SPD - anyone else joining me on the birthing ball?

[elgoldenflower]

Hello out there, was looking for a support thread for those of us unlucky enough to have developed SPD and couldn't find a current one.

I'm 19 weeks (EDD 26.10.11) and have been aware of pelvic pain since conception (v mild at first) but it's steadily getting worse. I now can't walk more than about 30 yds without being sofa/birthing ball - bound for the evening.

My physio is fitting me with crutches on Monday as I can't avoid a bit of walking for my work (I run drama workshops all over the place so have to travel to them and I don't drive).

So far cycling's wonderful but I'm not aloud to use my bike like a mobility scooter as far as I know so cycling usually involves a bit of walking too.

Grr just wanted to be able to rant without annoying my v supportive antenatal thread.

One word witches. Senekot.

witches i was given some liquid thing for consitaption thats safe during pregnancy... cant rememebr what its called, but they sell it in boots, i think its the only one they are allowed to give during pregnancy but its pretty good x

kri5ty Lactulose? Has been my staple diet throughout both pgs! I just need 3 tea spoons every night and always know if I've missed it. Just get a repeat prescription from MW witches, save buying it.

Hi all. I am new to this thread and have read pretty much all of it..

I had undiagnosed (just dealt with it) SPD/PGP with first child from about 5 months which mainly caused problems walking for any length of time and I was in agnoy if I needed to turn over in bed. It didn't cause any problems through my birth (water birth with just gas and air) and was pretty much gone as soon as labour was over.

I am pregnant with DC2 and I am 16 weeks tomorrow but have already started to feel a lot of pain after being on my feet for a long time so I suspect it may be going to get worse this pregnancy. I will probably let my midwife know at my 16 week appointment on Thursday and ask for a referal to get treatment early.

I just wanted to say to 100years that I am very overweight (BMI over 40) and while my midwife did bring it up and did of course put me in the high risk camp, she also told me that they are not allowed to say no to a person who has a strong desire for a certain type of birth, they can only advise. The only time I think they can turn you down is if you want to birth at a low risk only birthing centre that is not attached to a hospital with a full labour ward as backup. So while they would probably try to encourage me to have a normal birth on the labour ward, as long as I was willing to sign the necessary forms to state that I understood the risks they would have to allow a birth centre delivery for me. The birth centre is just upstairs from the normal labour ward for us anyway, so if things did go wrong I would be in easy reach, plus she said previous experience of an excellent birth in the water (when I was also overweight but not quite as much as now) would be very strong evidence to show them I should be fine. She also said there are much more serious conditions that indicated a high risk than being overweight and that she wasn't that concerned. It seems one of the labour risks with overweight women is that some have a weaker uterus so the contractions are not as effective and can cause a slow labour and therefore stress on the baby.

Anyway I would fight your corner if I were you as I know from experience that getting in the water was a huge relief, especially when you have SPD and especially if you are heavier yourself.

Thanks everyone, I will be asking on Wed about the monitoring and birth pool and see what the doc says, unless it's the same awful woman I saw last time.

Have been in contact with GP who wasn't sure who was the best person to refer me to around here for pregnancy stuff, so I thought I would ring the hosp and see what they could do anyway, I am seeing someone on Thurs morning :) Wow, so not yet needed to use the private phys, and wouldn't be able to see a private phys before then due to only having tomorrow morning free. So that's a positive thing. Been told can take the codeine if needed but not to take too many. He asked how I was coping at work, if it was better at home, I said yep as I can rest up at home, etc, which is true, he said if I needed to they would sign me off, I said I would go in this week and see how it went and if it's bad then I will not carry on, as I can't go through another set of shifts like the ones I just had, but he was quite happy to do that if needed. So that was a positive phone call from the docs and am very much amazed at getting an appointment on Thurs as the way the phys was talking at the group session led me to believe that I would be having to do more to get an appointment.

Bought a wedge pillow, another pillow to sit on, also bought a ball, but pumped it up and sat on it and was in a bad position, think I needed a bigger size one, it was only £3:xx so not like I've forked out a load of money for one, and I'm sure I have one lurking in the back of a cupboard, but at least now I have the attachments to blow the other one up!

