anyone who has had severe SPD, how was childbirth...?

[limetictacs]

Is there anyone who has had severe SPD and laboured naturally or had a c section? How was it and how was the recovery?

I only ask because I'm 34+2 now and my SPD is getting unbearable. Thinking of asking to be induced early but I'm worried about the actual birth as I can't move/change position. If I did have a vaginal delivery I'd want an epidural however I'm concerned about having my legs manoeuvred and then suffering afterwards. I'm actually thinking of asking for a C-Section but know that isn't ideal due to recovery time etc.

[BlueFishWonder]

Hi Lime, no advice but did want to comment as I am 33 weeks and in a similar position. Daytime is manageable, I hobble about and can't sit for any periods of time, but night time is getting worse and worse, I keep wondering how will I cope for the next 7 weeks like this and I am terrified enough about childbirth based on experience with DS1, the SPD element is making me even more worried!

[deleted203]

If it's any help to you both I had severe SPD with last pregnancy (was on crutches from about 20+ weeks) and yet I had an easy labour and it didn't bother me at all. I would say that it was baby No 5 and all my labours were only about 3 hours long though. After the birth the SPD simply vanished entirely. Don't know if that is reassuring at all.

[Pollaidh]

I had severe SPD and laboured naturally. I was not allowed in the pool as they felt I wasn't mobile enough to get out in an emergency. However each room had a deep bath so I got in that and did most of the labour there, and it helped a lot. I also used hypnobirthing for 3 days of the labour, and felt that this gave me a very positive experience, although i still needed pain relief in the last few hours. A warm hot water bottle between thighs/ lower back also helped when not in the water, but really the bath was a lifesaver.

If you have underlying hypermobility (hypermobile women are more likely to get SPD as the ligaments are already extremely lax) then you are at increased risk of tearing and also PPH as the connective tissues are weak. You should also be aware that local anaesthetics tend not to work as well in hypermobile women. If you just have SPD I don't think these are an issue.

You need to measure the maximum leg opening without pain, tie some string around it so you can use that a a guide in labour. You will need to brief your partner and MW very strongly about not opening legs beyond this, otherwise you may well make the SPD worse. In the extremes of labour or if you have an epidural or spinal you won't notice what's happening. If there's an emergency though I found that they just yank your legs apart and do what's needed, however many warnings they've had... This happened to me and my sister in emergency situations.

I have been told that women with SPD labour more quickly as everything's already loose, but can't say I noticed that with my 3 day labour, or with similar friends.

Recovery involved a couple of months still using crutches (for outside only), which was tricky with a newborn. Then another 2 years of pain and physio. But then I had severe SPD with underlying severe hypermobility. I kept bf for 9 months, and my physio said that would keep the SPD going longer.

For current pregnancy I am encouraged to have a C-sec due to severe tearing. The fact it would reduce my pregnancy length by up to 4 week and avoid a stirrups situation is something that I am factoring in to my decision.

[redandwhitesprinkles]

I was on crutches from 36 weeks, had pain until recently (birth nearly a year ago). Physio helped but breastfeeding does increase the likelihood of pain continuing (I did to 6 months).

I had an emergency section but got to 7cms.

[limetictacs]

I don't have a history of hypermobility and this is my second DC but I had a 22 hour labour first time round and DS was back to back. So far DD has been back to back too but she may have moved however I'm dreading another long back to back labour.

I'm also worried about having my legs in stirrups due to having an epidural and having them opened too far as I think it will just break me. The pain is already getting unbearable and I can't imagine this on top of the normal afterpains of childbirth.

I am thinking would an ELCS be a better idea as then I know what the recovery is and that it isn't going to worsen the SPD as I don't have to move my legs. If the SPD was going to disappear after the birth this would presumably happen with a c-section or a vaginal birth. Also I plan to breastfeed for as long as possible, with DS this was until he was almost 2, so does that mean I'll have SPD all this time??

[deleted203]

I didn't know this about breast feeding increasing the likelihood of pain - but I breast fed until DS was about 18 months, yet SPD disappeared at birth, so it's not all doom and gloom.

[simbaandblue]

I had SPD during pregnancy, wasnt too bad but bad enough for me to need physio and sleep was difficult and by the end I wasn't very mobile really. However, my sons delivery 9 weeks ago was horrendous. A number of things went wrong but when they put me in stirrups I protested because of my SPD but they did it any way and the pain from my SPD was so bad that I wasn't able to deliver him and had to be taken to theatre for forceps and I then had a hem. It was horrific and my SPD has got worse and worse since delivery, I'm in agony and sometimes unable to look after my son. I have a physio ap tomorrow hoping they fix me because I can't cope!!!
For my next one I'm getting a c section, not just because of the SPD, but it's a factor!
Sorry this hasn't been very positive good luck lovely xx

[harrygracejessica]

My consultant decided I couldn't open my legs enough to give birth without causing myself more damage so offered a c- sec which I took.

After the 3rd birth (all c-secs but 5 babies) I had physio and it was the best thing I've ever done.

[Alanna1]

I ended up on crutches which was pretty miserable. However I was promptly referred to some excellent women's heath physios by the hospital and also saw one privately (as I didn't want to wait). I then had to do loads of exercise (c.9 hours a week) but it made a massive difference - was off crutches, got movement and a lot of flexibility back.

Labour was fine, under 5 hours from start to finish. Some tears:(.

[Grumpla]

I was not on crutches but wore a brace for the last few months.

As soon as DS2's head descended in early labour I actually felt a lot less pain (apart from those pesky contractions, obviously!) and one midwife said his head was basically acting as an internal brace.

I laboured on my knees leaning forward onto the sofa with my legs pretty close together, and delivered in a squat without opening my legs particularly wide! I had pillows etc to support my knees during internals and these were kept to a minimum.

It was surprisingly easy and my recovery afterwards was extraordinarily quick. I hope you're as lucky!