Worried about labor pain with symphysis pubis separation

[holisticmomri]

Hi ladies. This is my 3rd pregnancy and I have planned a home birth this time around. Things were going okay aside from very emotional prodromal labor rollercoaster the past 3 weeks. Then suddenly i could not walk without tears of pain streaming from eyes. I am supposedly 41 weeks (I think I am past 40 but not yet 41 by conception), and apparently the pain is a separation of the pubic cartilage, that piece that holds the front of the pelvic bone together has a tear. I immediatly had my husband bring me to my chiropracotr to see what she could do. She said only relax everything around it to prevent it from pulling at it more but nothing directly to "fix" it so to speak. It will take healing and physical therapy after the birth. So now, after being calm by my hypnobabies practices since 26 weeks, i have entered a state of worry, because if it hurts me to just take a step....how on earth am i going to have a baby estimated well over 9 pounds (my largest yet...and the only one to go past due date!!), plow through there?!! has anyone had a vaginal birth with this injury before? How did you manage the pain, befcause the hypnosis is not working on the pain right now, it already feels like when the baby is moving through now !!!!

[MaterBum]

I delivered my twins vaginally with this condition. It was fine; I wasn't aware of the condition at all during labor (completely drug free/intervention free). It started healing pretty rapidly after the birth, too.

So try to relax about it; I know it's hard. I remember that pain...it is far worse than any other I've experienced, natural childbirth included. No one took me seriously when I kept complaining about it. Big HUGS to you! And best wishes for a wonderful birth!

[EmmaJean]

I'm so sorry about the pain.... check out this website http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/pubicpain.htm

And there is more your chiro can do than just tell you to relax..... my friend's chiro would use the "activator" tool around her pubic bone and also do other adjustments.

Unfortunately, there isn't a lot you can do about it to cure it besides birth. Which hopefully for you is very close! I wouldn't give up on hypnobabies--I'm sure it'll all kick in once you're in labor. I know I had/have trouble using it for specific pains before birth. But it did wonders to help me during the birth.

[MrsAngelic]

Not in your DDC, but expecting in Oct. I've had 2 births with SPD and did not notice it at all during labor. Some things that have helped me:
*The homeopathic Bryonia helps (dose I saw was 1M, but I only found 30C locally).
*My chiropractor gave me an exercise to do also. Hope I describe this so it makes sense - You lie on your back on bed/floor with your knees bent and feet close to your body, then use a scarf/belt to tie your thighs together near the knees, then push outward with your legs against the scarf/belt for a few seconds. Rest, repeat a few times, repeat as needed during the day. Or if you have someone to help, lie in the position and just have them hold your knees together while you push against them.
*In labor, try not to spread your legs too wide or let anyone hold them back during pushing. I did not feel it at the time, but after the birth I could tell damage was done. It took weeks longer to heal than at the subsequent birth where I was careful not to part my legs super wide. I actually plan on using gravity by walking for active labor still, but pushing in a sidelying position this time first to prevent tears but I'm thinking it may help the SPD as well. Got the idea from these archives about birth positions and birthing with knees together.

Heard of support belts being a relief also. Hope you can find what works for you.

[mamamoo]

I have had this with each baby, and like everyone else did not notice the pubic pain during labor.

[Alohamelly]

I had it bad with this recent pregnancy but it didn't affect my labor at all. Hopefully yours won't either. :