I am a 22 year old female with Spastic Cerebral Palsey I have very little balance and have to walk with hand crutches and have also at the age of thirteen had to have hip-spike surgery to put my hip back into place and have a plastic sheild placed around my hip to keep it from coming out I have two questions

One: Will this effect my ability to carry this child to term

Two: Also with the sheild can I have a normal delivery

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2003

Answers

Cassandra, I am 30 years old, and also have c.p. Mine isnt that bad, just annoying. I have trouble walking; my left leg is weak, my knees turn in, I walk on my toes, and my ballance is not the best. I also am the mother of a 9 month old baby girl. When I got pregnant, I had many fears. What if I fall, What if I cant support my self when I gain 30 pounds. Well, most miscarages (sorry I cant spell well either, but it has nothing to do with c.p., im just to lazy to get the dictionary.) happen in the first 3 months. After that the baby is very attached and secure in your body. Now I dont recomend body slamming down the stairs, but normal walking shouldnt be a problem. As you gain weight, walking gets harder, and the center of gravity will move every 5 seconds. Just be carefull. I had to swollow a lot of pride, and ask for help. The last month was hard. I kept moving so my legs wouldnt atrophy. But the least little things(like going to the bathroom-again every 5 seconds) will seem like and olimpic event. But hang in there. It is SO worth it. My baby was breach so they had to do a c-section, I don't know if the shield will allow a normal birth, but an epidural(it became my favorite word) should still be an option. If you ever need to talk Im here. And mother hood is so fun. You get stronger every day, even more than you thaught possible.

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2003

Hello, This is my experiance with CP and my pregnancy. I concieved on July 24,2002 and carried for 39 weeks. My daughter weighted 5lbs 120z. She is my miricle baby in my life! I was 105lbs and sick with morning sickness for a month. I was still able to gain weight to 137lbs by delivery. I carried well but I was teried all the time. I have had hip surgury on my right side. CP affects my whole right side. I had an epedural too. I don't belive it will cause you not to carry full term. Go with your doctors advice on normal delivery.Many things can happen leading up to delivery which can cause doctor to decide to perform C- section instead of normal. My daughter is now 6mo. and a healthy 14lbs.

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2003

Hello, This is my experiance with CP and my pregnancy. I concieved on July 24,2002 and carried for 39 weeks. My daughter weighted 5lbs 120z. She is my miricle baby in my life! I was 105lbs and sick with morning sickness for a month. I was still able to gain weight to 137lbs by delivery. I carried well but I was teried all the time. I have had hip surgury on my right side. CP affects my whole right side. I had an epedural too. I don't belive it will cause you not to carry full term. Go with your doctors advice on normal delivery.Many things can happen leading up to delivery which can cause doctor to decide to perform C- section instead of normal. My daughter is now 6mo. and a healthy 14lbs. Hang in there! It's worth every bit of it. God Bless Ya. Feel free to write me back. I would like to know how you make out. Sincerely, Kim Atkinson

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2003