spd and a natural birth???

[bubblebell1]

i am currently 28 weeks pregnant and have severe spd. i am using sticks to walk and am normally bed ridden. i just wondered if any of you have heard of or know about having a natural birth when you are in this much pain. is it safe? and is it uncommon to have a elective c section instead?

thanks xxx

A friend of mine was in your position and she tried for a natural birth, but was induced early because of the SPD (baby growing too fast) and ended up with an emergency cs. Sorry, I know this isn't what you'll want to hear, but at least it shows the hospital were prepared to let her try for a natural birth (if you can call being induced natural!).

I had awfull SPD with DS and managed to have a natural delivery. Also the day after having DS I woke up and felt as if I had never had SPD, amazing really.

Hi bubblebell, I had SPD as severe as yours, I was in a wheelchair for 6 months with it and I well remember how painful it was. You have my sympathy for that.

I had a natural birth with ds1. In my case it was complicated because I had severe pre-eclampsia, diabetes and polyhydramnios as well. I was induced at 35 weeks and although I had a very long and painful labour (again, there were factors other than the SPD) I didn't end up with a CS.

My advice would be to talk to the midwives/doctors who will be overseeing your delivery NOW, and get them to draw up a plan in your notes for giving birth with severe SPD. I was made to labour on my back for over 24 hours without getting up, which is the worst thing you can do for a woman with severe SPD. You should make it clear that you wish to be allowed to try different positions and if for any reason you must deliver lying on a bed, try lying on you left side instead of on your back. I didn't know any of this when I had ds1, but after the traumatic delivery I did quite a bit of reading (on the Royal College Of Midwives site, among others) and learned a lot about how SPD affects delivery.

Talk to the midwives, as soon as possible. It might also be a good idea to ask to see a physiotherapy and ask her to put a short report in your maternity notes advising that the staff who oversee your delivery should take your SPD into account. I know it sounds a faff, but I encountered several midwives who hadn't heard of SPD, which I find pretty disgraceful.

Good luck!

Hi my spd with dd#3 was severe too. I would recommend going to an osteopath - I was written off by the physios - given crutches and told to take the stairs one at the time (couldn't actually bear walking let alone the stairs - used to shuffle up on my bum!).

My spd was antagonised by very tight muscles, ligaments or something pulling on my pelvic cage. The osteopath helped keep them stretched and loose made a huge difference - could actually get some sleep again.

As for giving birth had her naturally after a near failed induction. The spd was so much better afterwards. I still had to tell the midwives when it came to deliver that I was not doing it on my back as it said in my notes because I have spd!!!!!!!!!!! I think the recommended way is on all fours - can't remember where I got the info from now - have a good google!

HTH

I had bad spd with DD from 16wks and was told to use crutches etc. Gave birth ot her naturally with no problems and best thing was withint 24hrs I had no more spd probs.

I haven't had severe SPD myself, but I have read that it's important not to have your legs pulled apart too far, or it can cause more damage. One way of making sure this doesn't happen is to tie a scarf between your legs, one end on each leg so that it is taut at the furthest distance that you can comfortable separate your legs. This way you physically can't open them any more than this!

good info re positions here too!

aww thanks so much i feel awful as ds is 5 and very active. he said i was boring the other day i feel like i am pestering the midwives when i bring anything up they are so over stretched it is untrue, i never suffered with my first pregnancy and i am torn between wanting a natual birth again and gettin this 1 out asap so i can get back to being a good mum for ds still reading the threads on here has shone some light atleast im not wheel chair bound and there are still others worse off than me .

thanks