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.

Hi all. Sorry to hear you've been ill, buttonmoon, that's rubbish.

Ive got a physio appointment for Tuesday week now, the day of my first scan and then, if scan is fine, exercise class at the hospital, so i'll be back and forth all day. Bit disappointed as on the phone the booking person said 'so, you'll just need a belt and maybe some exercises.' i was hoping for manipulation this time around. But maybe if nothing's forthcoming I'll try the British School of Osteopathy, as someone else suggested.

Anyone looking after a small child and not have a car? I have to walk most places, and DD still gets tired before we've reached where we're going. I used to carry her on my back but obviously can't manage that any more, so we have the pushchair. Just not sure what to do to limit it really.

It's depressing, isn't it? I went swimming last night, v careful only to do crawl and backstroke, felt really good for it afterwards. And then today my joints are worse and i feel rubbish. Ugh. It seems like its either my hips or the rest of my body and mental health that has to suffer. What a frustrating choice.

Where did those of you with the sarola belt get it from? I had something a lot bulkier looking last time but this looks less restrictive.

hopefully this message will post, I too have been trying to post and having odd internet beasties eat my carefully crafted thoughts (ahem, ramblings).

really tired and feeling pants. SHould get blood results next week, really hoping I am anaemic so that it'll be something easily sorted with tablets... Been trying a phased return to work, so even tho I've actually not done much work I've been doing more / on feet / driving, so on top of Monday's nursery shennanigans I'm sore and knackered. Acupuncture sore today plus acupuncturist of the opinion I looked shocking...

Right that's my whinge over (DH will get a wee taste shortly, hee hee). Button, hope the worst of that bug is over , back to intermittent vomming but not had any surpirses from the old pelvic floor yet... I am now in fear of what is to come!

elseI'll - hope you pop soon, good luck (esp with all those pineapples). 100yrs - hope the week off to rest helps, no guilt allowed!
septbaby and sotired hi guys! septbaby, am curious about your exercse ball exercises - can you describe please? Anyone else doing these?

good weekend vibes to all, hope nice restful and not sore couple of days ahead even for those with kids to run around after... looking at serola belts on amazon while DH ordering Dominos

head like sieve... Can't remember who is having probs with standing for kitchen tasks (iwll or 100yrs? - sorry I am brain dead this evening)... I ended up getting a perching stool from amazon, tho a bar stool prob a good enough substitute, does help for the chopping veggies, stirring pots, washing up aches and pains, but does seem to assume one has rather long arms

philbee that sounds hard having to walk with toddler. Are buses an option? You really need to limit walking and pushing anything (trolley/pushchairs etc) so not good to try to carry on like that. So sorry, I can't offer anything very useful, guess there are no answers really, except one day at a time.

elseIll - yes, buses are an option. I am still getting my head around changing my whole lifestyle to try to alleviate it. But we could go to different playgroups, and i should probably draw a mental line around our house so that i know if it's any further than 5 minutes walk i get on a bus or just don't go.

I dont know what to do about pushchair really as DD is a bolter and having the pushchair there to threaten her with is all that works to make her wait instead of just running off (if she doesnt wait when i ask she has to go in, although now wrestling her in is pretty hard going). I guess i could dig out her reins, she wouldn't like that!

philbee the change in lifestyle is the hardest bit for me although this is my first pg I just struggle with buses and not being able to go to supermarket or shop for birthday presents etc.

We're in the middle of moving at the moment, just doing pre-move decorating. I'm managing a bit with lots of rest in between. I'd usually be a decorating whirlwind so it's hard to be slow and not getting much done. I think the PGP adds to the exhaustion of pregnancy, the pain just wears me out. Oh well will just have to surrender, DP will get it all done in time.

Thanks everyone! I'm feeling much better. DH took me to his folks house this w/e so I was totally looked after. I had to sleep in a different bed (as in from mine at home, not from dh - that would be odd!) though so my net gain in terms of sleep + feet up has suffered a big subtraction in terms of spd pain.

DH left for work this morning telling me firmly to ensure I sleep at least an hour every afternoon

I've got an appointment with the consultant on Wednesday to set a date for either section (if baby is still awkward which it is atm) or induction. When I saw him at 16wks I said 'oh, but I'm coping so much better this time - maybe I won't need induction'. He looked at me like this and said 'you will, you'll be begging me by then'. Git. He was right

elgolden - decorating sounds v hard, and it's frustrating to have to go slowly, isn't it? Can other people help? We were selling our flat just as DD was due and I remember crying at the thought of having to tidy and clean it for another viewing. Luckily the first person bought it!

