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SPD
anybody understand what i mean by 'very happy to be pregnant but miserable?'. is there anyone out there with advice on Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD)????? Have become 'trapped' in house but have also just got internet so im stil learning how to use this.
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ive seen a physo but have been told that she wont see me again till after i give birth (im due on the 29th of april) as their is nothing she can do for me yet i have a support belt (the octopus) and have crutches and a wheelchair for going out thanks for the tip il try heat on my hips they get very sore at the moment. its good to speak to someone who understands im struggling at the moment as everyone i know has had amazing trouble free pregencys and think im stupid to be feeling down.
and www.activebirthcentre.com/pb/prspd/.shtml
The consultant said that that pain of the shoulders and SPD would pale into insignificance when i was faced with the pain of labour which did not make me feel any better.
He said that he did not recommend a c section as it would just be another source of pain post delivery and another thing to have to spend time getting over. I can see his point but its really hard to know whats best.
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Regarding lying on your left hand side, the reason they say this is that it gets the baby in the best position for birth. It should have its back on your left hand side, head down, bottom up towards your ribs and its feet/legs on your right. However my GP has said that it won't necessarily work because at the last minute the baby is quite capable of changing its position so at the end of the day you should lie however is comfortable - the baby will do what it wants ultimately.
You could also try painkillers - i have tried paracetamol and codeine - neither really help with the pain but codeine makes you drowsy so helps as far as sleeping goes.
If you find any other solutions let me know - i am feeling pretty desperate and another month seems like a long time to carry on suffering.
Sorry to hear that some of you are bothered by horrible SPD. I had it and was on crutches and house-bound for 2 months before baby born in April 2006. I had acupuncture treatment and took maximum paracetamol doses everyday for the last 4 weeks of pregnancy. I also tried hot and cold packs. They didn't really help much. I know how miserable it could be. My NHS midwife said I might need C-section and that scared me because surely it would be worse to have painful hip and pelvic as well as the usual post-op pain from the C-section.
At 35 weeks, my leg pain got worse and GP worried about DVT, so I was kept in hospital for a day for observation. I knew then that I prefer not to have my baby at my local hospital as I felt uncomfortable with everything there: the bed, the chair being too low, the loo was difficult to get to with crutches, the food was depressing.... etc. I was lucky enough to book an independent midwife at 36 weeks. I learnt hypnobirthing from this midwife and I "trained" myself to look forward to labour and be totally relaxed about it.
My labour started 1 day before my due date. With the breathing technique, I somehow managed to spend most of my first stage labour sitting on the birth ball. I asked my husband and my midwife to help me to the bed when I felt like it. I spent no time at all lying on my back throughout labour. I found it most comfortable lying on all fours leaning against pillows. My second stage labour came very quickly and I wanted to be more upright. Still kneeing on the bed, with my husband supporting my shoulders. I used the J-breathe technique to "push" the baby out and it was the most empowering experience.
I had a 3 hours labour, and didn't actually need any pain relief. I am no hippy and would never deny myself drugs if I needed them. In fact I am a pharmacist myself. Perhaps life is fair that because I had SPD, I had a nice labour in return.
The SPD pain stayed with me after the birth, although it did get slightly better everyday. I found it most distressing breastfeeding at night as holding my baby and sitting upright on the bed was extremely painful. It was also tricky trying to hold baby when I was still on crutches. I ended up using the baby pushchair indoor to get her from room to room. By the time my baby was 5 weeks old, I could walk and everything just got back to normal. I did have both paracetamol and ibuprofen most days for about a month though. The NHS physiotherapist was able to do home visit so I had some exercise sessions with her during the 4th & 5th weeks which I think did help.
Now my baby is almost 11 months old. Each month when hormone levels change, I can still feel mild ache in those same places, but the pain is very mild compared to when I was pregnant. It was horrible, but it wouldn't stop me having another baby when we are ready.
If i don't go into this labour with a bit less fear and feeling a bit more like its something i can tackle, then i don't know how i will cope.
Post withdrawn by MFM HQ at poster’s request
I had my first baby at home using hypnobirthing method. It is actually very scientific as it allows your body to release the right hormones to help labour progress without causing much pain. I had a 3 hours labour and although I could have gas & air and pethdine at home, I didn't actually need pain relief. I also found this book very useful in explaining why people expected labour to be painful and what aggravates pain. The book title is HypnoBirthing???? - The Mongan Method.
The main thing to remember is: your body does know what to do. Any "contraction" you feel is due to the different sets of muscles working in the uterus. If you feel anxious because you can feel contractions, you switch the adrenaline on, which is not good because it diverts blood flow back to the vital organs (brain, heart, limbs for running). When blood flow to the uterus is interrupted, the muscles can't do their jobs and I guess that's when other women feel the extreme pain. Try and stay relax and welcome the contraction sensations. Breath deeply and slowly and imagine all oxygen going to your womb & baby. Each contraction brings you closer to seeing your baby, so keep smiling. The book I mentioned before is very easy to read, do try and get hold of it. My own copy is with my pregnant friend. Good luck. xxxx
- how many weeks after giving birth have people found its best to resume physio/osteopath treatment?
- what painkillers would people recommend in the post birth period which are compatible with breastfeeding?
- which treatments - physio versus osteopath versus chiropracter have people found most useful?
- can anyone recommend a good osteopath that specialises in SPD in the Herts/Beds area? I know Quentin Shaw comes highly recommended but he is based in Tunbridge Wells so I am looking for someone closer.
I am very scared as i keep reading that for many people the condition worsens post labour and given that i am in considerable pain now, the prospect of this terrifies me. I would be very very grateful for people's views on the above. Thank you very much in advance.
Through this pregnancy it all started when about 3mths pregnant I have had two appointments with physio and told nothing else can be done and she said she will see me again a few weeks after birth if needed. Its weird becouse all this started at bottom of my spine and as weeks have gone on that has worn off and now in pubic bone area and around the hips when I first stand up I get pain at back of hips. I was given crutches and a very large tubi grip to help take weight off pelvis and was told I had to go out and buy a belt as they couldnt afford to give any out.
I find sleeping on my back helps. I think if you sleep on your sides (which I find I can sleep better) your putting more weight on that side pulling your pelvis apart more giving more pain when turning over in bed.
Ive a friend at the school where my daughter goes and she also has suffered with spd in her last 2 pregnancies. she is now pregnant with her third and only a couple of weeks to go she hasnt suffered with it this time round.