16 replies to this topic

[25femalepara]

I just found I'm pregnant . I am a t7 complete. Founding out I was pregnant came as such a shock. I have only had sex with my partner once since my injury on march 11th , 2010. I currently can transfer into my chair as long as someone helps swing my legs over the side of the bed. I'm 5'8 210 lbs already!! I can only image how much weight I am going to put on while I am pregnant . I have alot of questions about being a para and being pregnant plus this is my first child. The one question that keeps popping up in my head is how will I transfer with a big prego belly when I'm 8 months? Is it done? I hate hoyer lifts . Also I have very bad spasms in my legs they tighten up and shoot out straight are very hard to keep open . How will I be able to give birth if my legs tighten up and close anytime they are touched? Also will these spasms effect the baby ?
Thank you for taking the time to read this ...
- pregnant para.

[Tetracyclone]

Oh my, destiny has landed on you, hasn't it!?!

Maybe if you work hard on your transfers your ability will stay the same as you gain weight. i know you will try not to gain too much!

As to birthing, if there is no other solution to the spasm problem they can do a C-section.

You will manage, and this is an opportunity to take care of your health for someone else's sake, which may get you more results than when you were only responsible for yourself.

Keep us informed and congratulations.

[jcala]

Congratulations! I am a T4 incomplete and like you when I first found out I was pregnant I was in shock and didn't know what to expect. That was 17 years ago and I am now the proud mother of a 17 year old daughter and 15 year old son. I had the same concerns as you. I tried to eat healthy and not gain too much weight, but even with that, my husband had to help me transfer in my last couple of months. I'm kind of on the small side so he would just pick me up and put me in my chair. Maybe if you tried a slide board it would make the transfer a little easier. You could also try exercising your arms now to try and build up your arm strength for those last few months.

As far as the spasms, I am on baclofen, but I still get them. I was able to deliver both times without having to have a C-section. My husband and some nurses were holding my legs in place when they would spasm. My main problem was with every contraction, I would get sever AD reactions. The first pregnancy I was at a high risk clinic, but the doctors weren't sure how to control it. The second time around I had my own doctor and she knew what to expect. The first sign of contractions and AD reactions, she gave me an epidural and the ADs stopped. I'm not sure if you get these or not at your level, but whatever doctor you go to you want to make sure they are well informed about your special situation.

I hope this helps. Feel free to PM me with any questions or concerns. Good luck!

[mellowgator]

dear pregnant para,

i had two of kids post injury. before i was pregnant i was able to transfer independently as my stomach got larger i reverted back to using a sliding board. i gained around 37 lbs with each baby. i'm 5'7" and normally weigh 125.

my doctor took me off all of my meds so the baby wouldn't be adversly affected. i was ranged every day and that helped a bit with spasms. i had an epideral during both deliveries which eliminated spasms during childbirth. my first daughter was breach and refused to turn so i had her via c-section. my 2nd daughter was a natural delivery.

the first pregnancy was the hardest since i didn't know what to expect. i was able to feel contractions but the dr had me hook up to a monitor every night during the last tri-mester just to be sure. if i was active during the day i would have contractions and have to head off to the hospital. both deliveries were scheduled and induced.

i did have a couple of miscarriages before i went full term. i carried one baby for 10 weeks before i lost it. a couple of other times i took the home pregancy test right after i was late and it showed postitive but i started my period soon after.

good luck,

mellowgator

[25femalepara]

Tetracyclone, on 29 March 2011 - 06:40 AM, said:

Oh my, destiny has landed on you, hasn't it!?!

Maybe if you work hard on your transfers your ability will stay the same as you gain weight. i know you will try not to gain too much!

As to birthing, if there is no other solution to the spasm problem they can do a C-section.

You will manage, and this is an opportunity to take care of your health for someone else's sake, which may get you more results than when you were only responsible for yourself.

Keep us informed and congratulations.

Thank you for the advice I will make sure I do my transfers everyday and stay as active as possible.

