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[pumpkinpureeandghostlypearls]

I am suffering SPD (for the second time) and just need to vent without driving everyone else on my pregnancy thread mental. Not that they aren't supportive but I still have 20 weeks to go and I don't want to ruin their pregnancies by talking about mine!

Please come and join me so I don't feel so alone, and feel free to share tips if you have any....

Thanks everyone for your support.

I went to the GP yesterday who took one look at me and got me a consultant appointment for next Tuesday. He then phoned one of the consultants to ask about suitable stronger painkillers (I really don't want opioids) and when he explained my situation, the consultant said to not mess around and to try and get me in quicker. So I'm meeting the consultant on Friday at the foetal assessment unit and if all is well they will book me in for induction asap.

I'm still not banking on anything, but it is step forward into the system so I feel hopeful.

The only downside is that DH has gone into a massive panic about him having less time to handover at work (he has a horribly high pressure job) and is unable to provide any support at all. Even when I said I was scared about the thought of induction to him, he just said "Never mind"... Grr. Hopefully he'll find a way through it all.

Mampam, hope you are feeling OK today. Asking at the clinic is a good idea, but why not also call or text your friends and invite them to come and visit? They may well just be caught up in their own lives and not realised that you are unable to get out and feeling a bit blue.

Can I join this thread please. I've had a quick read through & am so sorry to see how much pain a lot of you are in. I am 23 weeks & for the last 6 weeks or so been having hip pain. I'd dismissed it as I've had bursitis in that hip before & thought that it was flaring up again. Saw my mw at 21 wks & she reckoned it may be start of spd. She's now referred for physio but at my appointment on tues said she wasn't sure my discomfort in my privates was due to spd. Everything else seemed fine but am a bit confused now. Did a lot of walking this morning & now really uncomfortable "down there" & back achey too. Is this spd as worried it may be something else as well.

Watercress.. where do you live?
I'm also south west based. Gloucester...

But due to c-section cant drive at the moment..but wont be long.

When is your due date?

Feta that's very kind, but I think it's Mampam that is SW based...

Saw the consultant today at the foetal monitoring unit and am booked in for induction on Monday. I still can't quite believe that it's going to happen (my experience of maternity services is generally appalling so I always believe the worst), but I'm cautiously optimistic that the pain may start to ease soon.

I'll report back as to my experience but thanks again for all the support and advice on this thread.

Take care x

Watercress - sending you lots of hugs and good luck for monday xx

Please return and let us no how everything went - I'm 36 weeks and getting very worried what the next few weeks will bring

I now cannot walk without crutches and although I'm having weekly physio and trying to stay positive I really am undecided what to do about my birthplan

The MW has floated the idea of an ECS however this really isn't pratical for me as I have no one who will be able to help me after the birth and my as DH is self employed he will only be able to have a few days off

But I'm terrified that I won't be able to cope with the labour due to the SPD and will end up with an epidural and an assisted delivery !

Any advice would be most welcome - hoping you're all coping and staying positive

7DW - I have just read your post about your birth plan and must confess it is very reassuring

I think I'm going to follow your advice and draft up a comprehensive and detailed list of what I can and cannot do. It sounds as though your delivery staff where very accomodating and I can only hope I get the same level of understanding !

I have no desire to have a drug free/gas and air only birth but I do want to feel in some sort of control and so perhaps a spinal that I can control myself wouldn't be such a bad idea

My DH thinks I'm worrying too much as when I had my DD 10 years ago my labour was horrendous and I didn't have SPD.I felt very out of control and the MW that delivered DD failed to advise me that she was back to back and refused me anything other than a half dose of morphine and gas and air I ended up with a 3rd degree tear which took months to heal and I think contributed to the PND I suffered later

This time I am determined SPD or not that the labour will be a positive experience and not something I'm traumatised by !!!

Hello

I had an elected C section....

I feel which ever you have you will need as much support as your DP can give you.

If your DD is 10 she will be able to help you and to be honest as long as you can be patient about getting out and about again and are happy to rest at home you will be ok.

My biggest isse was my DD who is 3. I've needed to ger mobile again to be able to do things with her... but HONESTLY a cesarian recovery isnt as bad as you think.

I had mine 2 weeks ago and I do feel I've recovered from that fine.. its the SPD I'm recovering from now..

Good luck UTM..

