Birthing ball makes spd WORSE!

[Superslinger]

I just don't understand it! All the advice is to sit on ball but whenever I do my SPD is immediately worse, doesn't really hurt when I'm on it but I can almost feel my hips sort of spreading out underneath me and then when I stand up - OWWWWWW!

But my due date's tomorrow an this last week SPD's been SO much worse than ever, so, having said to my physio 'ball seems to make it worse - should I use it anyway?' and she said yes, I thought, willing to try anything, I'd give it another chance. God, I regret the decision so much. I sat on it for about 20 mins yesterday afternoon and have been in torture ever since. Feels like my hips are practically clicked out of place, and the pain in the middle is just unbearable. I was up half the night in tears, telling DH I couldn't do it anymore. Today it's slightly back to normal but hips, at the back iyswim, still feel in the wrong place and I can barely walk to the loo for my 100 visits an hour. :(

Not really sure of the point og this post... Suppose I'd like a bit of backing - is it really only me who thinks the ball does more harm than good?! Feel like I'm going mad when everyone keeps recommending it and recommending it, but all it seems to do is cause me more agony! :(

Well, the ball is supposed to be spreading everything out, lol, that's why they can help prepare for birth. I guess they are trying to get the pelvis a bit more open now, however painfully, so that the actual birth is less traumatic for you. It's all degrees, I guess. So pain now and maybe not so birth during birth, or the chance you will end up with a section.

Just guessing though. (I'm also guessing that the pain you are experiencing using the ball will be small fry in comparison with birth, but don't know the degree of your spd etc)

It's a free world. If you don't want to use the ball, don't. There's no law.

Not so much during birth... (thIs is of course blatantly ridiculous)

Not bouncing on a plastic ball won't automatically result in a csection

I'd avoid it if it's that bad tbqh - there's no point in being in agony for days (weeks, possibly). And it's no good having everything spread out for birth if you're in so much agony you can't part your legs!

Just a hint, but I've read that if you can give birth in an upright position it will help prevent you still suffering with SPD long term following the birth.

Re the ball, have you got the right size for your height? The first one I used was very uncomfortable, but at 5'7" and long legs/short body I should have been using a larger ball than I was; when I changed it really made a difference :)

I don't have SPD, but further to what Rockchick said, I read that for heights up to 5'8 (173cm), you're supposed to use a 65cm ball, and for above 5'8, a 75cm ball. I think the aim is for your hips to raised 10cm above your knees. Maybe check whether this is the case on your one?

Lol, no, I know. But I suspect that's what the evangelical about the birthing ball health profs are suggesting.

It's a free world, and personal choice. To use or not to use.

And teeny rofl at humpy face.

Nobody's saying it's not a free world madwoman, I'm just looking for advice on whether I should stick with it or not. I'm not sure whether you have any experience of SPD yourself, but mine is pretty bad and I've been advised that in fact probably not 'small fry' in relation to labour pain.

Thanks everyone else, that is my feeling fluffy as spreading stuff out is obviously not something my pelvis has an issue with! Interesting point about bigger ball rockchick and sweetpea - I'm 5'5 and got a 65cm size and have always regretted it, feeling like I might be too low - my knees are lower than my hips, but not enough I think... x

Dsis was hospitalized for 2 months with spd, and df suffered a pelvic fracture and ds clavical fracture during birth. Another friend spent 4 months on crutches, then 2 months hosp and cs. No personal experience of spd, but lots of experience of health profs trying to tell expectant mothers what to do and what not to do. And a healthy interest in personal freedoms.

Good luck with the bigger ball. Hope it works out, not long now anyway. The last few weeks are always the worst.

Wishing you a safe and healthy labour x

Hahaha madwoman - that made me spit my brew everywhere!!! DH got stuck on my birth ball trying to do press ups with his legs on the ball and hands on the floor

At 5'5" I'd definitely consider getting a 75cm ball, the cheap tesco gym balls work perfectly and for the sake of about a fiver, it's worth giving it a try :)

I gave up on my ball for that exact reason with dd2. Labour and birth were fine. Women have given birth for millions of years without gym balls :)

It was like a little Britain sketch. She also attempted to give us all an experience of the use of a TENS machine, but she hadn't adjusted the strength, and the first pg woman she went for nearly shot through the roof when she switched it on. We all declined politely, after that. (except the victim, who spent the next twenty minutes wide eyed and white knuckled with shock).