SPD (Pelvic Instability) and Birthing Choices - Your Stories Wanted

[sweetpea678]

Hi,

Here is my answers to your quetiosns.

1. How far into your pregnancy did you get SPD? started getting hip pains around 24wks, though was not diganosed and didn't get to bad till 34 weeks.


2. Before the birth, how severe (1-10, one being the lowest, 10 being the highest) would you say your SPD was? eg. 1 being a bit niggly, 3 you needed a belt, 8, you needed crutches, 10 you were wheelchair-bound. 3 most of the time, and 4-5 at night would need to wake dh to turn me over help me out of bed etc to go to loo and hold walls to walk.

3. If you had a vaginal birth, how long was your pushing stage and in what position? Did you have forceps/vacuum? Birthed on bed in a semi reclined postion slightly on side with midwife just holding leg up at knee enough for bub to get threw. Durring transition etc, my dh would push my hips together with each contraction and that helped heaps. The pushing stage was 12 minutes. no forceps etc.


5. How severe was your SPD after the birth (using the same scale as before) and how long was it before you could bend, walk or stand relatively painlessly? instant pain relief and was walking etc with out support withing an hour. Have had a few days of niggle pain on and off since but nothing bad.

6. How did you manage your SPD eg. wearing a belt, regular clinical pilates etc. etc.? I wore a support band and had massages and physio. Kept walking to a minnimum.

hope this helps you out.

[bianca73]

Not sure if you are still after info, but this is my part:

1. How far into your pregnancy did you get SPD?
With my first I was diagnosed about 5 weeks prior to giving birth.
With my second I knew I was pregnant as my pelvis started to give away and I was on crutches from 6 weeks onwards

2. Before the birth, how severe (1-10, one being the lowest, 10 being the highest) would you say your SPD was? eg. 1 being a bit niggly, 3 you needed a belt, 8, you needed crutches, 10 you were wheelchair-bound.
With my first 8
With my second 9 - 10 (needed a wheelchair but refused as I had a toddler in house) I did however needed a wheelchair when going out or shopping centre (motorised scooter from centre)

3. If you had a vaginal birth, how long was your pushing stage and in what position? Did you have forceps/vacuum?

With my first complete from start (contractions) to finish (holding my son) 4,5 hours. I was lying on my side with nurse holding up my leg to where i was able to.
With my second complete from start to finish 3 hours. Also on my side with nurse holding leg. Borth my births were very easy with no complications, no interventions or medications


5. How severe was your SPD after the birth (using the same scale as before) and how long was it before you could bend, walk or stand relatively painlessly?
10 as I could not do anything like get my baby from lying on bed to into my arms.. (this is same bed as I was in)
It was at least 1 year and a couple of months before I was able to do things with not a great deal of pain

6. How did you manage your SPD eg. wearing a belt, regular clinical pilates etc. etc.?
Had crutches, belt, tubigrip, clinical pilates, physio, osteo. But I found that once money ran out for those and I had to stop seeing them, I started to feel a lot better and was able to ditch my crutches for most of the time. Still need it when going walking for short distance.

My youngest will be 2 in February

Good luck

[Smoke Jaguar]

Oooh, that bump is really timely!
I've just got back from my yoga class - I started classes again about 4 weeks ago and I can't wait for my osteo appointment next week. Why? So that I can see her face when she sees my range of movement and the evenness of my hips!
I was in NZ last week and it was only the day I returned (the Friday) that I realised I hadn't used my thigh pillow for...about 3 weeks...funny that! I hadn't used it and didn't notice I hadn't used it, whereas previously I would grab at it and impatiently put it into place to ease the pain.
I have felt so limber and active and haven't really had to monitor my movements (or control them carefully to avoid wide or uneven movements) because I'm more inherently balanced and centred. Granted, my core strength has been excellent for years through horse-riding, but the yoga practice has give me a very balanced feeling, as well as thoroughly more energetic. I think the SPD kind of got me seized up and now I"m more 'released'.
Anyway, I recommend yoga. As it's about balance, a lunge on one side will always be counterbalanced and you can take it as deep as you feel comfortable.
The trick is to make sure you find a class you like at a time that someone can take your child...this was the reason it took me so long to return to yoga...3 years!