Giving Birth with SPD

[scampichips]

Hi, can I ask anyone who has had SPD In pregnancy - Does it make the birth more painful in anyway? Does it make the contractions worse? Or did you find it more painful to push?
I'm 38 weeks with SPD so good to be prepared!

I had awful SPD and a bad back with my first. Couldn't lie down on bed or really get comfy in any position. (He was also back to back) so lots of pressure so in the end I had portable gas and air and sat on the toilet! I felt much more comfortable there, I'm sure it's not everyone's ideal birthing place but worked for me!

This time however if I'm allowed I'm going to request the pool as I think that would certainly help!

Good luck don't forget if your in too much pain ask for pain relief! X

I’m also wondering the same thing. My SPD has just got so much worse in the last few days, has been bad for a long time but now I can hardly walk, I’m whimpering when I move in bed, takes an age to fall asleep after getting out of bed every 5mins for an hour. I’m shuffling around like an old woman 😩 taking co-codamol (irregularly) with no effect. I’m 38+6 tomorrow and going for a VBAC after getting to 9cm last time. I’m scared the SPD is going to make it a million times worse. Wanting to avoid an epidural if I can and need to mobilise so feeling quite anxious... and I’m a labour ward midwife, and still feeling unsure!!

I had my baby last Thursday. I'd been suffering with spd for a few months. I was induced at 42 weeks and it was a very quick labour.

I made sure my midwives and Dr knew about my pain and when it came time to push (6 minutes and 3 pushes) they tried to move me into a painful position and I yelled no and took my position into my own hands as it were. I know they were concerned for baby safety etc but in the midst if pushing out a 9lb 5oz baby the spd still hurt and I had to take charge.

So make sure they all know the score and remind them when necessary. Even if you are slightly less than polite.

3 days after the birth my spd is better and everything is getting easier to do. Hopefully by the end of the week I will be almost normal again.

I want to add...
I don't think spd made the contractions worse. I think the drugs they used to induce me made that pain pretty bad and quite fast.
I still moved around a lot and found the shower was a blessing on my back and hips etc. During labour.
Pushing only hurt when they put pressure on my legs and hips outside of my own comfort zone and so I adjusted my own position after telling them off. I was on my back in the final stage. I only had gas and air. All I could feel during the actual pushing was my fanjo burning from the very large head emerging. My hips were forgotten once I was in my own position and pushing away.

Thanks for the advice! Did you feel it affected your contractions at all?
I guess on the positive side our pain threshold has probably improved with the horrific SPD pain we have to endure!

I had spd with my 2nd dc, was on crutches and in pain all the time. My labour was less than 3 hours and I managed on just gas and air. It was a wonderful birth and the spd went away immediately. Good luck!

You read my mind! Thanks! :)

I had a related condition of sacroiliac hip dysfunction and back to back babies. I ended up with a section after a long Labour with ds1 as many positions that may have helped were undoable and he turned out to be nearly 10lb!. Had an elective section with ds2 as he was also back to back and I had the same problem with my hips.

I think my issues were more to do with the baby's position as he got stuck and I didn't get past 8cm dilation.

I had spd which was managed very badly, was on crutches from 28 weeks then I needed a wheelchair as I couldn't lift my foot even an inch without being in tremendous pain.
I was told by the physiotherapist that I could give birth normally but that it may affect me for life if my pelvis got worse during the birth, this scared the life out of me, I was going to be a single mother and I thought abiut how i would raise a baby whilst on crutches or worse.
I spoke to a consultant who said I could have a section as I was so anxious and obviously in so much pain that it would be difficult to get into any good position to give birth. I agreed and had a section, I and pain for about a year after the birth however not so bad that I couldn't do normal day to day stuff but I couldn't carry anything heavy or run without twinge of pain for a long time.
I actually now wish that I had had more help to make me feel less anxious and tried to go through a normal birth as in a way I feel as though the section made my healing take a longer time but at the time not much was known abiut spd.
I'm now fully recovered but it's a been a long time, however I still occasionally feel a twinge of pain on my pelvis if I overdo it.
I think I had it worse than most but don't let anyone scare you or talk you into anything, many women give birth normally with spd and you just need to know your limits with positions and pain. as long as know that then there's no reason a normal birth should be worse beacsue of spd

I had severe SPD made sure it was all over my notes and delivered on all fours do as not to aggrevate it. I refused to lay on my back as I believe that's the worst position!

I'm only 14 and a half weeks pregnant and been getting awful back pain for weeks now it's really getting me down, I've been taking paracetamol but it doesn't always work, does this sound like spd? It's like a constant ache at the bottom of my back and sometimes it's s really sharp pain.

Had SPD in my first pregnancy and it was murder on my hips etc.

But.

Giving birth no it was fine as your on drugs which help and you tell them your SPD is bad and they will give you help with hot water bottles etc to help ease off.

SPD may limit options during labour though as if you want a water birth they can refuse if you can't get out and in when requested.

I had (still have) severe SPD with DS2. I was in a wheelchair, I couldn’t walk at all and gave birth at 37 weeks.

You need to have it written on your notes, and have all the staff aware, that you have SPD. Your birthing partner needs to make sure that if you can’t make them aware, and keep them aware, that they do it for you. Measure how far you can comfortably get your legs apart and do not let them open them any further than that. Don’t let them put your legs in stirrups either. I had what I now know was SPD at the end of my pregnancy with DS1, but back then 23yrs ago, it wasn’t recognised so they put my legs in stirrups and gave me a ventouse. That caused permanent damage to my pelvis.

The actual labour with DS2 was really quick. From the first contraction to the point of him being in my arms was 20 minutes. I gave birth on my side.

I had SPD in my last pregnancy and used crutches intermittently from about 34 weeks. I ended up basically strapped to the bed with my feet in stirrups due to fetal distress. Luckily I had a very short labour but in my experience, I didn't even remember I had SPD in labour, it was the last thing on my mind and if there was any SPD pain it was very quickly overshadowed by labour.