Giving birth is already a process that keeps the parents on their toes, but complications are what no one is prepared for. Woman shares her birth story when she got a severe spinal cord injury being 34 weeks pregnant. Losing the ability to walk but gaining a new perspective and a lot of strength!
A long day in hospital yesterday, but so worth it to have our birth plan at 34 weeks pregnant ❤️
There has been lots of to-ing and fro-ing between what’s the best plan of action. Lots of health professionals involved who have been, ‘going round in circles’ (their words) to come up with a safe plan.
It has been tricky having to consider my spinal cord injury and symptoms, the blood clot on my lung and blood thinner injections, tachycardia AND a baclofen pump thrown in the mix, it’s safe to say that there have been a lot of conversations.
Finally, after most of yesterday in the hospital we have a plan.
We have decided that it’s safest for me to be induced, so that I can stop my blood thinning injections the night before.
And we are going to try for a ‘natural’/ vaginal birth, as I’m told the uterus does most of the work anyway (our bodies are amazing)! And I do have a teeny bit of core to push!
If all else fails and I need a caesarean, an epidural won’t be safe for me, I have a catheter (tube) in my spine which delivers baclofen, and if this is pierced it could be very dangerous/ even life threatening.
So I would need a general anasthetic.
I have shed quite a few tears at the thought of being ‘asleep’ and missing out on welcoming our baby into the world.
But ultimately, I’ve made peace with it and realise it doesn’t really matter how our baby arrives, just that they are healthy ❤️ and this is the safest option for me and baby ❤️
It’s been such an emotional process, and yesterday involved Jay and I, a nurse, a medical student, a haematlogist an obstetrian and even an anaesthetist who sat on the floor because there was no room left 😅. Quite a few tears from me, a lot of conversation and quite a few times where everybody just stopped and laughed saying, ‘Sooo, what shall we do?’ 😅
I would be so grateful to hear any other SCI mamma’s birth stories! ❤️
And will share updates along the way for anybody interested 😊 I’ve been quite quiet about everything so far, enjoying being in our little bubble and nesting!
Thank you from our little bubble for all of the love and support always.