Complications during Pregnancy Forum - Pregnant With Cerebral Palsy

I hope any of this helps......

I am also 23 years old and have mild cerebral palsey in both my legs. I use a walking stick/crutches. I have muscle spacicity, poor balance and 'jolt' when I walk. Like you I have a manual wheelchair for long distances (mainly for the sake of speed).
I continued to walk right through my pregnancy, only using a wheelchair (pushed by my husband) on long shopping trips or when the extra weight started to be too much at the end of the day.

I gave birth (naturaly) to a healthy baby boy on 06 may 2002, (7lb 4oz) proving all the doctors/midwives, who said i'd have to have a ceasarian, wrong.

Like you I worried at the start of my pregnancy about the implications of my disability, but the baby is cusioned by amniotic fluid within the womb.

Please don't be frightened of the way you think your disability may affect your pregnancy/birth. Of all my (3) friends from my antenatal class, I was the only one who didn't have a difficult birth.

I would be very interested to know how things are going for you and I hope I may be able to provide some support.

Take care,

maria.

-- maria lovell (petemaria15@hotmail.Com), july 18, 2002.

Cp and pregnancy

make sure all health professionals are aware how your cp as well as other conditions (for example epilepsy) may affect your pregnancy. Some conditions you experienced before becoming pregnant (for example swollen ankles) may also be related to pregnancy. You need to inform your midwife or gp about any such concerns.

Not every woman with cp will have the same experience. Hopefully you will have a trouble-free pregnancy, but be prepared to accept that pregnancy may make the effects of cp worse. One lady reported the following:

"my spasms and ability to stand got worse (temporarily) and I had badly swollen feet."

whilst another said:

"i found that my spasms got much less and I didnít seem to need as much physiotherapy as I normally would."

your individual situation needs to be considered when decisions are being made about vaginal delivery or caesarean section. Possible reasons for having a caesarean include having involuntary spasms (which may interfere with delivery), pelvic impairments, or if the baby is in breech position. A caesarean may also be performed if there are signs that the baby is in distress during delivery.

If you are having a vaginal delivery (with advice from your midwife or health visitor), try out some delivery positions in advance. Side-lying or reclining positions may be an option if you cannot use stirrups or have difficulty in keeping your legs wide apart.

Your cp will not affect your contractions or dilation of the cervix, but you may find that contractions increase your spasms. Epidurals are not advised for women who have spasms. Frequent changes of positions, massaging or braces may help with spasms. You should discuss methods of pain reduction in advance of the delivery. Be prepared to change these if the pain level isn't what you expected.

"prepare a birth plan in advance, outlining your wishes and needs in as many eventualities as possible."