How do I know if I've got SPD?

[rainand]

Hi,

I've been getting awful back pain since the past week. I'm 23 weeks. If I stand for more than 5-10 min my back starts hurting alot. As I work mainly from home I've started taking a nap in the afternoon as my back hurts alot. How do I know if I've got SPD?

If I were you I would book an appointment with my GP. They will know. Catching it early and getting the appropriate help will be a lot more beneficial to you than putting up with it for as long as possible, and going to the GP a sobbing, hobbling mess.

I speak from experience

Thanks Dannillion

If I was diagnosed with SPD, would I still be able to give birth at a birth centre instead of in the maternity ward at the hospital?

Could be, could also be a trapped nerve or something linked to how your baby is laying...you are best going to your GP who will check where the pain is.

I had SPD from about week 12. Its a grinding pain that feels a little like you are coming apart. Mine used to be worse after doing things where you are shifting your body out of balance - like hoovering and ironing. Also after very long walks or standing for a long time. BUT my lovely GP referred me to a physio and after some physio and exercises it started to ease off at about 27 weeks crosses fingers and touches wood incase it reappears

If your doctor does diagnose it take it easy. Try not to sit, stand or walk for long periods - mix it up. Give up on hoovering and ironing and get help from DP with things like bending to put your shoes on. My DP got so into hoovering he bought ''himself'' a new hoover and goes on about how good it is all the time! . I meant to start doing some swimming too - which is supposed to really help.

Like you I was worried about being able to use the birthing centre too, as I had spoken to a friend (who had SPD throughout her pregnancy) and it turned out her local birthing centre werent keen on women with cronic SPD patients using things like the birthing pool. This is incase they needed to get her out of it quickly. She didnt tell them she had SPD so that she could use it (she only had it mildy, and was able to move about very freely). I spoke to my MW about the effects of SPD and she said my particular birthing centre would be fine with me having mild SPD and still using a birthing pool. So - the summary of this slightly ranty paragraph is that it really depends on whether your doctor diagnoses SPD, what the birth centre policy is on SPD (as they seem to vary) and how you hope to give birth. You could check with your MW once you've been diagnosed. Ultimately though - if you have SPD and treat it now and it calms down or goes completely its 'win win' all round!