Anyone have any experience of severe SPD? What are the implications for giving birth? I'm very worried about it...

[missteepog]

I am 26 weeks with severe SPD. I'm on crutches and using a pelvic support belt. Walking just a few steps can be agony. It's pretty grim. I've been signed off work. Can't believe I'm going to have to live with this for another 3 months, maybe longer. But what I'm most worried about is what this means for when I give birth. Other than the SPD my pregnancy has been perfectly healthy and I was hoping for a waterbirth with as few drugs and interventions as possible. Am I kidding myself that this is possible??? And how likely is it that I will damage myself more (perhaps irreparably) with a natural birth? Thanks x

[scoffcat]

Hi there. I had horrendous SPD - could barely walk with crutches, and resorted to borrowing a wheelchair in Sainsburys (which was fantastic). There is some good advice on birth on the pelvic partnership website. I found the midwives at the hospital really helpful - they measured how far I could comfortably separate my knees, so that they wouldn't exceed that once I'd had pain relief. With regard to water birth, they will want to know that you can get in and out of the bath /pool by yourself. If you can do that then it should be fine. We also discussed suitable positions, eg left lateral.

I ended up having a c section, but that was nothing to do with the SPD. My friend also had horrific SPD with both pregnancies and had two natural births, without epidural, so it is definitely possible.

In the meantime, rest is really important, and do take pain relief if you need it - I found it best to keep on top of the pain rather than let it get too bad. A physio gave me good advice like taking stairs one at a time, sleeping with a pillow between my legs, keep knees together when getting in and out of a car or bath or bed. And the support belt helped a lot. Sorry if you already know all this!

You have my sympathy, because the pain is just awful. On the positive side, my pain left immediately after the birth. The morning after my c section I was walking better than I had done in weeks! So it is horrific, but it will end. And a natural birth is definitely still a possibility. Hang in there!

[pregnantbride]

Hi, I'm almost 30 weeks and have SPD but its not anywhere near as bad as both of yours! I too am hoping for a water birth and the things I've read say that it can be good for SPD as the water gives extra support. Like scoffcat said you just need to make the alterations now to make things (a little) more comfortable & then be able to get in and out of the pool when the time comes.

I'm just about to buy a pelvic support as my pain is getting worse now especially at night. Any recommendations?

Good luck with it all.

[missteepog]

Thankyou both so much for your replies.

scoffcat - sorry to hear you didn't get the birth you were hoping for but it's so good to hear that your pain left after you gave birth. This is my biggest worry - that I'll be stuck like this forever. The problem with searching the internet for info is you quickly stumble on the horror stories!

pregnantbride - I got a belt from my physiotherapist. Maybe talk to your GP or midwife and see if you can get a referral for physio - I've found it really helpful. She gives me good exercises to stabilise and strengthen the area.

[Highlandlass22]

Hi. I had really bad hip and back pain that began in earnest at 18 weeks last time, I never knew if it actually was SPD but the hip belt really helped and a friend also gave me a sprain bandage that went from below the bust to hip level, I was very trussed up but in much less pain in the day. I remember the physio saying that it can spontaneously go away and mine disappeared at around 28 weeks so there is hope for relief yet. Good luck

[missteepog]

Highlandlass22 - Thankyou! That does give me hope! I am crossing my fingers...

[scoffcat]

I bought a support belt off the internet, but the one I got from the physio was much better. Worth getting advice, as the right support will help a huge amount.