Watercress... GOOD LUCK FOR TOMORROW... hope you come back soon like me and 7DW.. just can't stay away.

xxx

Thinking of you Watercress (and a little envious) xxxx

waves to all

Will say hello to everyone now as am being a little self-centred.

Had planned a lovely calm final week (very few people in RL know I am going in on Friday so that I don't get those annoying "Any news yet?" texts) with no playdates, dinner out with DH (he'll be drunk in charge of wheelchair onj the way home I imagine) baby shower on Weds night, lunch with my mum yesterday. Has not yet gone to plan. Waited all day Monday for MW to show up for weekly appt. No-one showed. No-one answered the phone at their office. So I sat with my swollen ankles and missed lunch out and didn't get a nap and started to panic because they have yet to discuss my birth plan with me, yet to confirm that they have, in fact, sorted me a single room and made the ward-staff aware of my condition and the limitations of it, yet to generally reassure me that the staff will take my pain seriously this time and not laugh at me as they did last time. So spent most of the evening in tears. When MW eventually returned my calls this morning she wanted to know why they were seeing me weekly (they've been doing it for about 6 weeks and visiting me at home since 28 weeks so why she doesn't know who I am or what is wrong is a little alarming to say the least) Genrally just frustrated by total lack of communication on their part. Being part of a Group Practice is supposed to ensure I get better care and friendlier service. Didn't happen last time and doesn't seem to be happening this time. Now very worried about going in on Friday.

MW came yesterday in the end: she seemed to get stuck on the fact that I had PND last time (thought I ought to get doc to write me a prescription for anti-depressants in advance just to be sure) and on the fact that I'd rather an episiotomy than the fact that I can't actually walk to the bathroom by myself. Seriously....my current condition is surely more of a concern at this point than whether or not i will get PND again. And if I do, quite frankly, it will be easier to deal with than SPD. She also thought I might be better off with a private room: this comment has been made by the last four midwives at the last four appointments and they all said they'd sort it but don't seem to communicate so none of them seem to have done anything about it. Glad DH is a lawyer as he will be coming with me (and my crutches, zimmer, wheelchair and large box of prescription painkillers) on Friday. I might need his skills.Gah. Will shut up, eat chocolate, and come back in a perkier mood.

Hi P & P

Surely just because you had PND depression last time does not automatically mean that you will suffer this time I have friends who have suffered in one pregnancy and been fine in subsequent pregnancys.

I don't think it is unique in group practise midwives having a complete lack of communication. Along with the SPD I have an under active thyroid for which I take thyroxine. My bloods must be tested every 4 weeks whilst I am PG to ensure the levels are stable. When I went last week I saw a MW with whom I've had no previous contact and she thought my need for a four weekly blood test was something to do with the SPD !!!

I have now decided that I and my DH are both going to need to be extremely vocal if I stand any chance of having a say in what sort of birth experience I do or do not want !

Meanwhile I am determined that this horrible debilitating condition will not get me down and the delivery of my Bugaboo on Saturday has filled me with joyous thoughts of lovely long pain free walks during the summer months

Sending you a cheer up hug - good luck for Friday xx

Hello. A very quick post from me...

Had DD2 on Tuesday morning after induction. Labour was not nice, mainly because I had immense hip pain after each contraction (worse than contraction pain) and couldn't get my legs apart for examinations etc. Pethidine had the unusual effect of speeding me from 3cm to 10cm in 20 minutes with no associated pain relief, then it was too late for an epidural.

Ended up with ventouse delivery with no pain relief at all. Dr was very good and managed to do it by keeping my knees together but feet apart,, so avoided a section. And as soon as DD was out, the hip pain disappeared. SPD gone. Miraculous.

So no pain (other than childbirth associated but no tear either this time) now, no belt required and no Tens machine. Mobility is returning!

DD is gorgeous. She's called Shona and was 6lb 2oz. Feeding is now (36 hours on) going well and she's being a bit of a star. DD1 (aged 3) is delighted and a bit too excited!

Will catch up with others comments when I have more time...

Congratulations Watercress! Ow for no pain relief but wow, what a result with the miraculous SPD departure! Here's hoping that for all of us. Shona sounds just beautiful.

This is my second pg and I until now thought it was going better than last time. But in the last week I have had severe pain in the lower back and around the pelvic girdle, plus stabbing in the pubis area. I couldn't walk at all on Monday night and spent all of yesterday in bed. Even with non stop heat packs and rest for the last 2 days my whole back is still frozen up. It is a real blow after making it to 22 weeks without any really bad episodes, but it now looks like it's back. The lower back / pelvic pain is very much the way it started last time.