I need a bit of reassurance I think. Yesterday had a very tiring day, and ended up having to walk for over an hour mosy uphill, in serious heat. Then picnic afternoon so had to sit on the ground for hours. Slept badly and today I have a lot of pain at front, SI joints, lower back, ligaments. Feeling pretty woozy and sick with heat and no sleep too. This is all PGP / round ligament pain, right? If something was wrong it would be fairly severe and constant and in the middle of my tummy / abdomen, wouldn't it? Like v bad period pain? As it is it's most of the time, but eases a bit now and then. Just worrying that it's something bad and wondering if I should go to a&e or something.

hi everyone, just back from the physio. Have been given a support (spider) belt, which does make the pain easier, but today it is so hot that the extra layer of thick elastic really isn't ideal. DS is 4, which means at least he is old enough to understand when I say I can't pick him up at the moment, but usually what I then do is crouch down to him to give him a hug. Tried that today and had real problems getting up again!

I work in an office, which at least means I'm not on my feet all day, but it does seem to mean lots of getting up - to go to the printer (almost constantly), the cupboards, the kitchen, the loo. It all got more problematic last time when I ended up on crutches, but at least it's not that bad (yet?)

elgoldenflower you're moving house with PGP? Eeek. I couldn't cope with that, it must be so tough. Take it easy and don't overdo it, ok?

buttonmoon sounds like you had a well-deserved rest :)

philbee the pain you describe does sound like PGP after overdoing it yesterday. I'd take some paracetamol if I were you, use your hot water bottle, take it easy, take a bath etc. Not sure about the wooziness and sick feeling, could be heat & lack of sleep, but if in doubt, could you ring your midwife to put your mind at ease? Can you still feel baby moving plenty? That would always be a good sign! Hope you feel better soon.

I had a scary moment on Saturday morning. Was driving for a swim and started to feel funny. Turned around cos realised I couldn't swim like that. THen vision & hearing started going fuzzy, knew I was going to faint, so had to pull over at side of the road. Came over all clammy and shaking like a leaf. Just waited til the feeling passed and spent the rest of the morning in bed. I'm fine now. THink it was just low blood pressure. Have MW app on Fri so will mention it then.

Really sore right now as just had a wrestling session with a stroppy 2 yr old :( Anyway, all's quiet now so she must be asleep....time for my rest :)

Thanks iwill, that's reassuring. I'm only 11 wks so movement's a bit sporadic, but I have felt it paffing about today. We've for builders in, started today, so not much chance of a bath or comfy sit down, but DD and I are sitting on the bed and she's watching TV for a bit, so feel more normal now!

Really sorry to hear about your feeling all woozy - that must have been very scary, especially while driving.

hello ladies. Can I just have your opinions on something? I have had severe intermittent buttock pain mainly on my left side with occasional sharp shooting pain leaving me unable to move that takes my breath away. Worse if I have been doing something on one leg, like getting dressed. Somedays like today it is virtually non-existent. I am 12+4. Does this sound like pgp to you? I had a suggestion of sciatica, but that doesn't feel right. Many thanks.

Hi everyone hope you are all coping ok! Buttonmoon are they open to doing sections? I am starting to really really struggle and if i went over i could have 6 more weeks. I honestly do not feel that a natural birth is an option, any suggestions how best to plead for a section?

It would be a section for breech/transverse not spd. But I reckon you should print this out: NICE guidelines

It places greater emphasis on maternal choice being a valid reason for section.

TBH it all depends on your consultant. Last time I had ecv for breech and the surgeon performing it was fully pro-section. Which I thought odd as he was the one in the hospital who performed all the ecv procedures - to avoid a section!

Natural birth IS possible, and some say that it is better in terms of healing with spd than a section. My spd virtually disappeared afterwards - from crutches, knock out drugs and constant tears to walking down the hallway for a bath no probs!

My problem is that ecv with spd is a nasty mix - I had morphine last time to help me but it was hideous. I'm not confident I could handle that again.

Would your MW support you if you wanted a section? She may be able to recommend a pro-section surgeon.

Good luck.

Sorry - meant to say, relevant section starts on p88.

