QuestionI had a severe case of SPD 29 years ago, my pubic bone actully broke during child birth. My son has some neurological problems and I am wondering if those could have stemmed from that,and have you heard of other children having this problem?
AnswerSPD, or symphysis pubis dysfunction, does not involve pelvic fractures. Instead, what occurs is the natural separation in the front of the pelvis, the pubic symphysis joint, becomes too loose due to the influence of the hormone relaxin during pregnancy. This results in a loss of stability in the pelvis, and often some pain in the crotch, down the inner thighs, or in the hips. During childbirth, pushing in the classic lithotomy position (lying or reclining on a bed with the legs pulled back) can put additional unnecessary strain on this joint, resulting in further separation and often a lengthy recovery depending on the degree of the injury.
While this condition can be extraordinarily painful to the mother, it does not involve any actual broken bones, and it does not have an effect on the baby. If you are positive that you had a broken bone during the birth of your son, you may want to discuss this with the doctor who was attending you at the time to clarify the details of what happened and what the effects might have been on your son.