[25femalepara]

jcala, on 29 March 2011 - 12:54 PM, said:

Congratulations! I am a T4 incomplete and like you when I first found out I was pregnant I was in shock and didn't know what to expect. That was 17 years ago and I am now the proud mother of a 17 year old daughter and 15 year old son. I had the same concerns as you. I tried to eat healthy and not gain too much weight, but even with that, my husband had to help me transfer in my last couple of months. I'm kind of on the small side so he would just pick me up and put me in my chair. Maybe if you tried a slide board it would make the transfer a little easier. You could also try exercising your arms now to try and build up your arm strength for those last few months.

As far as the spasms, I am on baclofen, but I still get them. I was able to deliver both times without having to have a C-section. My husband and some nurses were holding my legs in place when they would spasm. My main problem was with every contraction, I would get sever AD reactions. The first pregnancy I was at a high risk clinic, but the doctors weren't sure how to control it. The second time around I had my own doctor and she knew what to expect. The first sign of contractions and AD reactions, she gave me an epidural and the ADs stopped. I'm not sure if you get these or not at your level, but whatever doctor you go to you want to make sure they are well informed about your special situation.

I hope this helps. Feel free to PM me with any questions or concerns. Good luck!

Congrats on raising 2 children!! This is awesome for me to see it can be done. As you were with your first I am in shock still I still use a slide board to transfer I never was able to do it without the slide board I think I need more practice. I have so many questions for and Mellow Gator . Once you both brought the babies home from the hospital what was it like? Do you have any tips such as the crib or things that will make it easier for me to reach my baby because I have no real truck control and if I bend forward to pick something off the floor from my chair I can't pull myself back unless I use 2 hands. Also if it not to personal to ask did anyone breast feed ? I was thinking that maybe it would be easier that way , what do you think ? I had a miscariage before so I am praying every day that the baby is full term and healthy . Thank you for your advice..

[Tetracyclone]

Look through old threads on family topic. There is great advice on organizing your home already on this site. Be patient with the search function or go directly to Parents in Wheelchairs subforums.

[tyvin]

My concern for you is the weight issue. Since you're already overweight you need to monitor your weight so you don't end up gaining a lot. Talk with your doc and perhaps have a session with a nutritionist for diet info.

FYI: http://www.webmd.com...thy-weight-gain

[mellowgator]

dear female para,

i am a quad and don't have trunk control either. i did breast feed and this did make things a lot easier for me since i didn't have to get up throught the night to fix a bottle.

i used a regular crib and i also had a bedside cradle. i also used a desk as a changing table so i could roll under it and reach the baby.

my children are now 15 and 17 the same ages as jcala. back when i went through this there wasn't much info on this.

i used a harness to hold the baby so i could have free hands to wheel around. when the girls were big enough to sit i used a big velcro strap to keep the kids secured to my lap. i also used a stroller to push the kids around the house. the kids will get used to you and will meet you halfway when you have to lift them from the floor.

i also used this book and it really helped.
The Disabled Woman's Guide to Pregnancy and Birth
Judth Rogers, OTR
Published 2005
528 pp Paperback
ISBN 1932603085 / 9781932603088

Price: $29.95



mellowgator

Edited by mellowgator, 31 March 2011 - 02:54 PM.

[guyd]

Im a boy - so you can ignore me....

The wife is T6 complete - and she spasms when her legs are cheesed off (too long in one posistion for example). She had an epidural and there was no spasms at all during the completly natural birth.

She transferred by herself 99% of the time - she is a little overweight (she will kill me if she reads this)

Dont lose weight / diet when pregnant. Baby will suck a lot of it off during breast feeding.

In order to 'push' she took a deep breath, held her thighs, and pulled like hell into a 'crunch' or foetal type posistion - her lungs and guts were doing the pushing.

She breast feeds. I made her an 'Isamboard' (our son is called Isambard) - which is basically a kidney shaped board made of plywood, with two legs on it - the legs go to the frame of the chair, and sit on it - we used two pipeclips like the ones that hold the hot water pipes in your house. There is a strap that goes round the waist to hold the isamboard in place. Board sits in front of belly, flat. Baby on top, hands free to do breast things.


oh - congrats - it took us over year of trying, plus magic drugs. Pregnacy is scary - but the little kid is the most amazing thing in the world - everyone elses kids are just kids - yours is the best

Crib / cot - http://babymattresse...uct-photography).jpg
this thing - no longer made - but you find them on ebay - the side lifts over AND drops down. so you want to get your knees under the bed - flip side over to the back. We use it next to the bed, with the side down 90% of the way - he cant roll out, but we can lift him into the bed. Its called a BRIO.