[NanKing]

This is secondhand advice but I have friend who had chronic SPD in her first two pregnancies. Firstly, her 3rd and 4th pregnancy were a lot better for reasons she is not sure of - so just to say that it does not inevitably get worse with each one (though that may be some way off in your mind if ever!) she has also had straightforward natural births and said that the pain goes soon after birth. I've never had it badly but remember reading that if you do plan to have an epidural it is a good idea to have your birth partner be aware of what is a comfortable distance for you to have your legs apart and what positions are comfy or not before you do because you may not feel the SPD pain at all and could then get into a position where you are putting a lot of pressure on the painful bits without knowing it. So maybe a less medical birth actually has fewer risks with regard to SPD compared with epidural - water should really help too because you are not supporting your own weight throughout. Really hope it goes well for you and that you get the help you need to manage it in your pregnancy. x

[missteepog in reply to NanKing]

Thankyou for this. It really helps to hear other women's stories. My instinct is that water should help so I really hope I can get in the pool... x

[cielo34]

Ladies, I am so pleased to read these replies, so thanks for the post NanKing. I managed to get to 35w symptom free but now at 36w SPD (with a bit of sciatica thrown in) has floored me, and my confidence about walking and labour. However I got belted at my chiro yesterday (Serola Sacroiliac Belt) and some codeine off my GP and can already feel the pain lessen and confidence return a little. I was wondering how on earth I was going to cope with induction next week (37w) although you've spurred me on, so thank you.

[missteepog in reply to cielo34]

Good luck with your induction! Glad to hear you're coping with the pain and getting your confidence back. I haven't tried the codeine yet - I thought I should save it for emergencies - but maybe I will try it now and see if it helps with the day to day yuckiness.

[cheekymonkey3791]

I had SPD later on in the pregnancy then you, was in agony just moving from sofa to bathroom (we're talking 10 meters tops) so was thankful I had taken early mat leave, I was on paracetamol every 6 hours without fail, tried skipping a dose and regretted it hugely. As for birth, I had considered positions, making sure my knees were never too far apart, a water birth and so on to take the pressure off....when it came down to delivery I think no one thought anymore of it or read the notes I had made, I was induced and progressed quickly once waters broke and once my boy was crowing my knees were forced up by my ears and to be honest, the pelvis pain didn't even factor at that stage as I was so focussed on delivery. I have no idea how I did it but only had gas and air at 10cm, its amazing what our bodies can do

Post delivery the pain in pelvis still there up to a week I think (maybe less - bit of a blur( but sooooo much better as it all started to shift back and not carrying that huge weight around helps! X

[missteepog in reply to cheekymonkey3791]

This is great to hear. You sound like a superwoman! I know a lot of women seem to recover quickly from their SPD pain after birth and I hope that's true for me too - I don't want to be hobbling around and not able to carry my little boy!

[cheekymonkey3791 in reply to missteepog]

I don't think so lol. There is no denying it was sore for a few days and I struggled to change him on the floor at first but it got better and then could walk about with him on the breast at all hours, I am sure you will be fine....stay positive

[missteepog in reply to cheekymonkey3791]

Thankyou lovely! x

[brokenmom]

Look up Dr. Jerry Hesch pelvic SPECIALIST Who shows how to manipulate your pelvis and help relieve pain. Your pelvis is out of alignment due to spd. Which effects your si joints and lower back. Until its in place the pain will remain. The longer it remains out...your muscles will get tight and pull due to protection mode. Its a horrible thing. Hopefully you have better luck than me. I am a rare case that never healed. I spent years going to doctors all over trying to find an answer. Cause the pain was so dibilitating. I actually had one doctor tell me the pain was in my head! Another tried to accuse me of seeking pain meds and having an addiction. Which couldnt be farther from the truth. When I told one doctor I cant pick my son up out of crib.. Cause lifting cause so much pain in my pubic area. That i literally drop to my knees in pain. He accused me of having post partum depression. It became such a battle I tried to commit suicide. After 8 years of crippeling pain. I did injection, physical therapy, acupunture...i did it all. But despite my joints were so laxed they would shift daily. Never allowing me to set and heal. The only thing that allows me to function normally is heavy duty pain killers. I have just discovered a story of a women that was similiar to my experience. She had her pubic bone and si joints pinned together. By Dr. Heflet at Hospital for sepcial surgery in New York. She is now pain free. So Dr. Heflet is my next option. Its amazing how hard it is to find a doctor that can help in this situation. I wish you all the best and hope you get better.

- Kat