Any ladies with disabilities TTC/had babies?

[ALW77]

This is my first cycle TTC. :waves: I have left hemiparesis (mild cerebral palsy) and was wondering if there are any other ladies on here with physical disabilities who have had babies or are currently TTC. What extra challenges/problems did you experience? Any tips to offer? Any recommendations re health care providers who have expertise dealing with pregnant women with disabilities? I'm not sure what extra challenges I will face (if any) but I do have scoliosis of the spine and my left side (hip to foot) is shorter than the right. My left ankle also gets quite swollen so I'm wondering if that will worsen if I get PG.

[barney]

hunny no advice here sorry,
but really want to say best of luk to you

[ALW77]

Thanks!

[Jennifer13]

I don't have any advice, but just wanted to tell you that a friend from when I was at high school with cerebal palsy had two children, both delivered naturally and no complications during pregnancy to speak of. She also fell pg very easily. She has CP severe enough to require a wheelchair or crutches and speech difficulties. Her muscles if anything were helped by pg as they 'relaxed' somewhat! (She did not see a specialist either and delivered at the local regional hospital). I have since lost touch with her so can't ask anything more specific, but hope that provides some encouragement!

Oh, and I also remembered, one of my oldest friends had severe scoliosis as a teenager and had a rod put in her spine to straighten it. She had a beautiful baby girl less than 2 years ago, no complications during pg apart from back pain in the later stages. She went into labour naturally and would have been fine to deliver but developed an infection and required an emergency c/s. She is now pg with #2.

[ALW77]

Thanks Jennifer! It is very encouraging to read those stories. I have found a website about parents with disabilities and it is quite inspiring to read about people with much more "severe" disabilities than mine who have managed to give birth to and look after babies quite successfully.

I personally was an unplanned C/S as my mother was failing to progress. Not sure if that means I'll have trouble but I guess we'll just have to see how it goes...Anyway, procedures have probably changed in the 31 years since I was born!

[ALR]

Hi ALW77
I not sure if you would consider it a disbility but i have had 3 children and soon to have my fourth. After my first two children I was diagnosed with severe Rhuematoid arthritis and a few years after that with a heart irregularity. I had the irregularity opperated on but it is still there to a minor degree. I found with my last preganancy that it was initially difficult to deal with my RA symptoms but after 12 week mark my RA appeared to go (it apparently goes into remission when you pregnant), so for the rest of the pregnacy I felt great!! Much to the displeasure of the doctors looking after me in the public hospital I went to. They were quite negative about the pregnancy because oof my conditions but mostly because of my age!!! at 38 I was daring to have a child!
I would reccommend taking each day as it comes, find a midwife/ doctor or birth partner you feel comfortable with and ask as many questions as you need to. After all you are the one having the baby so you are the expert on your body!!
Well hope this helps a little,
I wish you success in your journey

[Jennifer13]

There's a show currently running on BBC Lifestyle (on Foxtel) called 'Child of Our Time'. One of the families featured on it is a single Mum who has shortened arms (so her hands are at her shoulders) and shortened legs (feet at thighs). She is absolutely inspiring, drives, looks after herself and her son on her own since his birth (they live in a house alone, she has some assistance from a nanny, but is certainly his main carer) and uses her mouth to do just about everything.

Not sure how it affected her pg and birth, but OMG as a parent she puts some able-bodied people I know to shame!

[ALW77]

Yes, I watched an episode of a show called "Amazing Medical Stories" about a woman who had a condition called "sacral agenesis" - meaning the lowest part of her spine had not developed. Her legs had been amputated as they were useless to her and just got in her way. Her body effectively ended at her groin. She got around by walking on her hands! Most amazingly she was married, worked as a mechanic and managed to give birth to and raise a healthy son as well as helping to look after her father who I think had dementia! After seeing that I thought, what do I have to worry about?