Anyone else have a family history of spd?

[misty]

The only kind of exercise I could tolerate was swimming (although it probably looked more like a drowning cow, then any kind of swimming stroke ).

[nickle730]

No family history here and I've had it very badly in both my previous pg's.

My mum has no idea how painful it is and basically made me feel like I was a whingeing pregnant woman.

[~clover~]

nickle - I feel like that alot. Not many people IRL have even heard of it, let alone get how bad it is. Especially since most of us really don't winge all that much about it outside BB! I know alot of women who've had babies, but have only heard of one other with spd before I had it. & that happened while she was in labour, not through the pregnancy.
It seems even the ob I asked about it last time though I was just a sook too. Even though I put up with it for a good few months before even asking about it!

[AnyDream]

No family history here either, I had it baaaaad with my second pg, no signs at all during my first.

I was actually pretty fit - had been bellydancing for ages prior to my 2nd pg and I often wonder if it was the increased mobility in my pelvis from all that dancing that did it. Ssssssh you didn't hear it from me...

I think it's one of those things - people expect that a heavily pregnant woman will have some (minor) pain/discomfort - women at that stage of their pregnancies tend to complain loudly and soak up the attention - unfortunately this means that those who have an unusually high level of pain get ignored/overlooked even often by their caregivers.

Here's my advice: whatever you do, don't push through the pain!!!

[fionas]

Clover - I can't 100% promise but I KNOW I have two, just need to find my spare. PM me your address because you'd be most welcome to it.

Heat is probably the worst thing you can do. Your pelvis is already inflamed, you need ice to cool it and settle it. I put one on once DD has gone to bed and then put another one on as I'm going to go to sleep. If I get chance before DD wakes up, I also do it in the morning. So usually three times per day. Also sleep with a pillow between your knees.

Although I'm housebound because I can't walk far and don't drive, I've been able to struggle on by getting DP to jiggle his shifts and putting DD into childcare for two days a week. BUT, a couple of BB girls have told me about a scheme through which you can get in-home for your kids for 13 weeks. I haven't got desperate enough to use it yet but with three kids, I think it's something you should consider. Will dig out the stuff and send it to you.

Yep, I hear you on the whinging thing. I didn't say much in my last pregnancy because I kept being told it would go away after the birth. So I pretty much carried on as normal despite being in A LOT of pain because I thought I was being a trooper. Even sent DP back to work after five days even though I was wheeling myself around the house in an office chair because I was so delighted to be a mum, the pain didn't matter. Well, that was dumb because six months later I still couldn't walk more than five minutes at a time and spent a lot of time in the house. Couldn't even get down comfortably on to the floor to play with DD for 12 months and ended up in tears when I had to ask another mum to take her on a bouncy castle cos I couldn't do it myself. The pain was one thing, being isolated (I don't drive) and not being able to play with my daughter was extremely upsetting.

So, I've learnt my lesson. I never, ever want to feel that way again so now I speak about it very vocally and don't give a rats if people think I'm a whinger because out of the last three years, I've been pain free for about six months. I usually find that when people ask about the pain, if you tell them that it feels like there's a guy holding each leg ripping you apart through your vagina, then people get the gist. I tell DP to imagine being kicked hard in the balls every 30 seconds and see if he'd go around with a happy smile on his face.

The good news is that if you do things to manage it, you can control the pain levels. I'm in much less pain this time around because I'm managing it much better. I'm going totally bonkers from not being able to leave the house BUT the upside is that the pain is under control.

[~clover~]

Thankyou all. Will pm you tomorrow Fiona. Gotta clear my pm's first! The ice thing makes alot of sence! I actually bought an anti inflammitory gel a few weeks ago, only to get it home & realise I couldn't use it!
I was also told it'd go away within 6 weeks of birth. That part sucked. Waiting months on end for it to finally go away. Trusting your care givers, to end up feeling like you've been lied too.
I also tell everyone about it. I like the way you describe it above I usually go into detail, trying to get the point across. That you feel like the pubic bone is broken, then the sharp pains in your groin with every step you take. The nerve pains if you turn your foot the wrong way. The outside hip joint pain after you've done too much. Thats all I have for now. I'm waiting for the rest.
Bed isn't too bad here yet. I used to wake up, kinda feeling like my pelvis had been pushed too hard back together. Like there was fire right on my pubic bone. & the hip I slept on was very hot & sore if I stayed in one spot for too long, but I haven't got that yet. & I can still roll over in bed...that suprises me! It was a bit later that all started with DS, so I guess I have plenty of time!

