Hypermobile

[jmap81]

Is anyone else hypermobile and therefore anxious about birth? I previously had an issue with disaposable stitches and a non-working local anaesthetic. Not making any headway with the medics about what type of birth would be best. If natural, I want to know an epidural would work if I wanted one. And if C-section, want to know that the drugs there would work...and of course that I don't have a repeat issue with the stitches (I understand that silk sutures are better for people in my position). I would love to know if there's anyone out there in the same boat. I am due end March and FTM.

Also very hypermobile here. But I don't have much in the way of answers for you as its a very indivudal thing. I've had 15 surgeries over my life and never had an issue with painkillers or anesthetic. But I have had an issue with joint dislocations and pelvic pain in the past which was my main concern

I'll admit I found the NHS advice a bit lacking and their attitude was "cos you're so bendy you'll probably have a fast labour" so not great at discussing risks. I decided to go privately instead but obv recognise thars not an option available for everyone.

And even then the answer was it can go either way and we won't know til it happens.

Sorry can't be of more help...

Thanks @Bells3032. Can I ask what kind of birth you have opted for? Am contemplating private too partly also because of covid and being worried about not getting the fast attention I may need...

I had planned a nice calm c section privately at 39 weeks which was also due to my gestational diabetes.

My daughter had other ideas. She arrived yesterday at 34 weeks. In an incredibly fast labour at the local NHS. The whole labour lasted about 4 hours and went from 9cm to her being born in 20 mins. Well they did say hypermobility often results in fast labours.

She's doing well thankfully and I got away with just a minor 1st degree tear and a slightly bruised tailbone.

No way! @Bells3032 congratulations and so happy to hear the news

I am hypermobile and had a fast first labour (two hours). No time for an epidural or other anaesthetic whether it would have worked or not - it was very painful but essentially all worked out fine, and was a vaginal delivery. Be prepared for it to be fast!

With the stitches, you can ask to have gas and air while they're stitching you up, which I found worked well (I also have past issues with local anaesthetic not working but gas and air was great). Can't comment on the actual stitches though, as I think I just had the normal dissolvable ones and no issues there.

I have hyper-mobility but it never once occurred to me to tell consultants or any of the midwives I saw about it.
with my first in 2020 they prepared me for ec just in case as I was high risk due to fibroids.
These are what I was given:
Epidural-didn't kick in one bit
Fentanyl intravenously-zero effect
Gas and air-zero effect

I was rushed into theatre at 9cm due to foetal distress

1st spinal block-zero effect

Lead anaesthetist was flummoxed as he tried everything and nothing seemed to be working. He then gave the option of putting a new epidural or another spinal block

Opted for another spinal block which worked 2nd time round.

I had a very fast active labour which went from 4cm to 10cm in 5 minutes and baby was born 15 minutes later. Local anaesthetic for stitches didn’t work the first time so I got given a second lot and that did work. Definitely tell your midwife, and make it clear you might have a problem with anaesthetic so they are aware you might need higher doses.

Erm well this is worrying! Am 24 weeks pregnant currently and I had no idea being hyper mobile had any consequences at all 😳 anybody know why it affects you like this?

I've been told I might have to give birth at 39 weeks as I'm high risk and I already have an existing joint problem which would limit me to certain positions to give birth in (if not cesarian) it never occurred to me to tell anyone I'm also hyper mobile and nobody has asked!

Sorry for worrying anyone! I am only paranoid since I have previous bad experience from an operation. As a FTM, there's just endless unknowables. Not everyone hypermobile is resistant to anaesthetics... For the folk who haven't mentioned it to their care team, I also found they didn't ask and having now spoken to an anaesthetist, I found he was slightly dismissive. I am going to be really clear with my birth partner too... am still toying over what type of birth may be less risky on all fronts.

Hi, hypermobile here and have had two babies.

Two inductions in the end! Straight to drip after waters being broken and an epidural each time (which I insisted on before the drip btw as it's known to be more painful than natural childbirth.)