But the walking around the shops wasn't all that pleasant! And has tired me out A LOT! going to snooze while watching something rubbish on tv now!

Yes elseIlltellyourfather that's the baby!!

Haha, of course, I keep forgetting we get free prescriptions!

witches, try eating 5 dried apricots every day as well as the lactulose.

Thanks everyone I have usually have the opposite problem as have problems with tummy anyway but i have been taking 6spoonfulls of lactulose, gallons of fresh orange and fruit and still getting the fun cramps! Most normal people would probably be unable to leave the bathroom with that lot! will give apricots a go!

You have my deepest sympathy! I have IBS which usually sees me on the loo for a significant portion of the morning. My diet at the moment is full of this sort of thing:

weetabix, wholemeal seeded bread, chopped dried apricots, orange juice, fruit, veg - all the things I never normally touch with a barge pole

Do make sure that you chew the apricots lots or chop them up. If you swallow them too large they swell and cause more blockages.

Really though, that lot was only just keeping me 'regular' until I started the cocodamol. It's the senekot which is working now. Lactulose does very little for me.

Right buttonmoon getting senekot tomorrow! Im only 35weeks and there seems to be a new fun thing to contend with each day, the thought of 7 more weeks is not appealing!

I know what you mean. I was 34wks last Friday but I know I won't have another 7 wks of this. I'll be either induced at 38 or having a section as baby is currently an odd version of breech...

38wks is July 15th for me. Roll on July!

Ah you lucky ladies nearing your due dates, spare a thought for us mired in the 2nd tri

Only kidding I seem to be managing my pain at the moment or just getting used to it and slowing down accordingly, not looking forward to it advancing as baby puts the pressure on. Got through a mammoth week at work last week so fingers crossed I can make it through the next few weeks until I'm working 1 day/week.

Re more children: We said we only wanted 1 but during early pregnancy I was wistfully wondering if that would change, however the PGP and having to keep working is very tough; mostly the psychological impact of being vulnerable and dependent - having suffered depression in the past I'm not sure I could put my body and mind through this again. If DP were not so angelically patient and good humoured with me I'd be buggered!

Hi all. I've had a frustrating week of trying to get referred to physio. Am only 10 weeks but already fair amount of pain in my SI joints and at the front, groin etc. Finding it hard to lift and carry DD1, who's pretty hefty. Last week I went to the GP and asked for physio referral. She did a urine test and found blood, so I've been on antibiotics to clear that while she held on to the referral to physio. Today I did another sample and she called saying the lab said no blood in the first, and she thought her dip sticks were just over sensitive. She has sent the referral. I know it's good of her to be so thorough, I really don't want an ongoing UTI, but frustrating that a week's gone by when I could have been waiting for a physio appointment and haven't been.

HI philbee, hope you don't have to wait too long! I've had this since week 8 (now 22 weeks) and it's sucky to hit delays like that, esp when you have a lo to run after! There's a lot of good advice on previous pages on this thread of what has helped other people, and the pelvic partnership website is well worth a look.

goodness, hope everyone is pooing okay !

elsgolden, I know exactly what you mean about 'can I do this again?'. I'm pretty ambivalent about further children now and DH is not in favour of me going thru this (and the puking puking and more puking!) again. Maybe it'll be like childbirth is supposed to be and it'll magically fade from our minds (some hope methinks!) when it's all over... The weakness and dependency is def awful. I hate going from being really independent to being sofa bound, reliant on crutches and other people's kindness... To the point that I got a real telling off from my mum last night after I had a mad day in the grip of nesting madness and spent the evening in serious pain! Yes I know I should have left most of it for DH to do when he came home from work but he does a lot and I wanted it done there and then dammit! And it does look good now

Missustullip i also decided to do a spring clean - consisted of sweeping floor completed two rooms and then thought i might have to stay in that hunched over position forever as couldn't get straight again
I then had a nap from all the excitement, a 3 hour nap!
I def want another child as would have hated to have been an only but how the people who have young child are coping is honestly beyond me. The bending down and picking up anything - never mind a small person - makes me wince! I salute u!

