Giving birth with a leg in plaster

[Owchyleg]

Hi

I broke my ankle in two places last week and had to have surgery on Monday. The lower half of my leg is in plaster and I am can't put weight on it for 6 - 8 weeks, this will be followed by 6 weeks in a cast boot.

I am nearly 33 weeks pregnant and now am adjusting to the fact I will have to give birth in a plaster cast.

My dd who is nearly 2 was a normal midwife led birth. As a result of the accident I am now Consultant led.

I haven't found much advice online about this and I wondered of any mumsnetters have any experience of this or anything similar? Aibu to still hope for a natural delivery?

My friend used a k9 scooter when she was in plaster and raved about it!

Definitely get a limbO cover

Where in Wales are you? I'm in the South East and several areas around here have community rehab teams. It sounds like you could do with a good occupational therapy assessment. Aids around the loo, bath seats (once you've got your limbO), perching stools in the kitchen and bathroom etc could make life a lot easier for you. Your GP should be able to refer (probably your MW too), just get it marked urgent.

I gave birth in a kneeling position which would be do-able, no need necessarily to rule out a water birth either if you've got the limbO, though obviously your care team would need to be in agreement.

Good luck OP

Xx

When I was a midwife I cared for two ladies in labour with plaster cast... One wrist (huge pain as reduced IV sites when needed) and one ankle...

Both had normal delivery but yes became consultant led as midwives remit is only the entirely normal and a fracture impacts mobility, thrombosis risk, more to think about like the IV siting situation but ultimately it made no difference to the outcome.

If I remember rightly it was even agreed that the lady with wrist cast could go in the pool but she changed her mind...

Other the year lots of ladies had casts in labour (always causes a bit of excitement) and they were worked round.,.. The only issue I heard of was a lady who had a really high cast on her leg soaked it when her waters went But it got sorted

Good luck

I didn't have a cast but had reduced mobility&pain as I have RA (everywhere but concern was my hips) and had a specialist consultant led birth. I've got to say they were fab and gave me lots of choice on whether or not I wanted a natural birth. DS decided to come early so ended up heading for a natural birth anyway but due to various circumstances ended up having emergency c-section. They were fab in giving me choices & keeping me informed throughout. The midwives & consultant were absolutely fab throughout. The main difficulty for me was post birth - getting around(severe pain & reduced mobility) & caring for my baby. DH had a little paternity leave but after that I felt a bit lost for a bit.
My health visitor was invaluable, she helped me sort out changing & feeding so I could if necessary not move from the sofa (although I tried not to do this there were days when we didn't move). She insisted I get help where possible (no family close by) so helped sort out deliveries, cleaner etc. when DH couldn't do stuff.
It'll all work out whatever happens but a bit of clever forward thinking often makes it easier.
Good luck & congratulations on your impending baby

Owchyleg the way you describe your fear before the operation was exactly how I felt too.

It really was horrible I felt so sure that something was going to go wrong and they would have to deliver the baby early while I was unconscious and I was having dreams about it leading up to the op. I even expressed colostrum to freeze and got some donor milk in the freezer in the event of this happening. The relief when it was all over and everything went well was immense.

I had a technique for getting in the shower. I put a cheap stool from Ikea on a rubber mat in the bath. I then put another stool beside the bath as close as possible. I sat with my back to the shower and then swung one leg over and got my bum over onto the stool and lifted my other leg over the side and into the bath. I did the same in reverse. Thinking about it, this worked because it was my good leg going into the bath first. I don't think it would have worked so well if it were my bad leg having to go in first. Our shower is up high so I also needed somebody to reach in and switch it on for me.

I also hated when anybody tried to help me move, I was terrified that I would fall over again or hurt something, so I made sure I was in control at all times.

Re mobility at the birth. By the time I went into labour, I could walk around pretty well with my boot on and didn't need a crutch any more although I used one outside but that was more as a visual warning to people who might otherwise have pushed by. You may be surprised at how mobile you actually are when it comes to it.

x

This is all great. Lots to think about and lots more options by the look of things than I would imagine at first. My limbo cover has arrived but I haven't mustered up the courage to use it yet. That will come soon I think.

I do anticipate I will be (hopeful) more adept at moving by the time baby arrives. I certainly feel more confident already. It just takes time adapted to my new range of movement.

I really appreciate all the comments and advice. It's easy to feel very alone in this situation. It's good to see there are solutions.

When will you start having physio? Has the OT been to see you yet? If not push hard for it!

I'm not sure when photos starts. I am seeing the trauma clinic consultant tomorrow so i will ask then.

I think pyhsio usually starts after the plaster is off but really you need to see and OT asap. They are really helpful with getting you mobile safely and recommend gadgets etc. You will need a 'grabber' most definitely. Ill find you a link….

www.abilitysuperstore.com/index.php/all-rooms/reachers/-/homecraft-handi-reacher-weak-grip/256

Thanks damediazepam. It is crazy how difficult the simplist of tasks become when you lose use of a limb. It certainly takes getting used to. I hate not being able to do things for me, my family and my little girl and am currently so reliant on others it's frustrating (and a lot of extra work for them).

Mybrokenleg.com is a good website for realising you aren't the only one. It helped me that others were going through the same.

You might not get physio as routine. The fracture clinic told me that with my type of injury, there was no evidence to suggest that physio made any difference. I found that impossible to believe and self referred anyway to the NHS physio clinic. I managed to do my exercises until the baby arrived and then they somehow slipped by the way side....

God almighty, that's ridiculous!

Just wanted to send sympathy as I have broken my ankle in 2 places, not pregnant and almost no pain, yet I'm finding it hard not being very mobile.

