Bad SPD/PGP and labour

[naomi79]

Hi, am 39+2 and my SPD/PGP has suddenly taken a turn for the worst on my right side so much so that I can barely walk and am dragging my right leg like quasemodo!!
What I wondered from fellow sufferers was is this going to impact on my plans for an 'active' birth!!! I realise I may not be able to walk around as much as I had planned, but it won't make me bed bound will it?? I am trying for a VBAC so really don't want to lie down as know this is a very bad position for a successful labour, but I should be able to still cope birthing on my knees shouldn't I?
Been having quite strong intense 'contractions' this morning so am wondering whether it is actually something to do with impending birth??? any help/tips/advice would be gratefully recieved!!! :)

Hello, I asked about this for DC1 when I had very bad SPD - and lots of people reported having surprisingly easy and OK VBs, so I think you could be fine. Water sounds like a good choice, if that's an option, although maybe not allowed for VBAC?

What happened to me in the end was, I started out in birthing centre, trying to move around as much as possible, but combination of SPD pain and baby turning into a bad position (transverse?? at some point during labour! he'd been head down to start with!) meant that the pain became unbearable, and I couldn't actually move.

That, and meconium in the waters, meant I got moved to general labour area, and got stuck on my back with epidural, and ended with EMCS.

That's me though, and I don't see why you couldn't try to be as active as possible. I suspect the baby's bad position made SPD bad, because I was fine for the first couple of hours, kneeling, moving around, using a bit of G&A. Stick to your guns and keep moving around/kneeling if you can. If you physically can't bear it, you'll know, and you can then try something else - work out your backup plan and let DP know so you can tell midwife/doctor. I can't believe I got bullied into forceps (legs yanked apart by doctor who said it didn't matter, silly cow)...get your DP to advocate for you if you can't.

good luck!

I've had three labours with severe SPD.

#1 I stayed on my knees, leaning forward onto the low bed in front of me. I refused to move legs apart - they were about a foot apart at the knees.

#2 was a waterbirth. Oh it was bliss as I could move myself around in the water. It was also just 3 hours long.

I was in water for the first half of #3 and it was a replica of #2. Then DC dropped into my pelvis at a weird angle and I spent hours moaning "oooh my pelvis" and refusing to move. One MW was determined to make me walk up the stairs sideways and lunge around - things which I know would have caused me great pain after the birth, luckily the other MW pointed out it wasn't a good idea. Eventually they convinced me to move to the sofa and I eventually birthed in left lateral position.

I would say SPD was a positive in the first two labours and the cause of the problems in the last. My very first labour was mostly in stirrups and the pain caused by that position was the worst pelvic pain - and I hadn't had SPD in that pregnancy!

I'd check how many pillows they have at the hospital and bring some more in if need be - I had really bad SPD but managed to get into the MLU pool (wonderful!) and do most of the rest of the birth on all-fours propped up on a mountain of pillows, even eventually with epidural attached!
MWs said MrNC's role would be to help haul me about, and also to get some string and loop it round my knees and ensure no idiot tried to open my legs any further than comfortable. Luckily they didn't try though he watched anyway, as the string disappeared probably as soon as I was checked in!

My vagina and pelvis recovered really quickly after birth, which was good, though if you're on painkillers for the SPD take them to hospital with you in case you have to stay after birth and they cock up getting them to you - I did end up shouting "Yes my vagina is fine. My pelvis hurts like buggery. WHY DO PEOPLE KEEP WAKING ME UP AND ASKING HOW MY VAGINA IS???" - MrNC did point out that I had just given birth, but that really wasn't painful even the next day, whereas my pelvis took over a week to recover (and then a couple months to build all my muscles up again!)

I was told that worse position would be on back with legs up and the best would be on all fours. Fortunately had water birth so easier to do all fours position as rest arms on the step.
If you have had physio get them to write on maternity notes and get your birth partner to inform medical staff about your spd.

I had really bad SPD, laboured on all 4s and gave birth kneeling using the back of the bed for support. My SPD was no problem at all but it took 4 weeks for it to get any better and is still a bit painful 7 weeks on

I had a stirrups forceps birth with DC1 - nightmare that meant it took months to get rid of the spd. For info, when preparing for DC2, my physio gave me info about how (if I had needed stirrups again) they can be fixed so your legs aren't so far apart.

DC2 was a water birth - brilliant and easy to change position. I spent the first few hours until labour was established mostly on a birth ball and using a tens machine which helped a lot. Even if you're not allowed a waterbirth for VBAC I'd strongly recommend using water to support you in early labour. Most delivery suites have nice big baths.