[fionas]

Do PM me your details clover - pelvises of the world unite!

You do have to listen to your body - if it's starting to get sore, then you need to listen and stop doing it OR make sure you ice a lot that day if you have to carry on doing what's making you sore. There were days where I had to do a lot of bending because I was packing the house ready to move - pretty unavoidable but I would then ice for three hours in the evening so that I wouldn't be sore the next day.

As far as post-recovery goes, mine was so long because of the birth. For MOST women it does go away within six weeks BUT the birth also impacts that. I had a long chat with my physio a couple of months ago and she basically said:

1. The position you're in and the length of the pushing phase can further damage your pelvis. It's not the length of the labour as such, just the pushing phase. In my case, she told me I had to make sure that my caregivers would take me for a caesar after 20 mins pushing. Given that it took almost three hours of pushing which did no good and I then had a high forceps delivery with DD, I wasn't confident with this one that I would get her out within 20 minutes OR whether I could trust my midwives/ob to listen to that instruction about a 20 minute limit.

2. Usually a caesar is not recommended as it generally takes longer to recover from than a vaginal birth. This is because a caesar cuts into the muscle and the muscles are needed to support the pelvis. However, a caesar does not have the potential to further damage the pelvis itself which a vaginal birth does. I asked her how long for the muscles to recover and she said best case scenario if you do the exercises they recommend, a couple of weeks. Worst case scenario a couple of months.

Based on that and the fact that a couple of months sounds like an absolute walk in the park compared to the 18 month recovery I had last time following a VB, I've chosen an elective caesar.

I'm not trying to sway you one way or another, I'm just mindful of the fact that you had a long recovery last time and I'm also conscious that it took me A LONG time to get decent information that allowed me to make an informed decision about this birth so hope that helps you.

[LionsandBears]

Fiona - I note you're in Melbourne. It would probably be difficult for you to get there, but I've just started seeing a physio who specialises in pelvis stuff in Malvern Women's and Men's Health Physio

From what I've read on the internet and the information the physio gave me, birthing position is essential to prevent further damage. They recommend against forceps or ventouse or anything where somemone grabs your legs apart. The best positions recommended are either on all fours or on the side (even squatting is out). The worst is flat on your back or partially seated, as the pressure transfers to the pubic bone.

The other thing is to take a peice of ribbon or string that shows just how far you can spread your legs without pain and tie it around your knees, so no-one forces the legs open. Water birth can also help. I'm planning a home water hypnobabies birth so hope I can get it. Though when I'm feeling really sore I get pessimistic and imagine bub will end up breech or something and that wil really stuff things up.

I read a birth story where bub was born ok even though mum barely parted her legs to let him through (i know that keeping your legs together can damage bub, so they just have been very careful).

The way I've described the pain is - imagine someone's put your hips in a vice, taken a mallet or baseball bat to your pubic bone and then bashed your lower back around just for kicks. Then try walking, climbing stairs, rolling out of bed etc.

clover - one of the tricks the physio taught me is when rolling over in bed, don't roll over on your back. Say you're on your right side (pillow bw your knees). Keeping your knees togther, prop yourself up on your elbows or hands and knees then lower youself gently to the other side. I also now get into bed this way, rather than sitting and swinging my legs over. It still hurts, but not as much. My physio said the most important thing is to stop the inflammation, so rest, ice, how you position yourself really counts.

[fionas]

Thanks tashy - I go to FItwise weekly which specialises in this and have been since before the birth of my first daughter. They have seen hundreds, if not thousands, of women with pelvic instability and also do postnatal hospital visits so I'm happy with their care.

[AnyDream]

I usually find that when people ask about the pain, if you tell them that it feels like there's a guy holding each leg ripping you apart through your vagina, then people get the gist.

Gee I wish I'd had this descriptor when I was pregnant!