pregnancy and shunts

[nanny101]

I have sb and a shunt due to hydrocephlus since birth and now am 29 and married wanting to have kids but have been told my shunt may cause problems if i get pregnant. is there anyone out there with my problem would love to hear from you and ur experiences.
Cheers
Jo

[Dodger67]

Who told you it may cause problems?
What kind of problems?
I'm having difficulty coming up with any realistic possibilities.
Need more information.

[gabrielslife]

here's a tip, By taking folic acid for at least a month before you start trying for a baby (and continuing until the end of the 12th week of pregnancy), you can help reduce this risk by about 70%.

For you, the folic acid tablets available at chemists or supermarkets are not enough.
You need 5mgs a day and this is only available on prescription from your doctor. Then, before you get pregnant you should arrange to see these experts:

* urologist: your kidney function will be checked to ensure that your kidneys are fit for the extra work they will have to do during pregnancy; your urine will be checked for infection
* continence adviser: self-catheterisation may be difficult late on in pregnancy and you need to plan how you will manage. You will be prone to constipation and may need to change your bowel medication or management. If you have a stoma, this can be affected as your abdomen gets larger – it may change shape, your ostomy products may not stick well and may leak.
* physiotherapist: your balance will alter as you get bigger and you may need to use a wheelchair more often. The physio will advise on exercises to help prevent swelling of your legs and feet, advise on skin care and prevention of pressure sores and help if the growing baby causes you some breathlessness.
* neurosurgeon: having a shunt is no contraindication to pregnancy. It will not harm the baby’s growth; a pregnancy will not harm the shunt.

Your chances of getting straight forwarded pregnancy get higher, This is partly due to increased knowledge and expertise amongst obstetricians and midwives

[angel]

here's a tip, By taking folic acid for at least a month before you start trying for a baby (and continuing until the end of the 12th week of pregnancy), you can help reduce this risk by about 70%.

For you, the folic acid tablets available at chemists or supermarkets are not enough.
You need 5mgs a day and this is only available on prescription from your doctor. Then, before you get pregnant you should arrange to see these experts:

* urologist: your kidney function will be checked to ensure that your kidneys are fit for the extra work they will have to do during pregnancy; your urine will be checked for infection
* continence adviser: self-catheterisation may be difficult late on in pregnancy and you need to plan how you will manage. You will be prone to constipation and may need to change your bowel medication or management. If you have a stoma, this can be affected as your abdomen gets larger – it may change shape, your ostomy products may not stick well and may leak.
* physiotherapist: your balance will alter as you get bigger and you may need to use a wheelchair more often. The physio will advise on exercises to help prevent swelling of your legs and feet, advise on skin care and prevention of pressure sores and help if the growing baby causes you some breathlessness.
* neurosurgeon: having a shunt is no contraindication to pregnancy. It will not harm the baby’s growth; a pregnancy will not harm the shunt.

Your chances of getting straight forwarded pregnancy get higher, This is partly due to increased knowledge and expertise amongst obstetricians and midwives

continence adviser: In my experience is when you enter into your thrid trimester to wear some sort of protective garment. When the baby is big enough that you can see it move it is best to be prepaired. If it shifts onto your bladder even slightly anything that is in your bladder WILL come out weather you want it to or not!

As for balance I found that the weight gain was so gradual that I never had a problem. I guess I slowly adjusted to it, found my center of gravity and went on. I have always been top heavy but i gained 27lbs when i was pregnant and it was all in the belly area, so that took my top-heavyness to the extream.

More likely than not there will be a c section done if you have spina bifida because of the damage done by the SB to our lower bodies.

Also when you have nerve damage pain will radiate! You may not feel it where you are supposed to feel it. I was having contractions for 3 days before I knew what they were. When i asked my nurse what contractions felt like she said they are very sharp pains in your stomach. I never felt a pain in my stomach! I felt it in my lower back and it felt like my legs were going to seperate from my body. It was never sharp it was nothing like she said. So pay attention and realize that it can radiate to other parts of your body.

This is just what I learned from my experiences

Angel