I can’t remember exact time frames with regards to dates of diagnosis etc but it started as a small pain low in the abdomen which I initially put down to the baby playing a bit of football, but as the days went on the intensity of the pain increased at a shocking rate.
Eventually I went to the doctor, and anyone who knows me knows what a momentous event that was in itself! I didn’t have a choice, I was in so much pain I was finding walking difficult and my leg movement was completely restricted. The doctor sent me straight to the hospital, where I was fitted with a support band.
At this point, and before I go into any more details I do just want to point out that there are varying degrees of the condition and many people, thankfully, would not suffer to the level I did.
Things continued to get worse and, bear in mind that you are advised to avoid painkillers during pregnancy, there was no let up. By the time I had six weeks left of pregnancy I was on crutches for the rare times I did have to venture out of the house. Thank god for home delivered shopping!
The worst times were those all too frequent and necessary night time trips to the loo. Without exaggeration, it took me a full 45 minutes per trip. I had to move tiny bit by tiny bit to gradually pull myself from the bed to the bathroom and each movement brought me to tears.
I don’t know how to describe the pain because I have, thankfully, never felt pain like it before or since. The nearest I can liken it to is getting a full force kick between the legs by a premiership footballer every day for the duration.
So, due date came and the doctor, brilliant man that he was, agreed not to let me suffer any more and so I found myself in hospital being induced. I was so relieved, I could only imagine the pain would be a lot less after the birth.
Another point that I should just make here which the doctors advised me of is that because of the danger with SPD of causing the mother untold damage during the birth there is no option for epidurals or any other numbing pain relief. The explanation I was given was that the doctors need to be aware at all times how much they are damaging you further during the birthing process. To be honest, this didn’t bother me that much, my first child had been born so quickly there wasn’t time pain relief then either, so I thought I could handle it.
It was during rest time when my contractions started. They started very quickly and they got a lot worse in a very short space of time. I was given gas and air but I was in a huge amount of distress. The nurse checked me and said it wasn’t labour, just induction pains! It was at this point that I broke down and begged her to let me husband come and be with me.
Now, you know how the phrase OMG is completely overused, not in this case. O!M!G! the pain I was in had me climbing off the bed. The contractions (or pains, according to the nurse) were coming every 45 seconds or so with increasing intensity.
When my hubby arrived I had already taken more pain than I could bear and I just turned to him and sobbed ‘if this isn’t labour then I don’t think I can do it’. Things carried on for a few minutes when suddenly I had to push, my hubby ran for the nurse (a different nurse, thankfully) who took one look and then it was panic stations.
My daughters head started coming out as I was being wheeled screaming down to the labour suite. I do remember passing lots of pregnant women waiting for their ante-natal appointments and I don’t think I’ll ever forget the look of terror on their faces at the sight.
Once in the suite there was no time to transfer me from the bed, and my little girl was born more or less immediately, to my absolute relief.
And what about the SPD? I walked out of the hospital the next day, leaving my crutches propped up against the bed, and never looked back.
It is important to make the point that there are some women who suffer the effects of SPD for some time post pregnancy and I really do thank my lucky stars that I wasn’t one of them, my poor body had suffered enough!
