Symphisis Pubis Dysfunction - what about delivery??

[gingertoo]

I'm 31 weeks and have just been diagnosed as having Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction. Had a good appointment with Obs Physio who was v. helpful. Has given me an enormous three layer 'tubigrip' and a maternity belt to wear, plus crutches for if I have to walk far. She has given me some gentle pelvic floor / pelvic tilt exercises and advice re positions for sitting / sleeping / getting in and out of car..etc . She had even given me some ideas about positions for labour......Only thing I forgot to ask about is the actual delivery. She has specifically said that I should avoid any movement which involves straddling / opening my legs wide
(DS1 and DS2 were vaginal deliveries. No probs.)
Anyone any experience of delivering a LO while suffering from SPD??? Any ideas??

I gave birth on my back with SPD - what a nightmare!! But dd was a VBAC so I was hooked up to all sorts of monitoring stuff which I couldn't walk around with or sit up with anyway.

tHe midwives were great - fought my corner at every step and kept telling off the doctors when they wanted to do internals - "She's got pelvic pain leave her alone!!!"

the m/w worked out that my"pain free gap' was about the same as her own hips so I braced my feet on her hips and she took my weight as I pushed - absolute superwoman!

Was 3 minutes off another section but becuase the m/w s were fully informed they were absolutely fab

But I did have a lot of pain for another 18 months or so afterwards. Dd is 22 months now and I still get twinges after too much lifting/walking/sex, but it's pretty much vanished now.

Edie, I know everyone has slightly diff SPD symptoms but mine include:
.Excruciating pain low down at the front (at the bony bit of your pubis) when I walk / stand.
.Pain all around pelvis when I sit /lie down / turn over in bed /put my knickers on..
.Pain low down at front and down my inner thighs when I part my legs. That includes getting in and out of bed / bath / car, getting dressed and putting on this bloody three layer tubigrip support over my bump(!!)........pretty much all of every day life!!

Thanks for all your advice / experiences re: birth / SPD.. It def seems as though you are better cared for if all of the professionals that are looking after you are well aware of your problems / limitations. Will make sure it is written into MW and Hosp notes - plus make sure DH is fully aware of possible problems!

I copied a birth plan from one of the spd websites and used this as a basis for my own.
2nd time around, I saw a cranial osteopath and got fantastic results. Labour in anupright position for as long as poss and do not give birth lying on your back, altho as you say you can't lie on your back anyway.
I gave birth first time on my knees facing away from everybody while gripping the back of my hopital bed. 2nd time around happened quickly, standing in my bathroom!

Any idea which SPD website, Flier?
Might be worth me having a look?

Gingertoo

I guess that kind of feels like what i'm experiencing. Yesterday the pain got worse and I still have it today although not as bad. ATM I don't think it is much more painful when I part my legs as such but definitely hurts more when I walk/bend/get out of bed. It kind of feels like when I used to exercise without warming up properly and i'd get groin strain only this is more painful and a larger area. It hurts my pubic bone, groin, thighs and lower back a bit. Im scared! Baby still kicking so not too worried but off to Barbados tomorrow so haven't got time to see GP.

sorry gingertoo didn't have time to go googling yesterday but will try and find the website this weekend It was very good - but was 3.5years ago now

Gingertoo - I had SPD when I was pregnant with similar symptoms to what you describe. I couldn't lift either leg at all while standing, had real trouble walking and turning over in bed at night was agony. But I can honestly say that when it came to my labour it wasn't an issue, and I did give birth on my back in the end. I guess there are different degrees of SPD and I was in that much pain anyway (sorry!) that I didn't notice any pain from SPD.

Mine took a good couple of months, at least, after the birth to go completely.

Edie, Barbados !!! Lucky you! Have a fab time, but do look after yourself (and your pelvis!!)

Thanks Flier, I'll have a go at looking for it myself...........I'm sure you've got enough to do!!

Nice to hear that SPD didn't cause you too many problems during delivery Twinkle - sounds like it's different for everyone.

Haven't read all the replies but the general idea is to try and avoid birthing on your back, especially using stirrups, and avoid epidural if you can as they can mask pain. Take at a look at this site aimed at "plus sized" mums but good for anyone with SPD

Hello, just wanted to add my experience of SPD. I had it quite bad and early - had to give up work at 14 weeks. I was on crutches by 28 weeks, but by 34 weeks it had eased up considerably. Still painful but I could do without the crutches.

I laboured mainly standing/kneeling, but flipped round on to my back at the last minute (the amniotic sac was still intact and they had to pop it). Delivery was OK in the end though.

The only other thing - mention it again to your mw if you need to be stitched. I had to have a doc come and do my stitching and he didn't realise and expected me to spread my hips really wide and put them in the stirrups myself!

BTW the SPD got almost completely better immediately after delivery. Now after 6.5 months all I get is pain on the first day of AF.

Good luck with everything

Ooooh! Queenofcontradiction - I am liking the idea of SPD symptoms 'easing considerably' at 34 weeks........... I'm 32 weeks this week - we can but hope .

Good idea about mentioning again to MW again re: stitches......Stirrups???!!! I had to get DH to hold my knees together while I got into bed last night.....The joys of pregnancy...

have you tried a pillow btwn your knees in bed at night? i remember that helping........if you can get them apart, that is