38 weeks pregnant with badly broken ankle

[Mam2Be]

Hi, I posted here a few days ago from hospital just wondered if anyone had been in the same position.

Basically, my luck is absolutely rotten right now, I dislocated my knee and snapped the 3 main bones of my ankle a week ago. I've had ORIF surgery and I've been given a zimmer frame but being 38 weeks pregnant with a big ol'belly hopping isn't easy especially with the baby's head engaged! and to top it all off I can't grab the zimmer tightly as i've got really bad carpal tunnel!!!

anyway that's the background bit...to those who have given birth in a half leg cast what options were you given and how did you find the birth? will being bedbound effect how soon labour will come on? I had my show on Monday up to Wednesday but it's stopped now!

Cheers x

[Kathyjelly]

You need to go and talk to the midwives in the maternity unit now. Phone them up, explain the problem and ask if you can see a delivery room. Ask if there are some that are larger than others.

Getting you on and off a bed with a plastercast on is not going to be easy. Childbirth does not exactly make you graceful or well-balanced - well, I wasn't anyway.

Maybe you can talk to them about a floor level birthing area because I think that would be a great deal easier. Giving birth lying on your back and working against gravity isn't always the easiest choice.

I'm sure they've dealt with the same or similar problems before, they'll just need a bit of warning.

Congratulations - on the baby, not the broken ankle.

[nurseryconcerns]

bloody hell, poor you. How long will the cast be on? Have you got a team of people to help you, as it will be difficult to look after the baby if you're not mobile. What support have you got or can you muster together. You need to get as much in place as possible I'd have thought.

Good suggestions from Kathy.

Is this your first?

[kiwidreamer]

That really is the worst luck! Giving birth and looking after a new baby is hard enough work without being semi-immobile!! Just wanted to pass on my best wishes, I hope you have a supportive team and baby arrives safe and sound over the next few weeks.

[asdx2]

I did the same thing at 34 weeks pregnant, the zimmer frame was useless, having a bath was a nightmare.
From what I remember (dd is 17 now) the cast had a rocker put on the bottom after about 3 weeks which made me able to at least hobble round.
I didn't give birth with a cast on though because dd was late and I had the cast off days before she was born.
They should keep a very close eye on you because of thrombosis though because of the break.
If it's any consolation labour is far less painful than the broken ankle.
I did have a home help for a while because I had two small children besides maybe you could look into similar.
Hope everything goes well.

[Mam2Be]

Thanks for all the well wishes :) this is my first, it's a boy due in the next 2 weeks.

I'm very lucky to have a close supportive family and my mother and father have put a front bed in the living room to take care of me for however long. Although I do have my own house with my partner which I intend to go back to when the baby is born as I think no matter what this is such a special time for him too he needs to be with us both.

Unfortunately the type of breakage means I can't apply any pressure to my leg for at least 6 weeks so hobbling is out, just hopping lol. I'm being injected with Clexane twice a day for the risk of DVT and I've come off all my painkillers :s

Thanks for your suggestions! :) after being in hospital for a week I think I met all the midwives and I was a bit of a novelty on the wards, so I think there's plan in place for me there. My birthplan has effectively been scrapped from a natural waterbirth to a high risk, constantly monitored epidural (on their recommendation) I'm not to worried about the epidural as I've already had one for the ORIF op just gutted that my plans have been wiped!:( anymore suggestions or similar stories are really helpful and get me thinking!!

So thank you :)

[Mam2Be]

Front bed lol...I should read before I post!! sorry

[llandb]

Poor you!

Can anyone lend you a sling to use so you can carry your baby while hobbling (if you don't already have one?)

If you have enough help you may not need to, but could be handy to have on standby in case :)

Having said that, not sure if it's a good idea to carry a baby (even hands-free) while hopping because of the risk of you falling forward / bouncing the baby too much (my experience of crutches allowed some weight-bearing and was pre-DC so I'm clueless).

Might pay to check the Slings board for further opinions (more expert than mine!) if it's something you'd like to do.

Good luck with it all :)