PSD/PI second time around

[Shooshlove]

Hi all. I had terrible PSD/PI with my ds. We plan to start ttc #2 in May (ds will be 16 months) but I'm getting nervous! I've been told that it is generally worse with subsequent pregnancies. Anyone have experience with this? Any tips on preparing? I have been doing Pilates for about a month now and 'trying' to exercise. Is there much more I can do? I couldn't even work last time so not sure how I'll chase a toddler around! I'd live to know if anyone has any personal experiences to share. Thanks.

[Shooshlove]

Bump

[TinyLittleTootsies]

I am pregnant with #3 at the moment. I couldn't walk at all by the end of my first pregnancy. My second was a little better, because even though the pain was horrible, I think being forced to get up every day and move a little bit to care for my toddler meant that my pelvis never seized up completely like it did lying in bed most days in my first pregnancy.

It is hard! I don't deny that at all, but mentally I have coped better with the 2nd and 3rd pregnancies as I have been prepared for what is going to happen.

With my first however, the pain didn't start until around week 20. 2nd and 3rd pregnancies it was my first symptom that I was pregnant each time and straight away I was unable to walk far or push a heavy pram.

I would suggest finding a physio who specialises in this asap, before you get pregnant. My phsyio won't even let me do her phsyio supervised classes or the aqua spd classes, as it would be too much for my pelvis, so I guess a physio would be best able to tell you what you can/can't do once pregnant :).

It seems for me that from around 30 weeks onwards I can only do the bare minimum, which can be hard with a toddler or two! I would suggest having as much support in place as possible. I couldn't drive (pushing pedals) at the end of both pregnancies so that was hard. With my second pregnancy there was a lot of keeping a toddler occupied with arts and craft and water play. DD1 was only about 13-17 months in the bad parts though, so we didn't leave the house and she was happy with me. I felt really guilty, but she was really happy and my husband would take her for walks/outings before dinner each night.

Now I have an almost 4 year old and a 2.5 year old and I can't stay at home all the time. I am only about to be 29 weeks pregnant this time, and finding it a lot harder, so i am scared for after 30 weeks, as in the last 2 weeks I have started to find it harder to walk, and I can't drive if I have done too much as my pelvis freezes up. This time around my DH also works a lot crazier hours. I think I will soon be hiring a cleaner as I simply can't do that except the basics at the moment, and with DH working so much I can't rely on his help. My 4yo goes to kindy now, and I am hoping that will be enough during the week to keep her boredom at bay, as I am a little unsure of being able to do any more outings by myself :(

At the end of the day, even though it gets painful for me, I just think of it as less than 9 months, and only really 10 weeks of horrible pain, compared to a life of having the baby/child :yes: so I think that is how I cope mentally.

Physically... use all the help offered, hire a cleaner if you need to/can, go to phsyio, take panadol when you need it, don't go on bed rest as it can make it worse, but don't do too much either. Those are the only tips I can give at the moment! :D

[mashedveg]

Hi Bookish
I had really severe PI with my daughter, I really had to toss up whether I would have a 2nd babe as I was told I would likely be in a wheelchair from early in my pregnancy.

I did decide to have another baby and I did everything I could to prepare:

*I left a 3.5 year gap between children so that I would not need to carry my daughter and she would be old enough to be a little bit independent.
*I worked with a very good personal trainer who knew a lot about stability for 2 sessions per week
*I set a goal of being able to run for 30mins three times a week without pain before I started ttc
*I swam laps in the pool for an hour a week.

So all up, 5 exercise sessions per week working on my strength and stability for 6mths before ttc. It then took me another 6 mths to fall pregnant, so I spent exactly a year to the day preparing myself physically (and mentally!).

Hard work!

BUT I am now 32 weeks pregnant with #2 and I am pain free!! I see a chiropractor once a week/fortnight and I am very aware of avoiding movements and activities that will strain my pelvis, you know so much more the second time around. Some mornings my pelvis feels a little wonky when I get out of bed but I have learned which muscles I need to activate to hold everything together and it comes good.

Having a 3.5 year gap between kids was not in my initial life plan, and I know not everyone has the money at their disposal to see chiropractors and personal trainers every week. For me it's been worth it though, I just couldn't battle through another pregnancy that left me bed bound and depressed. And another benefit, physically I am in the best shape I have ever been!

Good luck with your journey.

[Shooshlove]

Thank you both for your replies. It is scary, but I'll keep working hard. You've both been a great help in that I'm now being a bit more realistic about what to expect so I'm making sure I do my Pilates everyday! Thanks again : )

[She~Ra]

im about to go to bed so will make this quick
but basically baby number 5 i was put on bed rest the last 6 weeks due to haveing such bad pelvic pain from spd and sacro-illiac..

anyway after birth the midwife said i guess you shouldnt have any more kids ..

i now have a 8month old and can tell u i never got spd with my 6th pregnancy, i did get a little sore in the last week, but nothing major..

ill pop back later ,,,

[Shooshlove]

Thanks mumtofive and Pynk. I just need to stop worrying- I know what to expect so I need to accept it and move on!

[Happy2be3]

Pelvicpartnership.org.uk is an we some site I recently found if anyone is interested