to ask how SPD / PGP affected you while giving birth?

[wolfhound]

Posted here for high traffic.

My previous two labours were both done kneeling upright, and lifting knees alternately towards the end. Just gas & air.

This time, with SPD, that will be really painful - at the moment all sorts of movements are difficult. I am planning a waterbirth at home, which should help, but of course that may not go to plan.

Just wondering how other people with SPD managed during labour - what positions worked?

I spent most of my labour in the pool (which did really help) but couldn't deliver in there because the second stage was taking too long. I ended up lying on my side with DH supporting my top leg, which wasn't too painful.

thanks both. yes yellowdog, i am hopeful the pool will be good.
coffeedodger was the shoulder dystocia connected to the SPD or a separate issue?

My spd wasn't too bad by the time I gave birth as dd was 10 days late and it was that really hot summer in 2006, so I'd done lots of resting. Once I was in established labour I totally forgot about the spd!! So it didn't effect me at all.

It completely vanished after the birth but a few weeks later I was left practically immobile and in a hell of a lot of pain with what I thought was a bad back, but turned out to be my sacral iliac joint and the chiro said was to do with the spd. So I really recommend going to a chiro post birth and getting straightened out at the very least, I'm going to be seeing mine all the way through this preg (fingers x'd, got 12 wk scan tomorrow).

LIke Harrassed my SPD didn't bother me at all in the labour (ended up with epidural and c-section though), but a tip I was given is to see how far you can comfortably widen your legs now, and then tie a scarf around your knees so it is taut at the widest point. Then use this during labour to make sure you don't part your legs more than you can. This should stop any further strain to your hips and pelvis.

Check out the Pelvic Partnership webiste for some more tips, and there is an SPD sofa thread somewhere on here with lots of friendly advice. Good luck!

The pg where I had bad SPD was my first and she was a 4 day induction with ventouse and stirrups. I don't recommend that way to give birth!

I second AngryGnome's tip about finding out how far apart you can spread your legs and keep to it. I did it but because of the stirrups etc I had my legs much farther apart than was comfortable though by that point I had a gazillion epiduural top ups so couldn't feel anything (they could have amputated my legs and I wouldn't have noticed). Luckily I didn't suffer any ill effects and left my crutches in the car from getting home from hospital to returning the crutches at 12 weeks post partum.

I just wanted to add that I had a totally normal birth with just TENS and gas and air. Tried the pool, hated it! Got to birthing centre around 9pm and she was born 4 hours later.

However I wasn't on crutches at any point, but I had made sure I was well rested.

I only used gas and air and gave birth on my hands and knees. Unfortunately they had to put me in stirrups after the baby was born for some stitches but they were very good about it and didn't open too wide....I'm sure you know what I mean
It took me a good few months to recover completely from the SPD so make sure you take it easy for months and don't do anything to aggravate it.

I second what barbie says about being careful - mine was very much better immediately after delivery and I just assumed that everything would be fine and carried on as normal. Mistake: it still hasn't gone 10 months post-partum, and I've started having physio for it now.

Thank you all. gnome - i hadn't seen the Pelvic Partnership website before, so very useful, thank you. I'm looking into a private physio now, as it sounds like treatment would be a good idea (i'd got the impression it was just a 'put up and shut up' thing) - seems a bit difficult to find someone locally, but am persevering.

I saw an osteopath for it and it was actually quite helpful.
But the best thing you can do is wear your girdle ( I'm sure you've been given on) and don't move about too much. Nothing else that can be done as it's all down to the hormones so it's a case of preventing any injury. You will go back to normal after the birth, but again, take it easy!

coffee...same as you...natural birth but shoulder dystocia due to huge baby. He's absolutely ok but it was scary

I would recommend not lying on your back to push. I had SPD, and pushing on my back, with the midwife and DP holding my feet, caused me to have awful hip pain after the labour, and I needed crutches for 3 weeks after the birth. If I could have my time again I would have pushed kneeling up but at the time I just wanted DS out!!

thanks barbie, yes i will try and wear the girdle (find it rather uncomfortable too) - haven't been given one yet, but a friend passed on hers to me. how did you find your osteopath? was it someone with lots of experience of SPD? am trying to find a physio or similar locally.

itsnotacompetition - that sounds horrible, actually having just looked at the Pelvic Partnership website, they recommend against exactly that position (pushing feet against someone else) so will take your advice and not do that!

I don't think she had any SPD experience...but she worked on my lower back which was good as towards the end it was hurting quite a bit. Physios are very good for exercise advice and tips on how to get in and out of cars etc but osteopaths are defintely more hands on

I really took it easy and hardly walked anyhere, didn't push shopping trolleys, no hoovering...it was hard as I had a 3 year old during my second pregnancy when I first had SPD. My third pregnancy was even worse as I then had 5 year old and a 2 year old to cope with. And no family around

Luckily I recovered from both SPD pregnancies very well but I was very conscious of not hurting myself and taking it easy which was frustating but in the long run it's the best you can do otherwise your symptoms will just go on and on.
How far are you into the pregnancy?

itsnota....ouch! I really couldn't have imagined lying on my back and pushing, not surprised you ended up in crutches, poor you

Thanks Barbie. I'm 36 weeks now. I'm seeing a physio today, so will report back on how that goes. Like you, i've got two older ones (3.5 and nearly 2) so it's hard to take it easy - am limiting walking to a very local area and not pushing the buggy. Will post again after seeing the physio.