Anyone else have a family history of spd?

[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!

[LionsandBears]

Fiona - they look really good. Do you just do the pilates or are you able to do the pregnancy fitness classes?

[fionas]

Only the pilates as I don't drive so I have to time my sessions with DP's shifts as it is so its a bit of a juggle. Too far from the train station for me to walk at the moment. The tram stop is not too bad but often I'd have to stand all the way home which kind of defeated the point!

But let me know if you're going along and we could maybe meet for coffee before/after - there's a little Deganis cafe downstairs.

[LionsandBears]

Fiona - I do clinical pilates close to home. Would love to catch up though. I'm still driving, but I restrict it cos of bumps/corners etc all playing with the SPD