missustulip - thanks. I'll check out previous posts. I had a great email from the Pelvic Partnership with lots of advice, so am hoping that I'll be able to use that when I get an appointment to make sure they're doing they right sorts of things. Tbh mine isn't bad, I can walk a lot still, and do things, but it drags you down to have pain all day, doesn't it? And it's really hard if you've been active and felt strong before to suddenly feel like an invalid.

elgolden - sad to hear you say this. I had PGP in my first pregnancy, but it came on much much later, so I am dreading how this develops now. I feel lucky it wasn't bad in the first one. But I did find work harder while pg than looking after DD, and I guess now there are people I can ask to take her for a bit so I can rest, whereas I couldn't really ask someone else to do my job. You do forget - I bought an exercise DVD with lots of wide leg stuff to do two weeks ago, and then I was like 'oh yeah, I can't do any of this now, can I?'

missustulip - sorry, old news, but just read your post about your sister, which made me fume. I find it so irritating when people are judgemental about what others go through in pregnancy and labour, even when it's something they've been through themselves, it's so personal and pain is totally subjective - how can others judge? Anyway, sorry she wasn't more supportive.

After yesterday's bit of shopping and a little walk to the pub last night I was in a lot of pain today :( Tried to see it out but this afternoon I ended up taking 1 x 30/500 co-codamol, feck me, I used to take them a lot (not addicted but loads of migraines) but not taken any for ages, made me feel quite weird and almost like I was going to pass out! But the pain eased, so the co-codamol was like my best and worst friend all rolled into one! I don't think I will take many of them, after feeling weird, although I have got some 15mg codeine which is half the dose of what I took today so if I need to I may take one of them. I did have the start of a migraine too when I took the tablet, so that may have accounted for the dizziness, but I'll only know if I do it again after them.

Back at work tomorrow, taking pillow with me to sit on, and hopefully I'll make it through the shift. Off to bed now as I'm up at 6am! Too tired today!

Hi all. I know many of you have much more severe pain than me, so maybe not a useful question. I was wondering what shoes people were wearing and whether you'd changed or found other types more helpful. I wear my v cushioned trainers mostly, but my sandals are Birkenstocks, which are shaped but not cushioned, v hard. I was thinking of getting some more cushioned hiking type sandals instead. Anyone else tried this? Was it helpful?

Trainers are best but obv not that great for hot days or unless you have someone who can do the laces for you if you can't reach like me.

I usually wear some nice supportive Clarks pumps when I'm not wearing sandals. I have heard fitflops are good. I find anything without sufficient arch support v uncomfortable.

No such thing as a useless question. It's often the smallest things which make the most difference!

I found crocs surprisingly cushioning - and stayed on really well with heel strap thing. Am just trying to decide if I can afford/ justify uying some crocs brand work shoes!

Great, thank you, glad to know I'm on the right track! :)

buttonmoon - when I was of with DD I bought some elastic running laces from a sports shop. You lace your shoes with them and adjust the toggle and then they're the right fit, you just slip them on and you never have to adjust again. They've stayed on there because they're so quick. Might work for lacing problems for you?

woodifer - thanks, I have some crocs but never sure whether they're too squashy. Will give them another go. My SIL got mine cheap from sportsdirect for me, I think they were only about £12, and they had loads when we went in looking for DD.

But would I have to bend down to get my feet into the shoes? That's a total no no!

Might try some crocs. Have heard they're just the thing for hospital showers and as I may well end up with a section, I might end up staying in a few more nights than last time after the birth (last time I stayed 4 hours!). Will check out sports direct...

Well i have my midwife app next weds, im not actually too sure what to say to her (with regards to asking for a referral), do i just come out with "can you refer me, i think im getting spd", or tell her my symtoms?

After the lack of interest from the consultant i saw, who just nodded and wrote "bad back" on my notes, im not sure whats for the best!

buttonmoon - hmm, can't remember what I did with mine, but I think I sat on a chair and wriggled each foot in and it worked fine. If you've got a bit of elastic you could just use that and see how it goes, with minimal commitment. Crocs prob easier though!