Hypermobility and delivery

[Bells3032]

Has anyone delivered with severe hypermobility syndrome. I am super flexible but it means my joints dislocate easily and have needed physio on my pelvis previously due to it being out of joint.

I have also broken a rib coughing a needed surgery to repair it eventually so have pins on my back.

Debating whether vaginal delivery would even be an option or just go straight for a c section.

Anyone with anything similar.

Thanks

I have hypermobility syndrome and have 5 children and 5 very different births. Do you have a rheumatologist you can talk to?

I don't. I tried to speak to my trauma surgeon from my rib as that was a concern but no reply as yet for weeks. He works in a major covid hospital so I guess very busy

I'm hypermobile (9/9 on the test I believe!) but not as severe as you; I can keep it under control not-pregnant but it does become an issue when pregnant. My whole family seems to have it and mum seems to be becoming more affected as she gets older (she's done a rib in whilst bending over etc). Fairly certain DD has it, though a bit too young to tell yet.

I did have a vaginal delivery with DD, one thing I did learn is that epidurals don't seem to work on bendy people. I think there has been just one study which showed this is often the case, the rest seems to be anecdotal. It's not an absolute science but something not widely publicised due to lack of formal evidence. However anecdotally speaking, it didn't work for my mum and didn't really work for me either. Took the edge off a bit perhaps, not much more than G&A though and wore off quickly, after being hooked up to the machine for 12 hours on maximum dose topping up as often as it let me, I was still able to walk. I'm 39+2 now and wouldn't bother again this time. I had the epidural because I was trying to manage the synotocin drip without it (haha!) and my brave pants ran out when it overstimulated me. I've decided that combination doesn't work on my body so if it gets to synotocin again I'll be asking them to go to C-section. How far along are you? Could you see how your body takes the pregnancy and make a decision nearer the time?

I'm guessing you've been told about PGP and SPD too if it's not already affecting you? It was my first symptom in both my pregnancies - but I've kept it under much better control this time (she says awake at 1am with painful pelvis!). I also got more strains/pulls/twists and sprains in the months post-partum as I still had all those loose joint hormones, but coupled with the physical demands of a newborn and moving house.

Oh and before the birth as well, managed a dislocation at 36 weeks and ended up in A&E. Got seen quickly though!