Anyone Pregnant who's had a hip replacement?! NOT A JOKE THREAD :0)

[spraklynewthing]

Hi there,

I am getting in a really muddle - basicially due to long standing congential hip problem I have had sugery to boths hips when I was 13 and then a replacement to my left hip in 2005.

I wondered if any of you have had a hip replacement or similar surgery and went on to have 'normal' vaginal birth. I am convinced I would be unable to deliver naturally as to be blunt, I am unable to open my legs very wide ! I am under shared/consultant care at at the moment and they are not ruling out a natural birth which is making me anxious. I have only been seen by a registrar who I did not feel was massively interested in my particular circumstances.

I realise that c/s is by not means the easy option but do you think I could 'demand' a c/s given that I genuinely believe a vaginal birth with present difficulties for both me and the baby>

I am 30 not 90 by the way!

I haven't had a hip op, so am not talking from any experience in that direction, but.... you don't actually have to open your legs very wide in order to give birth.

Also, talk to your midwife, if the thought of a vaginal birth is worrying you she will either be able to put your mind at rest, or go through your options with you.

Wishing you all the very best with your baby

Hi Spraklynewthing,

I've not had this but a close friend of mine (also 30!) needs a hip replacement soon and wants to have another baby in the near future. She has been through huge numbers of appointments with consultants of various kinds to work out the pros and cons of having the baby before or after the replacement. I am seeing her at w/end so will ask what she was told about this if it'd be any help. She gets the impression that this is not a Q that is asked very much and so your registrar may well not have encountered it before. I know that she thinks she would prob have a c/s next time after talking to them but I'm not sure whether that is with both options or just the 'before' option. I should say that she had her first baby 'normally' and felt that it caused further damage to the hip thouh I imagine that that depends on exactly what is wrong with the hip.

Good luck

my legs were no more tham shoulder width apart for either birth, the legs up around your ears thing is unnecessary and far more difficult tbh.

that said they should certainly be taking your fears more seriously and if you would feel safer with a cs knowing the risks involved your entitled to demand one

Thanks for your comments - I suppose it's not simply a question of opening my legs wide - I probably didn't express myself very well there. Thanks to sqonk and Pink Tulip for your comments. As a first timer I imagine having to contort into lots of positions when in fact this isn't likely to be the case at all....I guess I have both physical and psycholoical issues to address more fully with both my midwife and consultant.

Catz I would be really interested to hear what your friend has been recommended it she is willing to share!

Thanks again - these have been really useful - thanks for your time!

Hi Fiofio - Cheers! how do you CAT?!

you have to be signed up for it, and it costs a fiver for the whole year. Click on the envelope at the right hand side of the person's name and it will talk you through it in easy steps

Hi Sparky,

I too have a hip replacement (right) due to Perthes disease & osteoarthritis- I had it done aged 19. I am now on my second pregnancy (& aged 27)- DS was born by emergency c-section but that was not due in any way to my hip - I developed severe pre-eclampsia & he had to be delivered at 30 wks... Last time I had been told I should be able to give birth naturally in spite of very restricted movement- but that we might have to be inventive with positions! I am now 29 weeks pregnant with no.2 & my consultant has said IF i get through this pregnancy without pre-eclampsia rearing its ugly head then she doesn't see why I can't try for a natural birth...but that we may want to avoid an epidural as that means having to lie on back which for me would make birth more awkward- she thinks upright positions or on all fours will be easiest looking at my range of movement.

I have to say having had a c-section I would rather avoid one, but I am realistic in that if problems occur I will need one again... It's just that the recovery time can be quite long which is a big consideration with DS at home already....

I will be interested to hear of anyone elses experiences? I did some research when I was pregnant with DS & it seems quite a few women who have total hip replacement go on to have un-complicated natural births...so it is an option. But do make sure your consultant & midwives are aware of your restricted movement.

Good luck! xxxx

Hi, I've not had a hip replacement, but had hip surgery when I was 21. At the time mum asked the consultant whether I'd be able to give birth naturally (the midwife in her coming out!!) I gave birth naturally this year and had no problems with my hips at all. Hope all goes well for you Spraklynewthing and you get some understanding from the Drs.

there shouldn't be any reason why your can't give birth naturally (I'm assuming your obstetrician has seen an Xray of your pelvis?)BUT if it is a standard hip replacement(rather than a "resurfacing")there will be things that you're not supposed to do with your replaced hip. You wouldn't be allowed to squat, and I'd be rather worried about you pushing against the flexed hip-it could cause a dislocation. Allfours position or upright with hips semi-flexed and wide apart (a high squat) should be OK. Have you seen an orthopaedic surgeon since your pregnancy? I think it is a good idea if your two surgeons talked to each other!

Would have thought if you can open your legs wide enough to get pregnant, it would be possible to open them wide enough to give birth!

Seriously though, a lady I know has had hip replacement and she has had 4 children vaginally.

Hey i know this is a very old thread from 2007. And you may not be on the site anymore but i noticed you mentioned you had perthes as a child and had a hip replacement. Im in the same boat as you just had my second hip replacement last year and i was wondering did you have any pelvic pain during pregnancy at all? Its the thing im most worried about! @madmumNika

@WestCountryLass you dont always need to spread your legs to have sex!

Hello, not me but there is a Facebook group for people with Juvenile Arthritis and other conditions like that, and even though this isn't your problem precisely, they know a lot about being young and having joint replacements. They're called Arthur's Place Social.