Firstly, to my family and friends, no, I'm not pregnant. Yet. Yes, I will tell you before I blog about it!
I have found since my accident that there is very little literature to be found online about paraplegic women and their experiences with pregnancy. I know there are a lot less women in chairs than men, but I also know that it does still happen. So, since I have no shame, I will write about it myself. Be warned, there will be no holding back here.
A bit of back ground on me; I'm a T4-5 complete paraplegic, having fallen off a horse in 2008. I have had a pretty smooth run so far. I self catherterise, but haven't really had much trouble with UTI's. I have an reactive bladder that is usually managed without trouble with medication. I find when I get overly tired the meds don't work. I have just found out I have inherited poly cystic kidneys from my Mum (thanks Mum), but having seen a kidney specialist, he's not too concerned about it at the moment. I have low blood pressure, so kidney trouble is unlikely while it stays that way.
At the moment I'm in the 'getting ready' stage. I'm talking to my GP, trying to find an obstetrician who has had patients with paraplegia before. I'm doing the pregnancy multi vitamins. I don't really drink, so I don't care about giving up alcohol. Coffee, yuck, no problem, but I think I'm subconsciously trying to eat enough cheese for the next nine months before I get pregnant.
So I will keep you posted as things develop.
Feel free to ask questions as we go along.
Hi Katherine,
ReplyDeleteI have shared the link to your page with a few women in the SCI Peer Support mob that have had children post injury. Hopefully they will visit the blog and share their experience.
Good luck
Sal at Talbot