First time round the epidural wasn't offering enough pain relief so they had to increase the dose. They were quite snotty about this, implying I was being over sensitive to pain. I assumed at the time it was because it had failed in some way but actually it was because I was dilating very rapidly so contracting more intensely. A quick increase in the epidural and I was fine. I unfortunately tore very badly during the pushing stage but this was because I was vomiting and couldn't control DS1 coming out in a slow and measured way. The speed of dilation and perhaps slightly easy tearing I am sure is due to hypermobilility (the gynae I saw after agreed).

Second time round ridiculously quick labour after going on drip (under an hour) but no sickness this time and no tear. Due to my previous tear the midwives were incredibly careful about this.

So anyway (sorry for the essay) I think a quick labour and some skin fragility were the main issues for me. I've had general and local anaesthetics in the past with no issue. Keep raising it where you can.

Good luck

I was only diagnosed with hyper mobility when I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. The signs were all there I suppose my eldest son also has it we both bounce when we walk.
My 1st bd was born at 34 weeks and a very fast labour my 2nd son was born within 20 mins of being induced I was 42 so consultant lead anyway . I'd never heard of hyper mobility causing fast labours but explains a lot now!

Hi @jmap81 I have had two c-sections. I was so very traumatised by 7 failed attempts at spinal blocks prior to being given a general anaesthetic with the first. (the anaesthetist’s attitude was gruesome. He made it VERY clear just how unhappy he was about being called out from a family dinner and he reeked of red wine and cigarette smoke!). The second time around (twins) was in a different hospital with different staff. I explained what had happened and the anaesthetist was so kind and understanding that he and I both decided to skip the spinal attempts and just go for a GA. Very glad I did as I haemorraged and had no idea about it at the time. My DH was allowed in to be with the babies by my obstetrician and I knew they were fine. Meanwhile, it wasn’t until 14 years later that I was diagnosed with H-EDS (at 48yrs) and a lot of things made sense retroactively. If a GA is a better option, don’t be afraid of it. I don’t know any different and can honestly say that I don’t feel like less of a woman.

I have HSD and have had 2 home births. Both times, it was under 4 hours from waking up with very mild contractions to holding a baby - so be prepared for things to move fast!

For the actual births, I had no issues. I used a birthing pool and it was all very manageable. First time the only other pain relief I got was 2 paracetamol due to the speed. Second time I got gas and air as they were a bit more prepared. So make sure to warn about the hypermobility and potential to birth quickly.

I needed stitches both times and managed without any anaesthetic. However I echo being resistant to local anaesthetic, sedation and general anaesthetic from my other experiences. I tend to need higher doses and/or shrug them off quickly. Confuses the nurses after a general, when I wake quickly and I'm fully alert. 😅

Just realised this was a zombie thread. Oh well, hopefully the experience share is helpful to anyone searching for info about being hypermobile and giving birth!

@Spirael good one to resurrect! So interesting!

I'm hypermobile and had a super fast Labour - 3 hours! Never connected the two!

Anaesthetic does always take awhile to work on me, at the dentist they always have to give me the absolute maximum but my epidural worked fine (for a tear repair).

I THInK I'm hypermobile (had it mentioned to me by multiple PTs/instructors, but never had a formal diagnosis if that's a thing). I'm pregnant for the first time - didn't realise it can have an impact - anything I should be doing now as a result?

@anna2101 i think it is such a range of what it could mean. my doctor told me i'd either have a really easy pregnancy and birth or an awful one. it can mean that you're more likely to have pelvic girdle pain etc for me it was the good side. i actually had less aches and pains than usual as my muscles relaxed from the relaxin and i had a super easy birth and recovery.

I honestly think it's not a problem unless you have an issue with anaesthetic which you would probably already know about.

In terms of labour, then lots of body balancing work, working on hip stability and pelvic alignment.

I worked with an osteopath all the way through my pregnancy and it really paid off!