SPD - Does it mean problems in labour??

[MammaDavies]

Hi all,

I'm looking for some insight and a little reasurance. I'm 36+3wks ( 1st baby) and been suffering with SPD/PGP from about 30 weeks.

Had physio and have a belt to wear when moving about, asked physio about postions in labour, she said that I was not to put my legs in struips or on anyones hips/shoulders as it would make it worse.

Poss TMI but cant open my legs wider than 23in without bad pain, wheather this is led down on leaning over my birthing ball. Also I've got quite fat large inner thighs which means it doesn't leave alot of erm room.

Basically I worried that I'm going to go in to hosptial, they're going to tell me off for not helping them by opening my legs wider, trying to force them open or not being able to reach if I need foreceps or help.

Any help or reasurance that anyone could give would be amazing

It doesn't necessarily mean problems, you just need to take care. Some things to remember are:

1. ensure SPD is in large capitals on your notes, preferably highlighted in luminous marker
2. ensure your birth parter says to anyone who comes near you that you have SPD, DH did which included the lady with the snack trolley
3. be aware that an epidural can mask the pain so you need to ensure that you are monitored over your movements if you feel you need one

There are others and I'm sure I'll be back to add them soon.

Above all, remember that for many people this goes away straight after or soon after birth. Within an hour I was walking down the corridor to have a bath - something I hadn't done for months (walking and having a bath - couldn't get in or out!) By the time ds was a month old I was pretty much back to normal.

I've got SPD in this (my second) pregnancy and was worrying about this too. I am doing antenatal yoga and my teacher also does active birth workshops etc. She was really reassuring to me, saying that of all the people she's known with SPD, most find the pain doesn't bother them as much/even goes away in labour and they are able to get into the positions they feel comfortable in, and that for the vast majority the pain goes very quickly after delivery.

Also, water is supposed to be great if you have access to a birth pool wherever you are giving birth this should really help. I'm planning on a water birth for this one.

Try not to panic. You're so nearly there and in a couple more weeks you will be feeling so much better.

i had terrible spd during 1st preg- from 27 weeks had to give up work,
i was very worried about how this would effect labour, i have to say that it didnt effect it at all, not sure if thats cos i was in so much pain in other places that it wasnt significant. and the spd was gone completely after delivery. like buttonmoon said make sure ur birth partner tells people and have it written on ur notes.

i did tell the midwives etc, but was very piss@d off when they kinda rolled there eyes and said everyone has spd, not a big deal (aaaaagghhhhhhh, was a bloody big deal for me as id been in constant pain for 3 months with it! )

I was worried about this too, but like previous posters it was fine in the end. I wasn't really aware of my SPD pain in labour.

I did panic when I had to have an emergency forceps delivery, but by that stage all we could do was ask the doctors to put my legs in the stirrups as late as possible which they agreed to. Stirrups was really my worst fear and yet it was absolutely fine - and like previous posters I was much much better immediately after the birth. It's great when the pain goes!

One other tip I read though didn't use myself is to put a belt or scarf round your legs so you can only open your legs as far as you know is comfortable. This can help if you have an epidural and you're worried you might open your legs too far inadvertently.

Try not to worry (easy to say, I know!).

I had awful spd and could hardly walk around the house. As soon as contractions started the pain got a lot better and my mobiity improved. I gave birth kneeling and leaning on the sofa,if you think how far apart your legs are kneeling it's not far at all and that's all it needs to be. If you kneel on your knees nobody can get you to move them further apart.And it's said (anecdotal) that spd sometimes results in short second stages (5 mins in my case) .You will feel a lot better after you've given birth.

I too had SPD in my 2nd pregnancy, but had a VERY short labour & birth - 1 hour 48mis start to finish, and as LooLOO said, it can result in much shorter pushing stage - mine was just under 20 mins.
I also gave birth on my knees leaning on the back of the bed, found it so much easier that the first time - on my back in stirups.
Best of luck with it all :)

Thanks for help everyone, I've been getting myself into a major tisswass over them thinking i was just being difficult!

Buttonmoon I think I'll get DH to be on SPD alert to all mw/nurses/anyone who passes :o

LooLOO I think I'm going to try to stay on all fours/kneeling as much as poss, I want gravity to help as well as they're saying she a big baby!

And the thought of the SPD going away not long after labour is HEAVEN -