Birth with SPD

[Carolinexxx]

Has anyone got any advise for giving birth with severe SPD. My last birth was horrendous because of the ignorance of the midwives to the severity I had this condition, now so scared I will get the same treatment!! need advise from someone who had a good birth experience with this problem! :(

I delivered on all fours which from memory I think is one of the few recommended positions. Also with subsequent births you are likely to have a much shorter pushing phase which helps.

I also paid for osteopathic treatment whilst pregnant, it helped so much, started off with crutches and was able to give them up!!!!

Practice saying "no" so when they ask to do x y z you have the confidence to say it.

Not got there yet, so what advice I have is theoretical... but this leaflet has some good stuff and can be printed off and shared with midwives etc

www.csp.org.uk/sites/files/csp/secure/acpwh_-_pregnancy-related_pelvic_girdle_pain.pdf

Hope that helps and that you have a much better experience this time!

I delivered ds2 kneeling up, leaning over the head end of the bed.

My spd was pretty horrendous and I was on crutches but this way seemed very comfortable (as comfortable as childbirth can be ).

Good luck

www.pelvicpartnership.org.uk/pregnancy-and-birth-with-pgp/birth-and-pgp-the-options.html

Also, can you see a chiropractor? Mine was amazing, at 36 weeks I couldn't walk, at 38 weeks he had me walking normally (for a pregnant woman anyway!)

Elective section for both - severe SPD, wheelchair bound by the end. Six months on from DS and I have fabulous manipulative physio who is fixing me gradually.

Caroline If you live anywhere near Cardiff I can also recommend an excellent physio.

horrendous SPD, crutches and wheelchair - fought tooth and nail for a water birth and it was amazing. I could move for the first time in months, and laboured incredibly quickly (3 hours to 9cm) as soon as I got in the water. If you need help to get in/out (I did) try to get them to let your hubby get in too and lift/support you to help you in. Didn't make it the whole way to delivering in the water but the water bit was the only enjoyable part of the my entire pregnancy/birth!! good luck. Also, arrange to meet your consultant/midwife at least at 36 weeks to discuss your birth plan AND have it agreed in writing. Arguing about it with busy and ignorant people on the day is awful... I had to, and next time will make sure I am heard WELL before I'm in labour.

Kneeling up, leaning over the end of the bed for me as well. As recommended by physio.

I put "I HAVE SPD" in capitals across the top of my birth plan :o and drove DP insane by the number of times I reminded him to tell midwives about SPD. Writing out a birth plan helped me get straight in my head what I wanted/needed as well as writing down a few points for midwives.

Epidurals are not recommended as you cannot feel any pain if you do get into an awkward position or open your legs too far.

Can you get to see a specialist physio? I can't recommend that enough. Am currently 35 wks with DC3, and on my third bout of SPD - not enough for crutches, but close. I've seen physios in all three pregnancies, and they have been really helpful.

And as for experiences ... midwives were always really supportive of my choices, particularly of not delivering lying on my back. I can't remember any specifically SPD pain during either labour, I used TENS and G&A for pain relief. I recovered fully after the first 2 births, am hoping for the same outcome this time.

On all fours, clutching the back of the bed.
Labour was a breeze compared to months of SPD. Least of my worries.

I had an epidural to give birth to my Son with SPD. I know an epidural is not advisory but it was apparently too late to be booked in to a C-section because I had already been induced 1/3 times. The doctor couldn't belive I wasn't booked in for a C-section as soon I as went into hospital because of the severity of my SPD, he said my pelvis would more then likely collapse durin birth but all he could do now was recommend an epidural and wish for the best!! However, Im so relieved I did have the epidural because the pain from the SPD while I was in labour was so immense. My body literally tried to shut down. Also, my Son went into distress and his heart came close to stoppin, my midwife set off the alarm, my legs were put into stirrups (obviously not advisory for SPD!) they cut me because I wasnt fully dilated and they pulled my Son out usin foreceps..thankfully my pelvis didnt collapse but I have been left with long-term SPD, 11 months on and it effects my right leg now too. Iam thankful I didnt have to feel any of that though because as I mentioned the pain from the contractions alone was unbareable...the entire experience was horrific.

I had severe SPD (wheelchair bound by the end) with 3 of the dc's (strangely not with no 3 of 4) and standing up with the bed raised up high so I could lean over it whilst standing was the best to deliver in for me. I LOVED the birthball to bounce on whilst in labour.
Tbh I think the months of pain made labour a lot easier esp as I only had gas and air and they were a good weight (9.12, 9.13 and 10.1oz).

Good luck.

Bright post-it on the front of your notes saying "I have SPD - knees must NOT be parted more than x cm AT ANY TIME"
Put partner in charge of ensuring this and demanding any internal exams be done on your side/seated.

I laboured in the pool in the MLU which was great except they made me get out after 8 hours of nothing happening. And then somehow the SPD got worse which is very rare and impressive given as I was in a wheelchair beforehand!
At this point the MW said "You know how you were scared of an epidural - would you like to reconsider?"

Epidural was fab! Did some pushing on all fours, had ventouse in the end and ds popped out. We were supposed to have a loop of string to keep round my knees to ensure no-one could open my legs but we lost it on the way to hospital.

And I recovered really quickly from birth though we should have ensured the hospital knew I was on 60mg codeine 4x daily, as I didn't get any until 36 hours after birth, by which time I was shouting "Why does everyone keep asking how my vagina is? My vagina is just fine thanks now get me some codiene for my hips!!!"

Or, y'know, just taken some from the stash in my bag, but we weren't very with it.

Postnatal exercise classes were excellent too - I was as fit as I've ever been by 3 months post-birth.

Maybe take extra pillows and an extra birth partner with you - hoiking me onto a mountain of pillows was quite an acheivement, but my birth was as good as a long labour could be.

Had SPD with my 2 - movement was extremely painful by the end of pregnancies but no problems in labour. I was kneeling leaning over beanbags both times and the SPD wasn't an issue (both births were 'natural'). Good luck!

I gave birth lying on my side, my knees drawn up quite far, as far as felt comfortable, and barely 30cm apart. Dh helped support my 'upper' knee, which also had him in a very good position for supporting me (the other sort of support!). The foot of that leg was on the midwife's shoulder. She put it there in a completely matter-of-fact way, as if this was quite normal.

It was a very good, comfortable, natural-feeling position in which to push. The SPD did not bother me in the least in that position.

Justlea, I wanted to say I'm so sorry about what you have gone through. Your experience sounds so very difficult and I'm sure there is a lot of emotional pain surrounding the experience.

I have severe Pelvic Girdle Pain and am ignoring doctors who don't think this is justification for an ELCS (booked in for next Tuesday). Even so, I'm concerned about long-term recovery and have got in touch with an osteopath who seems to get miracle (although not overnight!) cures. A friend has gone from wheelchair bound (postbirth) to absolutely normal under his care. Hopefully the link below will work, but please message me if it doesn't and you'd like his name. Good luck with everything.

www.guardian.co.uk/education/2002/may/30/medicalscience.healthandwellbeing