round most of the pain was post delivery. Two years later I had ds2. This time no pain in either pregnancy or afterwards. Little niggles, but nothing major.

Doesn't seem to be a whole lot of logic to it. Still do follow all the rules though, knees together getting in and out of the car and bath etc.

Good luck - hope it goes well for you.

[sillyworriedmama]

ooh ~Owl that is encouraging (painfree 3rd preg that is, not hideous 2nd one!). Just knowing it sometimes doesn't come back is great. notcitrus I think telly is forgivable! LOL hmm is there anyway to get around the pushing a push-chair if you're in a wheelchair yourself? I'm not updiffed yet so it's not strictly relevant but I'm interested anyway. Do you just pop them on your lap or is there a better way to go out with a toddler and a wheely?

[notcitrus]

silly - I've seen a woman with an electric wheelchair with a sort of baby harness on her chest for her now-toddler, but ds is now large enough that I think it would be best to just have him sit on me, or walk/scoot alongside.

Been advised to get a cheapy ultralight pushchair to avoid the problems of wrestling his into sheds at nursery (Maclaren XT still heavy when you have to lift with one hand). And will have to take side off his cot as soon as we put a stairgate across his bedroom door - any morning benefits of him being able to play will likely be counteracted by him wanting to play at nighttime...