[Chel]

Congrats & Blessings on being prego !

[jcala]

Dear Femalepara,

Sounds like Mellowgator and I think alike. I also used a regular crib, a bedside cradle and a desk with a changing pad on it for a changing table. I have no trunk control either. I made these straps out of my brother's old karate belts because they were really strong. I made like a figure 8 out of it and had someone sew it in the middle so they were really secure. I would put them on - kind of like the straps on a backpack - and then hook them around the push handles on the back of my chair. These helped out so much because I was able to lean forward and use both hands to pick up the kids.

I was only able to breastfeed for about 2 weeks both times, but I would definately recommend it for as long as you can.

Good luck with the pregnancy & let us know how you're doing.

jcala

[Ohiokitten4]

Congrats!~
I have 3 children and I am a T7 para as well. My oldest son is 19, followed by a daughter 17 and another son 11. They were all delivered natural. I had someone help with holding up my legs during delivery. Once they are born traveling with them in your lap is tricky. Try a pillow to hold them on your lap, they make those cut out pillows now that help a baby sit up, they will help hold them on the lap as well. I used a regular crib that the side dropped down on. I was always worried what if the baby was in the crib and I was unable to reach them, but then you realize that if you can reach a leg and gently pull them towards you it doesnt hurt them and you can always reach them. For transfering, Well I sleep in a waterbed, so as the baby grew and the use of the chair you just develop strength of getting in and out of bed, shower bench or car. I did not breast feed as I was taking meds for UTI's and they had interactions in the bloodstream and I didnt want to pass that onto the baby. If I can pass on one piece of advice to you it would be this, dont let others intimidate you. I always had people asking me the dumbest questions, how will I do this or that. Believe me, you will learn to do things your way. It is all through what works best for you. I think the hardest thing for me was putting them into the car seat. So if my car was in the garage it would have to be pulled out first before I could take the baby anywhere, so make sure if you are going somewhere that you have this ready, saves on transfering in and out. I had to put the baby carseat in front with me as I couldnt reach into the backseat when they werent walking. Once they got to the age where they could get into it themselves. I got lots of stares all the time where people would watch me push myself in my chair and the child in the stroller. My biggest problem was getting rid of the weight gain, it still beckons me to this day and I have this pooch now that just wont seem to go away, all the excersizes work my arms, but do nothing for my tummy. Good luck to you and if you ever want to ask anything feel free to contact me.

[mellowgator]

i had a carseat stroller. so i was able to lift the carseat out of the car and then just snap it onto wheels and away we went. it really worked well for me. i drive a van so i would roll them up the ramp and i had plenty of room to secure them into the back seat. as you know the back seat is the safest place for a young child.


mellowgator

[MountainWard]

My wife and I have gone through 3 pregnancies since she became paraplegic, I have to say transferring becomes a bit of a trick. When she was pregnant I usually just picked her up rather than her transferring, do you have a somewhat stout man? I just put one arm under legs behind her knees, and she puts her arm around my neck, my other arm goes behind her and it is a simple lift... as long as my back is not out.. still simple just very painfull lol... 210 pounds may seem like a lot, but that really is not that much wieght to lift, but then again I wiegh 200 pounds myself. For us anyways, it is a good thing I am able to pick her up, in the hospitals, they have no way to wiegh her unless I pick her up and stand on the scales, most of the time they have no nurses that can lift her etc...

This may not be workable for you, but it is all that I know from my experience, I wish I had something better to tell you.

[AliGibson]

Hi there,

I found that as the weight gain and increasing size of 'bump' was very gradual, I was able to carry on transferring independently right up until the day we went to hospital to have our baby!

Very best wishes to you all,
Ali

[mellowgator]

when i started getting big i used a transfer board.