Impact of SPD on birth

[cardamomginger]

Hi,
Am 39 weeks today with DC1 and over the last few days have developed SPD. Am seeing a specialist physio tomorrow for help, and to get a proper diagnosis, but I am pretty certain it is SPD as my pelvis has suddenly gone all "clicky", lifting my legs is extremely painful, and the transition from sitting to standing and then walking is agonising.
I am on the homeward stretch and hopefully can get through the next week (or 3!) OK (have some acupuncture and reflexology booked for this week too). But 2 things are really worrying me. I am planning to use the MW led birthing centre and to be as active as possible during birth. I'm now very worried that the SPD is going to impose limitations on how I can give birth. I really want to avoid interventions as far as I can. The second thing I'm worried about it whether the SPD will, albeit indirectly, increase my chances of being induced - something I am trying to avoid. My reasons for being scared of this are that as this is DC1 I am bound to "go over" my due date, and some of the activities recommended for getting reluctant babies to shift (long walks, bouncing on the birthing ball, sex, walking up stairs sideways) are impossible for me right now.

Does anyone have any words of wisdom or encouragement???

Are there pools in the birthing unit? I found being in water fantastic for SPD pain relief and keeping mobile. Re getting babies moving, I tried all the active things as much as I could, but what worked in the end was a lovely sensual back massage from dp and a bit of nipple tweaking - both very possible with SPD

Yeah - there are pools, and am hoping to use one of them. Will get DH primed for massage .

I've suffered varying degrees since about 25 wks. At times getting up from my chair or walking across the room has been very painful, I need crutches for a short time.

I saw the hospita physio twice, try to get an appointment asap because it was very helpful to have a hip adjustment and to get advice on labour positions, some are going to suit more than others.

A friend who was housebound for weeks with a terrible case had a 'normal' birth recently, everyone I know who has had this has had a regular experience and the SPD has gone soon after birth. My physio went so far as to say SPD can work to your advantage in labour/delivery because the pelvis will open up so freely.

I felt the same as you when I was diagnosed, but I'm not worried now. Best advice I can give you is to move both legs at the same time, don't twist, keep your pelvis 'straight' when you move (get up and down and in and out of the car etc) for example move one leg out of the car, then the other then pull yourself around then up and out of the car. Dont' try to get up with one foot out (if you understand). Exercise has been out of the question but sitting on a birth ball and small hip circles is fine for me, keeping upright and resting.

As for more info on labour, I will have to let you know I'm 40+4 today!

I had SPD (from around 18 weeks, using a wheelchair for the last 2 months), and was told by every MW etc to make sure that my knees were never moved more than comfort-distance apart and MrNC's job would be to ensure that. Kneeling and other non-supine positions were encouraged.

The beanbags and birthing pool were fab. Turned out that after 10 hours my pelvis got even worse, but that was really really rare. And an epidural sorted it out beautifully (ventouse delivery in the end).

I'd recommend lots of kneeling over your birthing ball and watching good DVDs!

Thanks guys. Good luck sedgie!! Have specialist physio appointment tomorrow afternoon. Thought it would be quicker to sort out myself privately than go through the hospital - have had my last pre-due-date MW appointment, so by the time I'd got a MW appointment and had been referred to a physio, I figured kiddo could well have pitched up... As much as anything, this feels like such a shock - last weekend I was at the gym, doing my pilates, etc! Makes me realise even more than I already did just how lucky I've been. And that's what it is - luck.

I had SPD and I had a really easy birth. Infact I had a three minute second stage. SPD makes your ligaments so soft and stretchy that the baby just slips out.

An obstetric physio will advise on a good birthing position. I was advised to give birth kneeling or on all fours. I found a birthing ball helpful towards the end of my pregnancy.

It is a good idea to find out far you can comfortably open your legs and get ribban, cut it to length. If you have to be on your back and have an epidural its very easy to put your legs too far appart and cause permament damage.

"really easy birth".... "3 minute second stage".... "so soft and stretchy that the baby just slips out".....!!! This is music to my ears!!!! Good advice reallytired - thank you!

Hi I also had spd which was discovered at 21 weeks pregnant with 3rd child.
trust me its hard to explain to people the pain and discomfort you go through just doing everyday things - bath, car stairs, getting in and out of bed,walking.
i have had 2 other pregnancies with no spd at all, so was in shock to discover this!!!!! never heard of it before!
Labour was easy and hardly any pain at all! and 45 mins in total and 4 pushes my son was born!
explain to the midwife and make sure you know your limits and dont ignore pain may cause more damage! as soon as i had my son all spd was gone, no pain and can do all of the mentioned above without any problems at all!

Good luck and i pray all goes well with you.

I've been through this and was also told that it helps your pelvis flex (and it's a time when every little bit helps). I also had very short 2nd stages (longest was 11 mins) and had no trouble with 1st stage labour on a birth ball.

I saw an osteopath post natally to make sure everything had gone back straight.

Hi I'm 7months PP still with SPD problems, but no where near as bad as I was in pg, I was like Citrus. I was hoping for a lovely water birth, and I am not here to scare anyone only to offer my experience.
I was induced at 42 weeks and the contractions were not as painful as my SPD, my hip and pubic joint pain were excruciatingly painful with each contraction, then I was told as my waters had broken for so long I'd have to be put on the syntocin drip. I was strapped to the bed literally, the drip made it even more painful, I had an epidural which I didn't want but was begging for as the gas and air made me sick. The epidural only worked on half of my body meaning my RHS took some beating with all the contraction pain.
My baby was not descending (no wonder me on my back), and although fully dilated I ended up with an emergency section.
I think you just have to go with what happens - you won't know til it happens, it was such a relief to get the baby out and have the contractions stop. I am still seeing a physio and am only just now beginning to feel a bit more normal.

I suppose the good thing for you (if you can call it that) is that your SPD has been late in showing up, I had mine since around 18 weeks and was housebound since 24ish weeks. Nightmare, first pregnancy. My words to you are don't do anything that hurts you, don't open legs too far or stand on one leg when putting clothes on etc., Take it really easy and hopefully you will be back to normal right after the birth.
Good luck x

Oh indigo - so sorry you have such a horrid time. And that you still are. You are quite right - I am so lucky it has only hit me now. I've read heart-rending threads on MN from women who have suffered so badly for so much of their pregnancies. Awful. I saw the obs/gynae physio today and she confirmed it is SPD/pelvic girdle pain. She did a bit of manipulation which has helped a bit and showed me the correct ways to stand/sit/walk/lie in bed/etc. Also showed me how I should and should not give birth and cautioned me to be careful in the pool as the comfort it provides may lull me into a false sense of security where I end up opening my legs too far. Measured how far I can open my legs and has written me a letter for the hospital. Am allegedly due on Sunday. But this is first baby so it's very possible I will be later than this. I was already concerned about the prospect of being urged to be induced, but the SPD adds a whole new dimension! Have another physio appointment next week in case kiddo doesn't pitch up on due date. Can only do my best to keep things together and hope for the best I guess.

cardamom Try not to worry and you will be fine, isn't it amazing what happens to our bodies? I am still in awe that I, created a baby!!
I couldn't lay on my side, in fact I am only beginning to be able to do that, if you are asked to lay on your side, see how it feels - if you get the clicking sensation, my physio has said that is fine (but I couldn't walk when mine clicked). After giving birth it is a relief to be able to be on your back to sleep, as I had forgot that I actually slept sitting up 3 months!
Lots of love to you xxx