Spinal cord injuries usually entail drastic lifestyle changes. Fortunately for many women, pregnancy is not necessarily off the table.
Spinal cord injuries affect the body's neurological system; generally, the hormonal system, which enables fertility, is intact. Many women with spinal cord injuries still have fully functioning uteruses, meaning they can foster a growing fetus and have contractions that allow for vaginal delivery.
There are, however, risks unique to women with such injuries, risks that can affect the baby as well. It's important for women to have a pre-pregnancy consultation with a doctor to go over the unique circumstances of her case; risks and capacities differ depending on the location and severity of the injury.
Autonomic Dysreflexia
The most serious risk associated with pregnancy and spinal cord injury is autonomic dysreflexia. This can occur in women with injuries at or above the T6 vertebra. Although you may not have sensation of your body below the level of injury, your body still responds to what it perceives as harmful stimuli. Any change in the body, from the need to urinate to labor, can spark autonomic dysreflexia.
The condition is characterized by a rapid spike in blood pressure. It may be accompanied by several symptoms, including a pounding headache, decrease in heart rate, sweating, tingling and difficulty breathing. Autonomic dysreflexia can pose a risk to the mother's life; it also poses a risk to the baby's life, as it may involve constriction of the blood vessels in the uterus.
To prevent this from occurring, it's important to receive anesthesia before labor even if you don't have sensation in the area. Anesthesia can prevent the body from responding to stimuli in a dangerous way.
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Another serious risk, particularly in pregnant women with spinal cord injuries, is deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This condition occurs when blood is stopped from leaving the legs, in which case it forms a clot. Blood clots can cause swelling in the leg; they may break off and travel up to the lung, causing pulmonary complications and potentially death.
When pregnant, the growing fetus may apply pressure on the inferior vena cava, which carries blood from the legs to the upper body. Women can help prevent this condition by not lying on their backs, by moving their legs (in the case of spinal cord injury, this may mean manually or with assistance) and by wearing compression stockings.
Urinary Tract Infection
Pregnant women with spinal cord injuries are highly prone to bladder infections, which turn into kidney infections if not treated. It's important to get your urine tested on a regular basis when you're pregnant, as you may not notice symptoms.
The above are three common risks associated with pregnancies in women with injured spinal cords. The list is not exhaustive, nor does it mean that you are doomed to suffer from these conditions. It is possible for women with spinal cord injuries to have healthy and fulfilling child-bearing experiences. This is more likely to happen if you and your medical team are aware of potential complications, both to form a prevention plan and a treatment protocol in case complications occur.
Solutions specific to pregnancy back pain, weight loss and other women specific issues. Please ask questions, give comments or stories related to this article submission for women's issues.
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