SPD/pelvic pain and labour

[le42]

Hi,
Since 18 ish weeks I’ve suffered from terrible pelvic pains - was finally diagnosed with SPD as it’s got progressively worse through the pregnancy, I can’t walk at all without pain... stairs are hell and pretty much all exercise is off the cards. Pain varies from the front of my pelvis, around towards my flutes (which are permanently rock hard and inflamed) to right up my back.

Interested to hear from experiences of women with this and how it affected their labour? Needless to say... I’m not feeling very empowered in my body and I can’t event stand for more than a few minutes without pain so dreading the labour.

Of course I mean glutes* not flutes !

I had horrendous pgp both pregnancies, and both my labours were fast.

I've heard it's quite common as the pain is caused as your ligaments get too lax, which at the same time make it easier for the baby to fly out!

I was unable to stand during labour, and didn't even get the chance to get into a pool. But laboured on my back both times and it was fine... the pregnancies on the other hand... never again!

It really affected my labour. The pain from the SPD was really bad and was my worst labour out of the four. However, I was induced so may have been more comfortable if I had gone into labour naturally x

I had this. I rested a lot before labour - 4 weeks off work. It got a bit better then as life was simpler so I could rest more & strain it less. The Labour was no different to previous really, and significantly less painful than my first, back to back labour. But oh the blessed relief to no longer be pregnant. I am not doing that again!

Hi, SPD is horrendous. Had it with all three of mine and was in crutches. Walking 5 miles a day on the school run with the last one Pubic bone still hurts now sometimes. I had two planned home deliveries with dc1 and dc3 with gas and air and a tens machine and no problems. Dc2 was supposed to be a home delivery but was an undiagnosed breech and was told I needed a section.
I've no idea what labour is like without SPD as never experienced it but I coped fine at home with the gas and air. Did 10 hours of labour with dc1 on just the tens machine, and about 5 hours with dc3. He was a lot faster though as was 7.5 hours start to finish. All 3 were back to back too the little horrors

Probably not much help as I've no comparison to an SPD free time but hopefully my positive experiences will make you feel less anxious about labour and delivery.

Hope everything goes well

Try some Osteopathy. Generally NHS only advise Physio- this didn’t help me. But with a couple of sessions of Osteopathy I had a good improvement.

Look up piriformis syndrome. The large muscle across your buttocks can do into spasm and that presses on the sciatic nerve and exacerbates symptoms. I can send you a sheet of physio exercises that will help if you like.

Have you seen physio? I had this in my first pregnancy and could barely walk. With my second it kicked it around 16 weeks and I insisted on physio. It made an enormous difference and kept me mobile much longer. The main thing was releasing the piriformis muscle and reducing the pressure on the nerve. I could do it myself after a while which helped a lot (but you need physio to show you first)

It's hell, insist on physio.

...BTW Don't be tempted to try a chiropractor, just don't do it.

If you get physio that isn't working, ask for a different one.

5 miles? Jesus.. I'm. Impressed. I could barely make it to the kitchen.

I too had two pregnancies with spd would love another baby but can’t put myself or my family through it as found spd completely debilitating. On crutches at 20 and 17 weeks respectively. Stopped work at 33 weeks both times as couldn’t travel.

I had epidurals both times so can’t comment on it being more painful as it was amazing with epidural, apart from when they let it wear off for baby number 2 for the pushing bit.

I hired a mobility scooter for the last 10 weeks with my second pregnancy and it was a game changer for me as I could leave the house again. Local mobility place charged me £30 per 4 weeks and a small membership fee. Make sure you see the physio and wear the massive tubigrip and or pregnancy belt - they really helped. I wore the tubigrip post birth with number 2 as took a few weeks to get back to mostly normal.

I had this with my first. It was a speedy delivery!
I didn’t have it with my second.
Discuss labour positions with your MW. I had a water birth. Bliss!!
Good luck.

Thank you everyone, reassuring to see in many cases it didn’t affect your labour.

Yes I’ve seen physio who has given me exercises but I can’t feel any benefit at all. Pre pregnancy I did yoga everyday (was actually about to do my teacher training before finding out I was pregnant) and I think my joints have just become far too mobile which is causing the pain. The muscles around have gone into overdrive.

I’ve also seen an osteopath twice..... just nothing is helping really.

The baby is in the 97th percentile... he is measuring off the charts - so this couples with a low placenta and my pelvic pain is all making me feel very anxious about the birth and debating if in this scenario a c-section would be a sensible option?

Worth asking.
DS was supposed to be “big” but wasn’t huge. Placenta was initially covering exit but shifted as bump grew.
I found a bump support a lifesaver.

Sorry I should say I’m wearing a support belt when I walk too which helps a smidge I think.... I’ve come to terms with literally being an invalid ... it’s now just worrying about physically getting through a labour when I’m incapacitated after walking 5 mins to the shop to get some milk! 😫

The pain was unreal.
When I was pg the advice was this was due to your body preparing (too enthusiastically) for birth. Loosening and stretching would make birth easier/quicker/more straightforward.
It was for me.
DS wasn’t small. That meant gravity was on my side.
Good luck.

IWantMyHatBack I had no choice with dc3 as single mum who doesn't drive. I had a support belt and good drugs thankfully. I had physio all 3 times too and acupuncture the first time. With dc1 I seized up and couldn't walk for a while and was admitted as they didn't know what was wrong. It was really bloody hard.

Another one with bad SPD starting in the first trimester and fast labours. I was induced for both for different reasons, took awhile to get started, but my active labour was only 2 hours for both, and my second baby was out in 2 pushes!

Both times the SPD pain was about 75% better immediately after birth, but took 6 months to be completely gone. Physio helped, especially engaging my core and pelvic floor when walking.

I had spd in my last pregnancy and wore a support belt to try and hold everything together. Baby was big too (and very late!). Labour was no different for me to the other two times. I had a home water birth (highly recommend water, makes moving so much easier!) with a quick, easy labour.
It was about a month afterwards before I could walk without pain again.

I had SPD and a big baby and labour was fast and fine. Have you looked into using a birth pool? I found that helped a lot as I could change position easily.

I had it all three times. First time was the worst but really it was bad all three times. Crutches, wheelchair etc. In subsequent pregnancies I insisted on regular physio. I had it through work on occupational health so check if you're entitled. I paid for private sessions too. Pilates is the best thing for after. I'm over a year post birth and I still have dreadful pain if I don't keep up the Pilates.

For me the c-sections have made it so much worse I think. My whole core and mid back is really weak now. I didn't have the sections because of spd. My one vaginal delivery was a dream. It was a three day labour but I seemed to be able to move about much more than I had done through the pregnancy. I was up and about much more after it which really helps.

Tips:

Pelvic partnership website
Keep moving in small bursts
Pack pillows round you when sleeping
Avoid sitting still for long periods
Do the exercises even if it feels like they aren't working because if you don't you get much worse
Trust your body even though it feels like it's let you down
Be really kind to yourself

Good luck!

I had this although not too severely. Only in the last couple of months and I could stand/walk just not for very long.

I was induced but my labour was fine. Had an epidural and a nap. I wasn't particularly mobile but didn't need any instrumental assistance.

You have my sympathies though, spd really fucking hurts!