SPD - advice with choice of cs/ vd for post natal recovery please!

[raff]

Anyone able to advise?!...SPD with preg 3. Been v painful, on crutches. Physio and mw both been brill - v. supportive and one of concerns was about the time it will take post natally for me to recover if I have a VD. Mw was very honest and said "don't know". Also, having had 2 Vds, I know full well what the birth proces is like and will push me beyond my opening legs spd pain.... therefore, finding it hard to relax about natural birth this time. Saw consultant last week but got the impresion cons thinks I'm a wimp. Issue is, he has said he will give me a cs if I want one. Do I say yes please and know that in 4-6 weeks, I should recover or go for natural with unknown PD recovery time ?..I've got 2 very beautiful and vvvv! lively boys of 3&4 to think about too. Anyone guide on post natal SPD recovery?

My spd wasn't as bad as yours but it magically disappeared as soon as ds2 was born (VD). In fact I can't remember thinking about it from the moment that I went into labour. From what I remember being told I think that this is fairly typical but it may be different in severe cases. What does your physio say?

physio says that physically yes I can give birth naturally but drummed into me that my pain free gap was only 10 degrees and I should make this clear to midwives etc. What worried me about the conultant is that he said "that means nothing to me" - which ha made me worry even more about the management of the birth. Physio also went from - "this usually corrects itself soon after birth - make an appointment post naturally if you're still uncomfortable after a couple of months" to "I will need to see you after the birth" Midwife was one who suggested seeing consultant and i suppose they are the one able to compare cases . I'm tring to make a decision based on known/ unknown after care. I really want to be told what to do and feel a bit pathetic as I should be able to make a choice for myelf and stick to it!

right I have had very severe post natal spd crippling leading to depression and allsorts. 14 mths now and slowly getting better but had relapse last week and was on crutches.
the reason is that my stomach muscles are screwed from two surgeries. Appendix while pregnant and ectopic 3 yrs ago. Cut similar to csection.
this in turn put strain only back leading to sacri iliac dysfunction, led to misaligned pelvis led to trapped leg nerves and immobile groin.
I would say try to avoid surgery based on this.

I did have crippling spd when I was pregnant with my 3rd, crutches the lot, I saw an osteopath when I was pregnant which helped loads, I made sure that I didn't give birth on my back - knelt on all fours. It improved loads after the birth. The spd did return much earlier in my 4th pregnancy but was nowhere near as bad (because I knew what it was and was more careful about what I did). I saw the osteopath postnatally as well but have back problems as well. It didn't improve to 99% better until after I gave up breastfeeding but it didn't impact on my life during that time.

Now it only troubles me very occasionally probably during certain times of my cycle if I kick a football or something but it is just a bit sore and wears off over night.

I wouldn't go for the c-section myself as most of the damage is done from the pregnancy anyway - I had large babies my 3rd and 4th were 9lb2 & 9lb10 if you think that may make a difference.

thanks all!

I had bad SPD with my DD. I gave birth on my side, and had no problems at all. I also made sure that the midwives delievering her were aware of the problems, and when they did the stitches, they kept my knees together while lifting both feet together to put them in the stirrups, to minimise risks. I think the giving birth on my side was a life saver, and I was home the same day, and went out for a walk (crutch free!) the very next day.

Just removing the weight of the baby, and the change in hormone levels will help in iself, and from the other people I've spoken to, a vaginal delivery with SPD that's managed properly by the delivery midwives will have a much quicker recovery time, and less over problems with breastfeeding etc than a c-section.

Hope it goes ok for you x