I wrote a guest post about being pregnant and having severe synthesis pubis disorder, but I never followed up my story, so here it is.
I was induced 2 weeks early because I had been put in a wheel chair. I was on a morphine patch, which Lilli became addicted to. They told me I’d be kept in for a couple of days because Lilli would be poorly from withdrawal symptoms from lack of morphine.
I was allowed nothing but gas and air, if I needed a c-section, I’d have to be put completely under. I was fine with the contractions, but when I started to push was when the hell started. I don’t remember much about it, I was deep in a ‘birth coma’, but I do remember I was agony and much worse than the other two. After I gave birth, I cried for 10 minutes, It felt like I’d been stabbed in my pelvis, I didn’t even notice that I’d delivered my gorgeous baby girl; I was in too much pain.
The midwife told me that she was certain I’d snapped my muscles in my pelvis, because she’s heard them snapping (as had Dan, who was covered in blood where I’d accidedently ripped my canula out when grabbing for the gas and air). I was embarressed that I’d been screaming my head off, but she told me that she expect a lot worse considering what had happened to my pelvis.
The time came for me to have a shower, but I couldn’t stand. My husband and the midwife had to lift me onto a wheelchair just so I could shower.
I spent 5 days in hospital, Lilli was discharged only 5 hours after she was born (no withdrawal symptoms, she was perfect) but obviously stayed with me. When I, finally, left the hospital I had to wear a girdle and was still on my walking sticks.
Lilli is almost 5 months old and I can’t walk without my walking stick or pushchair to lean on. I’m on a cocktail of pills for pain and to reduce the swelling. I have also developed a problem with my kidneys (not related) and sciatica (most likely caused by SPD).
I have physio every 2 weeks and am due for a scan in September on my muscles to check how my torn muscles are healing and plan the next step. I can no longer return to work (I worked with horses) and all the qualifications I have are useless because none apply for a job I could actually do.
If I fell pregnant now, I’ve been told, I’d be in a wheelchair as soon as I started to show and would have to have a c-section. SPD has, pretty much, ruined my working life. My dr is optimistic, they say if they can find the source of my swelling, they can, hopefully, combat the pain and damage cause by SPD.
Any women who get diagnosed have my deepest sympathy, its a evil and very common disorder. But most Dr’s don’t know their bottom from their elbow when it comes to diagnosing it and treating it.
Amy Whyley
@amywhyley
www.amumsmadness.com
Related articles
- Giving Birth With SPD (therealsupermumblog.com)
About The Real Supermum
I suffered with SPD with my second child, although I didn’t suffer it anywhere near as bad as you, its awful to think what you have had to go through so you have my deepest sympathy. My lil girl is almost 9 months now and I still suffer with it on n off. Its not as bad as when I was pregnant but I can’t walk for very long without being in pain in my pelvis. I was told that if i get pregnant again then i will more than likely suffer with it again but worse and having read your story it has definately put me off having more children. The thing is even though its a common condition (especially in subsequent pregnancies) doctors seem reluctant to do do anything about it untill u literally can’t walk. I 1st had the symptoms of SPD at around 12 weeks but I wasn’t diagnosed with it untill around 31 weeks, even though i’d been describing the symptoms to my doc and midwife at every visit. I was only diagnosed by a consultant after I’d been rushed in to hospital cos i fainted in the middle of mothercare (wasn’t related to spd). It really grates me that docs and midwifes just dnt seem to pic it up. I hope you recover soon hun xx
I suffered from it awfully with 1st pregnancy and was getting really bad symptoms at the beginning of the 2nd. I believe a very good physiotherepist who takes you through very controlled pilates exercises early on, as the pain appears will help. So will avoiding staying still, sitting or lying in anything hard for more than a couple of minutes. It seems to have helped me, even though it took me a long time to recover from the 2 pregnancies. (about half a year after finishing breastfeeding)
It really amazes me about the lack of knowledge about SPD. I had the condition too – nothing nearly as bad as Supermum though. I cannot imagine the pain went through, and are still continuing to try to control.
I had a great physio who helped me realign my pelvic girdle while pregnant. This eased the pain a great deal, but I was amazed at the lack of awareness in the labour wards. What’s more, there was no physio follow up after I gave birth.
It took a long time for my frame to stabilise, and I’m still not great at pushing things with my feet, or running, 15 months on.
I would like to see more awareness raised of this crippling condition, to support new mums at one of their most vulnerable times.
I sincerely hope your doctor can help you very soon, and take care.
mammasaver xx
I too suffered with SPD during my first pregnancy from 20 weeks pregnant I was in a wheel chair and was induced 2 weeks early resulting in an emergency c-section due to my son getting in distress. I was told all the way through the pregnancy that things would improve quickly afterwards – but at 6 months on I was still needing support to walk and couldn’t play with my little one on the floor so he spent much of the time sitting on my lap. I saw a physio every week after having him. At 7 months post-partum something changed though, I was doing core stability classes and doing them at home and all of sudden I was able to walk unsupported. We accidentally got pregnant 9 months after giving birth and I had been warned from the start that I would be wheel chair bound again by around 12 weeks (as soon as I started to show) – however although I had twinges it was nothing, the day before my daughter was born I walked 1 mile up hill.
I have a good friend who also suffered and inbetween pregnancies has had her pelvic girdle fused which has really helped her this pregnancy.
I had never heard of SPD and my mid-wife just waved off my pain at 6 weeks as normal pregnancy pains but they weren’t. I really hope that your doctor can help you.
Toddlingintomadness xxx
In my opinion doctors need to be made more aware about how to diagnose, listen and treat this, I was ignored from 16 weeks in my pregancy and told my hip pain was normal pregnancy until at 34 weeks it was unbearable. xx
i suffered with SPD in my 2nd pregnancy but it wasnt this bad! I couldnt cope with the pains i had so wow ur strong to keep going xx
so sorry to hear that u have had such a terrible time with spd i had spd altho nowhere near as bad as urs mine was mild to moderate pain and i was only in pain until 2 wks after i had given birth i do hope ur ok now xxx
I’m sorry to hear that. I haven’t experience this before. Hope you will get a fast recovery.
omg, sounds horrifying and so painful! hope that in time to come it will ease up for you xx
I had SPD with my 2nd pregnancy but luckily it wasn’t too bad x
women are not supported enough with spd… i suffered very badly with my 4th (nothing with the others) i was induced for other reasons but had to be helped onto the bed and was told to be careful with my legs… that midwife went off shift and noone cared !
I had spd with my second, it was so horrible, but I didn’t noway near as bad as you, must of been so horrible
xx