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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

SPD experiences?

15 replies

mandler · 21/08/2007 10:53

I was diagnosed with SPD at 19 weeks (now 33 wks). This is my first pg so as well as the usual fears and worries about what on earth childbirth will feel like, I am really worried about how SPD will affect things.
I have been to a physio and osteopath throughout and the pain is fairly manageable, but getting worse as I get bigger.
Anytime I mention labour and delivery and what I should do though, no-one, onc GP or midwife has much advice on making sure I don't worsen the condition.
Anyone have any tips or advice to share on what to do/not to do when the time comes?
Thanks!

OP posts:

Phraedd · 21/08/2007 12:46

make sure that when you go into labour, your birthing partner makes everyone very, very aware as they do mot necessarily take much notice of your notes.

In the few weeks before your due date, Lay on your back, knees bent in front of you. See how wide your can comfortably open your legs and get someone to measure that gap with a piece of string.

Chaeck it every couple of days and when you go into labour, tell your midwives that that is how wide you can comfortably open your lags. Any wider and you can do seriuos damage and it will hurt so badly.

The condition will worsen and there is nothing you can do to stop that.

Did the physio show you how to get in and out of variuos items? Do you have a maternity belt? (might help...mine didn't)

Rest as much as you can whenever possible.

domesticgrumpess · 21/08/2007 12:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

bubblepop · 21/08/2007 13:20

hiya,well firstly do not worry about the pain of spd during childbirth,once labour is underway you will most probably forget all about it!
avoid giving birth on your back,you could try on your side,or on all fours.i would thoroughly recommend using a birthing pool, you can move around so much more easily.
make sure your midwife knows you are suffering with this and its written on your birth plan if you've made one.
finally make sure that when you are on the ward afterwards, that your bed is low enough for you to get in and out easily.ask for stronger pain killers if you need them,even if you plan to bf. the pain will gradually subside after the birth, but it may take a few weeks or even months so take it easy and don't expect too much too soon. good luck

morningpaper · 21/08/2007 13:24

I was in a right state with SPD for my pregnancies but it didn't affect giving birth in any way - things like getting enough rest early on were FAR more important for me

Tranquila · 21/08/2007 13:24

ditto domesticgrumpess and bubblepop

birth in water meant i could be on my knees, hanging onto the side and when youre in the tub, no-one is even allowed to touch you for eg to move your legs further apart than you wll have them, and you will automatically have them where it is comfortable.

nipplesonfire · 21/08/2007 16:44

I was treated by an osteopath who has this revolutionary treatment (don't ask me, I think osteopathy is mumbo jumbo) but it did work.

In terms of childbirth, mine cleared up at 38 weeks, very strange but there you go. Was much worse between weeks 16 and 28 though!

Tranquila · 21/08/2007 16:51

actually, so did mine - thats odd, ive never noticed anyone else say that before...

(i neglected to mention that bit as thought irrelevent to point really. nd i did give birth in that position which was brill for many reasons and would have also been perfect for the spd, if it had been there then.)

i took loads of arnica when i had spd. morn noon and night. whether thats what fixed it before i was full term...who knows? but worth a try?

Original poster

mandler · 21/08/2007 20:08

Thanks for the tips - seems to boil down to not lying on my back, tryng out water and no epidural (gulp!). Is arnica a natural painkiller and do I buy in in tablet form?
Have been coaching DH on spd, and now that he can remember the order of the letters I am depending on him to keep repeating it to midwives when I can't.
to be honest it isn't necessarily pain I am worried about it is doing more damage than I already have to the ligaments, there are always horror stories about pelvis splitting, and permanent disabilities which freaks me out....

OP posts:

ppprmntptti · 21/08/2007 20:13

I too am worried about possibly doing more damage, but trust my partner and midwife will help manage my labour closely.

Finding the belt helps a bit and so does the PT, but rest seems to be the key.

nipplesonfire · 21/08/2007 21:50

Mandler - think Arnica is good for bruising but don't know about painkilling. Labour doesn't hurt that much anyway

Tranquila · 21/08/2007 22:20

mandler - arnica is a homeopathic remedy for bruising. in my family we take it before an operation for eg, to aid healing afterwards.

i found that my spd seemed to lessen and then practically disappear a fair while before i reached term, and it was soon after i started taking arnica. whether it was the arnica or not, i dont know. i just had a hunch it might work and it seemed to.

having said that,i have read much on here which suggests to me that homeopathy is not something to be taken quite as lightly as i have previously. do some research (on here and/or elsewhere) if it sounds like something you'd like to try. make up your own mind.

pirategirl · 21/08/2007 22:24

i had spd still do, the only way the spd restricted me was in not being able to support my weight.

I desp wanted to crouch but didnt have the strength in my hips to do so.

As for the spd pain, when labour was full blown, i didnt even think about it. I didnt have an epidural, but wished i hadm but only becuase of the pain of the actual childbirth.

CarGirl · 21/08/2007 22:30

I was told not to give birth on my back so I went on all fours instead HTH

CarGirl · 21/08/2007 22:33

spd is very much linked to your hormone levels so perhaps they ones that affect spd the most start to lessen towards the end??

samih · 21/08/2007 22:44

shop around for a good physio
i have found one 11 months after giving birth and difference is amazing

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