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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask to be induced at 37 weeks due to SPD?

35 replies

Februaryblooms · 03/03/2019 18:28

Is it a possibility? am i being unreasonable on behalf of my unborn DD to even consider asking?

I'm 32 weeks now and I'm in so much pain, that in itself I can just about deal with but it's beginning to have an impact on poor DS (toddler) who I'm struggling to bathe, dress, take out and do much with.

I have a scan tomorrow to check on growth and the position of my placenta which was completely covering the OS at my last scan. AIBU to bring this up or will I appear selfish?

OP posts:
LeSquigh · 03/03/2019 18:42

I think you will struggle with that. I had a c section booked in at 39 weeks for placenta issues which caused bleeding and they absolutely would not do it at 38 weeks even though I cried Smile.

I have also had SPD so I know how horrible it is. They wont risk the baby's health for that I imagine. And in addition, my experience of induction was fucking horrible so I would never recommend that. I would take SPD every time, and I was on crutches.

QuickRedFox · 03/03/2019 18:47

I don’t think they will at 37 weeks as this is no longer considered full term. It’s ‘early term’ and is associated with increased negative outcomes for the baby compared with 38 weeks. So you could ask for 38 weeks.

BishopBrennansArse · 03/03/2019 18:49

You can ask but I don't think they will that early...

PrincessPee · 03/03/2019 18:57

Also you need to think about how favourable your body will be for at induction at 37 weeks - if your cervix is long and closed and posterior then it’s likely to be a looooooong process so by waiting a few weeks more your giving your body chance to do some of it itself and make the IOL process a little easier!

PrincessPee · 03/03/2019 18:57

But very much depends on your obstetrician and hospital guidelines!

Flopjustwantscoffee · 03/03/2019 18:59

Have you had any physio advice? I had really bad spd and it made a huge difference. Also though, induction is supposed to be pretty unpleasant so you can’t really win pain wise :(

Spaceman101 · 03/03/2019 19:00

I wouldn't. I was advised to have a Cs at 37 weeks for medical reasons and my son had to spend a week in special care as his lungs were underdeveloped

RandomMess · 03/03/2019 19:03

Please try an osteopath (check they have the additional qualifications for treating pregnant women) I went in needing crutches and after 2 treatments was much improved. You need to rest rest rest and use ice packs (frozen peas).

Darkstar4855 · 03/03/2019 19:05

I would wait and see what the scan shows as if your placenta is still covering the os you may well end up having to have a C section anyway and they will do it relatively early so as not to risk you going into labour. Don’t worry about induction unless you have to.

scaredofthecity · 03/03/2019 19:12

I begged but wasn't allowed one, they eventually agreed to see me on my due date and induced me a few days after. DS was 16 days late so this was something I guess.

I can really recommend acupuncture, it really helped me although isn't cheap. I decided it was worth it as I didn't really have any other options. The codeine made my head so fuzzy I couldn't look after my toddler, and I couldn't function without it as the pain was too bad.

It's shit I'm sorry. Flowers

My DD is 9 months now and it is all a distant memory but I will never forget the pain. It's horrendous.

Sunshineandalltherainbows · 03/03/2019 19:26

You can only ask. Don’t be surprised if they say no. I have kidney and bladder problems and at 36 weeks could no longer self catheterise the male doctor didn’t seem to realise that having a massive bump got in the way of physically doing it!! I had to go in to get catheterised and had a bag attached but then it fell out with the balloon inflated I swear to god that’s the worst pain and made the subsequent indunction seem like a walk in the pan. One doctor even originally said no after the epic catheter problem but a lady consultant who had seen the event booked me in for indunction at 37 weeks but said they don’t normally like to do it as even a week makes a difference. I feel for you it must be really painful 😟

Sunshineandalltherainbows · 03/03/2019 19:27

Park not pan 😂

IggyPoppers · 03/03/2019 19:28

Have you done any prenatal yoga? It really helped my spd. Even a few minutes in a modified downward dog really helped.

Fiveredbricks · 03/03/2019 19:30

Unless you're hyper mobile already or at risk of further damage then no it's not likely. It's awful but not much can be done about it. What straps, belts or physio have they given you?

nutbrownhare15 · 03/03/2019 19:32

SPD is treatable. See www.pelvicpartnership.org.uk for advice and list of recommended practitioners. I went to the one nearest me at 31 weeks, limped in walked out pain free.