Thanks buttonmoon thats helpful can i pick your brains a little more? Have you had both natural and section? Did you find it was much more difficult with a section? Also were you induced for natural or wait it out? As iv said the thought of 6weeks is not appealing!thanks again

Course you can! I've had three natural deliveries - but only had spd with the last dc (and this one). I was induced last time at 38wks as I was in so much pain and on so many meds that they wanted to know when I would deliver so I could go cold turkey for a couple of days to let the baby's system recover.

If I have a section this time it will be my first. It's not something I'm considering lightly and if baby was head down then I wouldn't consider it. However, it's not and I really don't think I can do ecv again so it may well end up being a section.

I know of people who have said it was harder to recover from a section with the spd but I'm willing to take that risk. I know that ecv carries a greater risk of op labour and the longterm damage I have to my back whilst being inevitable at some point might not have flared up now had I not damaged it in labour last time. As an aside from that, ecv was just damn painful!

I'll happily come back to you on Wednesday to update re position and dates

Hiya everyone.

button - silly question what's ecv?

Had a pretty much painfree day yesterday. Had a few things to do, so I took care to not do too much when I was able to rest. Went to see family so rested while I was there. But it's hurting a bit more today. Aaah well. kind of nice to be fairly pain free yesterday though.

Thanks again buttinmoon iv got the consultant tomorrow and really wish it were today as cocodamolis just not doing anything now and could actually sit and cry at how awful last night was. There is no way on earth i could deliver a baby if i went into labor today im totally out the game. Glad you had a good day 100 years, likely i will have one tomorrow for the consultant!

I think ECV is where they try turn a breech baby the right way round.

My NHS referral came through - have an appointment tomorrow. Feel a bit of a fraud with my mild symptoms - I'm mainly concerned about later on (given that I'm only 21 weeks). Oh well see what they say.

philbee sorry, forgot you weren't so far along....it's hard to remember how many wks each one on here is....anyway, hope you are feeling better today?

woodifer you aren't a fraud. But I know how you feel. My first physio app came through when I was only 7 wks.....and to make matters worse, it was a group session with about 20 other pregnant women, all waaaay ahead of me and looking heavily pregnant!

100 Woodifer is right - it's where they turn a breech baby manually from the outside.

Witches they may well get you to try codydramol or dihydrocodeine. Both knock me out like a total junkie so I didn't drive from when I was on them. Also, I can't use them this time as dh is working away a lot and if I take them at night I don't wake for anything. Not good when you're in sole charge of the dcs! Good luck for tomorrow.

button - thanks for NICE guidelines post, v helpful - bit of time to keep thiking abou birth plan yet, but still not ruling out a section...

witches - dunno if you have seen me bang my acupuncture drum, but it has been the only thing that helped bring my pain under control - doesn't get rid by any means but now can get a bit of relief from cocodamol when it is bad, rather than nothing helping...

youremindme - it can be hard to tell whether sciatica or SPD/PGD, certainly it's something each n every health professional will question you on, but handily I have sciatica too (only time I'll ever think that!). Sciatica goes down the back of my leg from bum, feels like someone squeezing my knee and down into my foot. The diagnostic test is straight leg raise - you lie on your back and the GP lifts each leg in turn, flexed and straight and the straight leg riase will bring on the pain. SPD - a very broad range of symptoms and the pain is awful. Doing things on one leg def a trigger for many people! Buttock / hip pain, back pain in sarcoilliac region, groin pain, leg pain, difficulty mobilising / rolling in bed - all SPD. Is this helpful?

On a different note, ladies, how much of an impact is the old SPD/PGD having on your sex lives? Any postion recommendations? Tried it doggy style today (tis my birthday) and that seemed to hurt my SI / hip joints, even tho its one I've seen recommended as less sore. SOrry for TMI . Just earlier, tried him on side, me on back with legs draped over him - not bad but v funny when he asked afterwards if that was soemthing I'd read about on MN .

iwill - no problem :). I am feeling so much better today I'm almost worried I'm not actually pg! But its a relief to think that having a quieter day means i can manage it more.

wooifer - i know what you mean, i was 9 weeks going to the GP to get referred. But the earlier the better, they say, so it's definitely a good thing to have an appointment. My first appointment is this time next week, i am really hoping it will be useful. Hope it goes well!

at MissusT. I've given up now. Doggy style worked for us for a bit. Just going for oral now really as anything else is waaay too much effort!

Oh, and happy birthday!