It seems I have got off very lightly. Like you I went over on my ankle which became painful and swollen, although not out of place, with a bruise that went to my toes and half way up my calf but I thought it was a sprain as I could walk on it so I strapped it up and hobbled on. I went to the GP after 2 weeks as it was waking me at night aching, got a x-ray and found the fibula has a laterally displaced spiral fracture and there is a smaller fracture to the malleolus of the tibia. Apparently it was not worth putting the cast on at that point as a full 2 weeks had elapsed from the injury so I have a removable "Floam surround" brace and crutches and they will assess at 4 weeks if the healing is ok or if I need anything doing.

About 4 years ago I sprained this ankle badly, tore ligaments and had to do the full anticoag injections and physio malarkey. The doctor said it is possible this strengthened the ligaments enough to hold the joint in place and minimise this injury but who knows.

My friend is a homeopath and has given me some Symphytum 6c and Calc Phos tissue salts 6c which she says will speed healing. If you don't have any objection to homeopathy it might be worth a try, my theory is always nothing to lose!

Good luck, I hope things start to ease for you soon.

That sounds rough too Scousadelic

I remember being sent on my merry way after getting the all clear from the fracture clinic. Your bones are healed they said, but it was the soft tissue damage that took so much longer to get over. It was swollen for months after and painful to walk for quite a long time.

Me too Mawbroon, mind you I dislocated mine at the same time as the breaks

Urgh. Nasty.

I don't know if I dislocated mine or not. I remember being off my face on G&A in A&E and hearing the doc say "lets manipulate this while she's out of it". I don't know exactly what he did, but when I stopped puffing on the G&A, there were tears streaming down my face, so whatever he did was bloody sore!! I am also vaguely aware that I swore LOTS and called the doc some terrible names

When I sprained mine it took 3-4 months to get over it. I had torn ligaments, ruptured the joint capsule and goodness knows what. It was incredibly painful and this has honestly hurt a lot less.

My main concern is that the hospital have been quite laisser-faire about this and not really given me much in the way of instructions. I asked a few questions and they just said "well you've walked on it already" so I don't know really what their expectations are

I have got off very lightly compared to the rest of you though

Mawbroom - they knocked my out completely for 20 mins thank GOD I think breaks hurt less than tissue damage which hurts like hell.

OP I really feel for you!

May I ask how you managed on crutches with you baby alone?
I have slipped a disk so am on crutches with a 4 week old who I can't lift or carry. Need someone with me but getting harder to find help the longer it goes on b

Sorry to hear you are poorly too coldcottage. I am equally worried about how I will cope lifting and carrying the newborn when I'm non weight bearing. I'm 2 weeks into immobility and I'm already feeling like a massive burden on my family (none of whom live nearby (apart from DH obvs)). My poor toddler, it breaks my heart to hear her ask for cuddles and to play and I'm so limited.

It sucks, especially when he cries and I have to wait for someone else to pick him up and walk and rock him. Try not to let it get to me or I'd just cry. I am lucky that my parents and sisters are close but they only have so much time they can give me due to work etc and the same with husband as we need to pay the bills. My health visitor said she would try and get me some help but it could take time so you should see if they can start looking into this for your now. It takes time so if you start now you might get help in the next month.
I'm trying to work out how I am going to manage if I have to be alone assuming there is a neighbor near for emergency.

I think the only safe way would be to use a sling or use a pram in the house so you can use crutches and bump the pram along in front of you with your legs?

Ask about Home Start,I would think you'd qualify.

I think you are right coldcottage. I will look into some support. Both my parents died in the last couple of years. It is times like this I miss them more than ever. I just have to accept help and even ask for it now. Something I am not used to doing.

Ow, ow, Owchyleg! I broke my ankle in a high speed unintentional Cossack display from my horse. I really managed to rip the ligaments, and broke part of my medial malleolus off in what I have been told is a really unusual way. While I was thrilled to have been able to contribute to improving the medical knowledge of weird fractures to a whole load of orthopaedic surgeons, I would rather have kept my leg in one piece. I also had my surgery done with no GA, due to still bfing my baby. I was not allowed to weight bear for nearly 3 months due to the location of the fracture, which was within the structure of the ankle joint. Apparently, placing weight on the joint during recovery causes a callous to grow around the fracture site, which on a long bone strengthens the area that was broken, but within a joint this is not good as it can lead to osteoarthritis later on. So I was instructed to keep the weight off for months to avoid callous formation. I notice you say you have fractured your talus - that is within the joint, so don't be surprised if they ask you to not walk on your cast, as many people do.

What I found in the recovery phase was that I had spent so long non weight bearing that my muscles were severely weakened. I also managed to really knacker the ligaments, and these took much longer to recover than the bone. Physio was absolutely essential - don't be too keen to get yourself signed fit quickly - do everything you can to build up strength and flexibility. Really push for as much as you can get.

I also found that of all the kinds of doctors out there, orthropaedic surgeons are some special breed of sexist shit. I have no idea why. (I have to pass a medical for work and was told by one to consider giving up my career. Yeah right. I passed my medical later that year with no problem, and have had no bother since.) It is worth asking for every opinion you can get - I was given some very good advice by doctors from different areas who seemed to be more sympathetic to my plight.

I didn't have to give birth while injured, so can't offer any advice there, sorry. (My baby was about 10 months old.) I just wanted to offer general broken legged advice. Good luck with your labour and birth! It can take a long time for an ankle to be useable again, but if it helps give a little hope, I was back at work (flying planes) within 4 months, was riding within 6 months, and skiing in 8 months. I went back to the competition I fell off at the following year and managed to not fall off and came home with rosettes. It's still not right 3 years later, but other than aching a bit there's not much I can't do apart from jogging. And I hate jogging.

I carried my baby in a sling, btw, but he was older and I had experience already carrying him in a sling.