5SleepingLions · 03/03/2019 19:34

When I was pregnant with my ds I had to see my consultant at 34 weeks
I could barley walk,I was on crutches and had to drag my legs to walk due to spd it was awful.
I just broke down to my consultant and told her I couldn't do this anymore and she immediately said we will induce you at 37 weeks and I was.
He was born 37+1 weighing 9lb 2oz and walked out of the hospital with no crutches.
So I would ask and see what they say.

Original poster
Februaryblooms · 03/03/2019 19:35

Thanks for the replies!

I haven't had any physio. My MW said the referral would likely take longer than I have left so she advised some ways of minimising the pain and suggested buying a support brace(?) online.

I had this with DS but not even half as bad as this time around. There will be 14 months between them so that's probably not helped matters Blush

I've no experience of induction personally so wasn't aware it would be any more traumatic than going into labour naturally. It would appear I've been naive on that front so need to do some research before my request the MW/hospital.

I had complete placenta previa with DS which moved by itself against all odds at 34-36 weeks so I'm hopeful I'll have a similar experience this time, though of course it's absolutely correct that if it doesn't shift itself then I may be headed for a CS regardless.

Nobody has suggested acupuncture to me before now so I'll definitely consider it. There are a bunch of places locally which offer it, or would I need to see somebody who specialises in pregnancy?

I absolutely want to avoid DD being born too early and if 37 weeks would mean she has breathing problems then I certainly wouldn't push for it, I'd rather struggle on its just so painful I could cry some days Sad

OP posts:
5SleepingLions · 03/03/2019 19:36

I walked out with no crutches not him Grin

RandomMess · 03/03/2019 19:39

Definitely ring around and speak to any practitioners - are they qualified to treat someone pregnant and are they experienced!

User12879923378 · 03/03/2019 19:42

I had a monstrously difficult pregnancy for all sorts of reasons - obstetric cholestasis, gestational diabetes and borderline pre eclampsia by 36 weeks - and they refused to deliver at 37 weeks until at 36+5 blood tests showed that my liver had basically turned green and gone hexagonal. They were adamant I had to wait until 38 weeks before that.

FWIW I had a planned c-section for medical reasons and although she was and is fine she was on the blue side when she came out and needed oxygen although she was breathing and crying and we did get a cuddle first. I'm not overlooking how you must be feeling but 37 weeks is early term and if you can cope until 38 weeks I probably would in your shoes.

pancakes22 · 03/03/2019 19:43

I second osteopath. Currently going once a month to treat my SPD and it's like he is a magician. Doesn't solve it and it reoccurs but just helps. He often talks about how getting the pelvis into the right position through whatever he does will help not only the spd but also the birth by getting baby into right position or something along those lines so I'm really hoping that continuing to go will help me avoid induction when the time comes. Had induction with my first and would not recommend.

Bunnybaubles · 03/03/2019 19:45

I wonder why physios at hospital don't treat it if it's treatable?? I was at hospital a few times because SPD was so bad. I had physio - so unhelpful, a belt, and crutches. And after giving birth, my SPD got a million times worse and I was bed-ridden, the hospital's physio had to come see me on the postnatal ward to offer me more of the previous unhelpful advice. She told me it's untreatable 🤷‍♀️

User12879923378 · 03/03/2019 19:46

They did say they would do it for my mental health and I was sorely tempted but they said something like every extra day in utero is worth a week in intensive care. I won't lie, though, I was very relieved when the liver results came back and they moved it forward.

oliviatrivia · 03/03/2019 19:48

I really sympathise as I had severe SPD from the middle of my second trimester with my second and couldn’t walk more than about 5 metres from 35 weeks onward. It was shit for my eldest (who was one at the time) but in retrospect it didn’t do him any damage to spend a few weeks at home watching a lot of TV.

It is definitely worth asking - I was induced at 38 weeks for a medical reason and the baby was absolutely fine. Talk through all your options with your midwife and see what she says.

My SPD disappeared pretty much as soon as I gave birth, if that is any consolation.

oliviatrivia · 03/03/2019 19:49

(Physio and osteopath didn’t offer any relief, for me, unfortunately).