Labouring with SPD: The Birth Plan

Making a birth plan is important in my opinion (even if you don't stick to it) and this is even more true if you suffer from SPD. In a midwife's ideal world there would be no pregnancy complications and everyone would deliver on their backs in stirrups, so that the midwife could maintain a good posture and control the baby easily. In many patients' ideal world they would deliver in a more upright position so gravity could help the labour and delivery along. By making a birth plan, you can consider all the different options and factors and work our what your preferred labour would look like.

If you suffer from SPD it is important before labour begins to measure how far you can open your legs in a pain free range. If your are very prepared you can buy a long piece of rope and tie it around your knees so you have the measurements of how far you are going to allow your legs to be open during the delivery, on hand. This is even more vital if you plan on having an epidural. This is because you will not feel pain while the epidural is in but will feel the pain afterwards if you have opened your legs into your pain range. With this in mind, a position that should definitely be avoided is a delivery in stirrups.

In the first stage of labour, movement and gravity play an important role. Most commonly, at this stage you are still at home, and timing your contractions. If you suffer from SPD it is still good to be walking around but not to be constantly climbing the stairs, which can often speed things along. Using the gym ball can also be good, by sitting on it and rolling your pelvis, but do ensure that your legs are not straddled too far open.

It is important to support your body in positions that are comfortable for you but to avoid straddling your legs, for example do not straddle a chair, however you can lean onto a chair or any other equipment.

In the final pushing stages there are many good options for positions. Being on your side is very good because the midwife can have good control and you can too. You can also be in a squatting position (as long as you are in pain free range). Any position where your legs are in your control and cannot be pushed open by someone else is a good position.

If you are suffering from SPD and would like to book an appointment, please contact me on 0544485086 or by email to tamaramay.physio@gmail.com. I can arrange to see you in Bishvilaych Women's Comprehensive Medical Centre in Givat Shaul, Jerusalem or a home visit if you live in Gush Etzion.