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Question for anyone that's had scoliosis/back issues and natural birth

ohiodoxiemama08ohiodoxiemama08 member
in Natural Birth

Hi there, I have lurked here occasionally but pretty much a newbie. I am currently 37 weeks and 4 days and preparing for the birth of my first LO, a baby girl :) I was fairly certain that I was going to go the natural route the whole time, however recently the decision was made for me. I have scoliosis and had to have a spinal fusion about 12 years ago to correct my severe curve. I have a titanium rod and 6 screws and due to this an anesthesiologist confirmed to me yesterday that an epidural or a spinal are pretty much out of the question. I really hope to avoid a C-Section because I would have to go under general which really scares me and bums me out that I wouldn't get to see her when she enters the world.

 

I guess my question is has anyone else delivered naturally that has back issues? Was there any added discomfort? I am still considered low risk and rarely experience any back pain outside of normal aches and pains of a pregnant woman. I also am lucky to live in an area that has an in-hospital natural birthing center with lots of support for those attempting a natural delivery and my husband is 100% supportive of the natural option. Guess I am just getting kind of nervous now that I know natural is pretty much my only option.

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Re: Question for anyone that's had scoliosis/back issues and natural birth

  • SunnyMuffinSunnyMuffin member

    I have scoliosis/spinal fusion too.  The surgeon who did it told me that I would never be able to have an epidural but I brought it up with my midwife when I became pregnant and she sent me for an appt to meet with an anesthesiologist and he told me they could do one.

     Its good because I ended up getting induced and needing it.  

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  • ohiodoxiemama08ohiodoxiemama08 member
    That's interesting. The person I spoke with did mention that it would be up to anesthesiologist on call when I go into labor but she seemed doubtful that it would even take if they did chose to do one. Did you have any issues with the epidural effectiveness? As I said at this point I don't think I want one but if for some reason I would have to be induced I have heard that induction meds such as pitocin make the process much more intense and difficult to do naturally.
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  • Wrkn925Wrkn925 member

    My sister had scoliosis, two severe curves and has two spiral rods. Her first dr told her an epi was a definite no. They gave her morphine and demerol, which was a bad idea. She would about konk out between contractions. She couldn't comprehend 'push'.

    Baby 2 was a little better. They skipped on whatever drug made her so loopy. 

    I think she had it down by baby 3, and a new dr offered her an epi. She hadn't even thought about it, so she said no.  She wasn't in the position to ask the questions that she felt necessary, so I don't know if the dr understood her complete situation.

    I may have just given you a bunch of useless information. I would research all my options and discuss it with a few professionals. Good luck!

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  • pixieprincsspixieprincss member
    I have scoliosis and I don't think it played at all in to either of my labors. Both of my babies were OP well into labor which ties to back pain in labor and long labors, but that is a different cause then what you are talking about. I also had pelvic instability with both boys. For DS2, I had chiro care throughout the pregnancy and that made a huge difference.

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  • buzz1482buzz1482 member

    I have rods and screws from a spinal fusion for scoliosis as well.  When I had my son, I was told I could not have the epidural because the risk of infection was too high due to where my rods/screws were in my back, but that if I needed a c-section I would be able to have the spinal (I think that is what they called it...whatever other numbing thing they put in your back). I forget the exact reason why one was ok but the other wasn't, but I think it had to do with the size of needle? I could be remembering that wrong though.

     Anyway,  I ended up getting through labor ok until I started having back labor, at which time they gave me stadol.  I absolutely hated the stadol because it made me feel loopy and on another planet so that I felt like I wasn't in control of what was going on, yet I still felt every ounce of the pain.  I am pregnant again and am taking a birthing class to try to better prepare for a natural labor so that I do not give in to the medication again.  With my son, my husband and I had tried to learn bradley ourselves and I just feel looking back on it that I wasn't nearly as prepared to implement the strategies as I want to be this time around!

     Good luck with your birth experience!

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