Has anyone used an osteopath? I can see my obsteric physio as often as I need, but it's an hour's drive and I feel like I need something nearer and just for some general pain relief rather than diagnosis and monitoring. My GP's husband is an osteopath and lives locally, so I am thinking of enquiring. Any experiences?

Yay Watercress, you give me hope!! Congratulations!!!

[Pops head round door to say hello and goodbye.....assuming there's room I'll be off to the hospital first thing, hoping it won't take as long as last time. I'll keep you posted xx]

Hi there,

I was wondering has anyone else had a nerve block operation done?

I suffered really badly with spd from 16 weeks - I was using a wheelchair and couldnt walk or go to the toilet.

I ended up getting a local anaethestic and having a nerve block done on my pelvic joints - cant remember exact names. Anyways within 2 weeks I was back to normal...I am now 24 weeks and honestly I cannot believe that was me. I was in a really really bad way and have a 10month old daughter who I had to put into full time care. I still needed pain relief for 2 weeks but by 3 weeks after the operation have taken nothing - not even a paracetmol.

At the moment I am praying it doesnt come back. But my consultant has said that if it does, he will happily do another procedure on me.

Anyone else have one?

No baby0909 but that sounds amazing- could do with one now!!

Just popping in to say that, after the most tedious six day induyction, Annabel Violet Grace was born on Wednesday night at 7.10pm. Walked out of the hospital on crutches (yay!!!) and lookig forward to ditching them once the epidural has fully worn off.

CONGRATULATIONS Pureeandpearls. Well done you.

Baby0909 that sounds amazing. What happens when it wears off? Do you have to take it easy so as not to do more damage when you can't feel it?

I've had some acupuncture today, doesn't seem to have done anything so far but the Physio did say it may take a few sessions to get the full effect. Left the hospital with crutches though.

Being housebound really isn't much fun is it?

Big congrats pureeandpearls - beautiful name. Hope you are off crutches shortly.

Mampam, if it wears off you can just get another block done to last til end of pregnancy. I still go to physio but I havent needed to take it easy - I also saw a specialist orthopaedic surgeon who said to carry on as normal (within reason) so that the muscles dont weaken - so do some swimming and walking...could never imagined that a month ago!!

Also can anyone tell me if their consultant is happy for them to take solpadol (codeine based painkiller) - I took it for 3 weeks and am so concerned abt effect on baby - would love some reassurance for anyone?? thanks very much

boohoohoo can I join? SPD started again this week (I am about 18 weeks) I had it with my previous DC and was hoping that I wouldn't this time. Will try to read the thread from the OP

congratulations to all the new mummys on here

Well this week have been to see the physio and she was great and has given me loads of tips i am going to try and start aquanatal tomorrow night, pilates and swimming! she thinks after 2 years of pain post delivery it may be repairable so time will tell.

When i saw the consultant she has told me no to a section as there is no real benefit to me or the baby as i have rapid deliverys but she has agreed to an induction at 37 weeks we are very happy about that and now just have to work on controlling the bp etc!

Congratulations Puree - well done !!!!

I'm sure you'll soon be crutch free and enjoying lovely walks with your baby girl

I have an appointment with the consultant on Wednesday where I intend to stamp my feet and demand that I am allowed to give birth in the nice new midwife led pool suite rather than in the nasty old delivery suite at my local hospital !

Hope everyone is staying positive xx

Congratulations puree! Beautiful names.

mampam Have you had acupuncture on the NHS? I've had it once before privately for a differnt issue and would be quite interested.

My physio said not to try the osteopath at this stage, but thumbs up to gentle massage. So I have found a local massage therapist who is coming weekly to give me a nice calming relaxing massage - mostly focussing on the upper/middle back tension which is getting worse through crutches use. She's not going near the pelvis, just freeing up the rest of my back. Not sure if it'll achieve much, but it would be nice just to feel relaxed.

baby09 I hate anything with codeine in it as it causes agony in my tummy for days afterwards. So far I have taken ONE 8/500 tablet and I just thought it wasn't worth it. It's a pain (no pun intended) as the only other option is straight paracetamol which I am knocking back like crazy though it doesn't seem to do much.

utm Fingers crossed for your meeting. You'll probably have to convince them that you can get in and out of the pool OK so be prepared for that. Good luck.