SPD and Labour/Childbirth - advice please!

[runnyhabbit]

I would really appreciate some advice!
I am 29 wks with my second baby, and have been diagnosed with SPD. I've been wearing a Fembrace for the past few weeks, and have been given crutches (although I haven't had to use them that much)
The physio has advised me is not to have an epidural, as I won't be able to feel any SPD pain iykwim. The thing is, I was doing really well with ds birth, only using G&A, but could not get past 9cms dilated. In the end, I had to have a ventouse (sp?) delivery, which meant having an epidural. I'm just concerned that this might happen again.
Is there anybody whose been in this situation, or anyone who can give some ideas on the best type of birth

bump

anyone?

Not sure about this but didn't want to leave you unanswered!

I would imagine that since you have already had one vaginal delivery, you might dilate more quickly and efficiently this time.

There are loads of people with spd experience on here though, so maybe bump again tomorrow?

Runny - I had spd a bit last time and they said the same - I did have an epidural at 3cm - so wouldn't know if was painful or not - the pain before epidural was so bad anyway couldn't have said where it was coming from! I had a ventouse too as was crap at pushing and he was OP and 10lbs... I have a friend who had really bad spd to the extent she needed a wheelchair and had an elective section simply beacuse she couldn't physically cope with labour.

I have been wondering myself I have to say - was hoping a birth ball will help and water to take the weight off - but would happily have another epidural if the pain was unbearable. I have a tens machine aswell which will hopefully block some of those pain signals! Nobody has mentioned labouring with spd yet - except about if they put your legs in stirrups to lift both legs at same time.

I had SPD with my second pregnancy (but not at all with my first). No experience of epidurals at all I'm afraid.

The only thing I was really advised was to measure the distance I could safely open my legs (measure distance between the knees)in a "standard" lying on your back labour position.

Make sure that this measurement is recorded on your birth plan and that your DP/DH keeps an eye on you not going beyond this as its easy, in the throes of labour to forget and open your legs too much, doing some damage.

Water births are supposed to be great if you have SPD. I was intendeing to have one and even got the labour room with the pool but DS arrived too quickly for them to fill it!

On a positive note (as I know how grim it is suffering with SPD) it is possible to get some instant relief as soon as the baby is born. I hobbled into hospital on crutches and, in comparison, almost skipped out afterwards without them! (, or as near to skipping as you can get after giving birth!)

some info on this thread

pelvic partnership site....for SPD sufferers

hi - i had bad SPD and found keeping active was helpful ... keeping upright and walking and staying off my back was good ... i did give birth on my back and was ok - i had gas and air only (1 shot of pethidine) ... try a water birth???? found being in a bath really helped.

midwifery site with birth stories and links to SPD

Thanks for all your advice/links

My physio has been very supportive, and at my next appt she is going to do a type of test (not sure of the actually name) which will measure how far apart my legs will go.

Betty-Thanks for the idea to make sure the measurement goes on my birth plan so dh knows.

12wks - not sure if you've already got one, but my mum bought me an exercise ball from Tesco for about £6. Seems to be helping already (the pump that comes with it is useless though - dh had to use the one out of the car!)

lulumama - thank you for the links (you are a mine of information )

welcome , hope it helps ! x

yep -got one off freecycle

Hi Runnyhabbit, just to add my experience, I had bad SPD and needed crutches and a wheelchair. The hospital physio measured the gap I could safely open my legs and attached a ribbon to my notes so everyone knew the distance.

I also found sitting on a birth ball invaluable leading up to the birth and used it throughout labour to take the pressure off my pubic bone. I was induced due to high BP and had a mobile epidural. I was very keen to try and remain active as much as I could to shorten labour so used the ball and when it came to the pushing went on all fours on the bed so knew the gap between my legs was OK.

2 pushes and she was out after a 3 1/2 hour labour without any tearing and I was sitting cross legged on the bed breast feeding her afterwards without any pain. Hope it all goes well for you.

Hiya,
Just want to let you know that when labour started with my dd, I physically had to be carried in by my dh due to not being able to walk (crutches, wheelchair, physically not being able to go anywhere etc). I didn't have an epidural, but I did ask for one. The reasons why I didn't have one were nothing to do with the SPD. My MW knew that I couldn't "open" my legs at all, so we had to move them anyway ifkwim.
I was told a water birth may have helped, but I couldn't actually get into the pool due to the height etc. I finally give birth just sitting up. (There are reasons why this had happened, but too many to go on here).
REally hope I haven't gone on too much, and I really feel for you.

I had spd wheni was pg with dd, not bad enough for crutches or that but bad enough. No experience of epidurals. During labour my spd was the last thing on my mind - pain was elsewhere. I did deliver on my side though as they recommended it as easier for me due to spd - not sure why.
I was induced due to high bp and was not allowed birth pool or even off the bed. Due LO number 2 in 17 days so all going well I will be able to keep active and hopefully use the birth pool which will hopefully help my spd which has been a whole lot worse this time - have had since 17 weeks!!

We got stuckat 5cm for over 20 hours, DS was not budging, ended up with a C section. my SPD was severe, and I couldn't walk after having DS, was in a wheelchair for some time, still have problems. Had xray when DS was 10 months old, to find that pelvis gap was large and had wear and tear, have had pain injections to help, just found out we are pregnant again and I am petrified of SPD coming back. I have been toldmy pain consultant if I was to have another child then I would have no choice but to have another c-section. You shouldn't really be having a ventouse delivery with SPD!

runny, had spd with my second preg, so bad I was housebound, used a pool at home for excellent pain management and again planned a waterbirth, only thing I found with water is that it can mask how far you can normall abduct your legs without pain on dry land, therfore you can do more damage, so to be aware of the restrictions the physio gives you next time. I am now 41+1 with my third baby and am suffering SPD but not as bad as last time, again have a pool at home and am finding it excellent pain management. The SPD did not resolve fully last time untill DD was 3 months, so be aware that the birth may not be the quick fix that others find. Good luck.

I had SPD, i was hoping for a waterbirth but ended up being induced and fully monitored due to waters breaking with no contractions so couldn't use pool.

During labour i didnt notice my SPD pain as the labour pain defo took over but i went from 0-10 cm in less than 4 hours so was obviously quite quick.

I did have an epidural but only near the end (think it was too late really but they didnt realise i was as dilated). I told mw about not having my legs too far apart and they were really good about this....

until...heartrate of DS dropped and stayed low so i had to be examined by Dr, who basically ignored by feeble protestations about my legs whilst she rummaged around, i ended up with an emergency cs so was then no longer an issue as far as SPD concerrened.

My SPD was immediately improved, i went from walking with lots of pain/difficulty pre-birth to feeling much better by the next day even with cs wound, this was sore but personally found it a much easier pain, didnt grind through you iykwim.

Could you discuss with your mw the possibility of attemping natural birth (with epidural if you need as long as they are aware of max width of your legs) but in the event of complications could you ask for immediate cs rahter than forceps or ventouse for which i imagine they will have to abduct your legs. I guess it depends how bad your SPD gets at the end on how strongly you may feel about this.

I am pg again and think i am going to ask for elective c-section as am v. worried about SPD as it seems it may be worse second time. Im only 9 weeks though so obviously will wait and see how things pan out. the whole cs vs vbac thing is a whole other issue anyway!!

There are lots of SPD management tips on here if you search, a recent one that seems good is getting a memeory foam mattress or mattress topper (cheaper option).