Advice?! Scoliosis and birth - really need cheering up.

[TheGabster]

Not sure if anyone knows anything about this but I have scoliosis - a curvature in my spine - and have been warned for a long time (before prg) that it could interfere with birth. Apparently it can stop the baby's access into the birth canal.

Now week 38 - head still has not engaged. LO has been head down and "very deep" in all my scans since week 20 and I can feel him pushing down. Have just been to the Guynacologist (I live in Germany) and told her about pushing pain but she said cervix is thick, plug is in place (sorry, TMI) and refused to discuss possible problems (grrrr, stuborn Germans).

Am really worried that she just does not take the scoliosis as a serious problem.

Have been having physio and the nice man said that definitely have very limited movement in the rear pelvic joint which is stopping the pelvis moving as it should. This movement apprently gives LO access to pelvic void/birth canal.

Has anyone ever come across anthing like this? Can they give me any advice?

I am really upset as poor little LO keeps trying to push down and is really hurting me, but just can't seem to find his way out?! I am in pain and feel miserable that it is probably in vain, and stuck in stupid kraut land with no family, and all usual "last few weeks" moans, and DH is working extra long hours to try and clock up flexi-time to take after the birth. Hmphh.

My sister said tell LO to head towards the light but somehow, after today, its no longer funny.

Hey Berolina - thanks for the info. Pre-warned and pre-armed!! he he.

Blade - thanks for the positive/kind thoughts - I need them!

Leaving for hospital now - will let you all know what happens but "know" he is still not engaged - he has pushing on my ribs and into my hips in a horrible way all night.

Mamalocco - welcome to the club! Glad to hear yours all went so well - especially LO1 - now that's the kind of birth I could cope with (appart from the being on my own bit).

no experience but hope all goes well in the next few weeks. like someone said earlier you know your body best and its amazing how it adapts and copes in labour. positive labour thoughts for you

Thanks for the update and good luck Gabster - I'll be thinking of you.

ps Missy - that was me, I said that.

OK - I am home, and the baby is still in my belly!! he he

Baby is still not engaged - but everybody was really positive about it.

Did full battery of tests and the M/w's and Dr all said the baby is doing really well and they are perfectly happy for me to go 12 days over - so I have some breathing space!

Feeling more positive about it all now.

According to the monitor, I am having a few weak contractions already too, and M/ws all agreed it was perfectly reasonable to expect LO to "pop" into the pelvis with the first few good, strong, contractions.

Also, Dr sang praises for the anethatists (sp?) at the hospital, insisting they have done lots of dodgy backs and spines by way of epidural many times before, I am not the first, and not to worry. Phew. (typical German "we are professionals you know" attitude mind, but nice to hear)

Thanks all for your support - will let you know when/how LO finally makes it into the world!

That's good news, hoping those weak contractions get bigger and push LO on its way!

Just to thank you all, and let you know my DS1 was born on Monday 11 Feb by CS. He never did engage, despite 13 hours of labour - cephalic-pelvic incompatability (or something) was the official version. i.e. his head was too damn big!!!

He is wonderfully healthy and I am recovering quickly. Thanks to all for your support. I guess we will never know whether it was his 36cm head or my back that did it but now that the gorgeous little guy is here - I really don't care!

Congratulations Gabster and welcome mini-gabster!

Thanks for letting us know.

Congratulations - well done you and welcome to DS1.

Coming in late to say congratulations! I too have scoliosis & had an emergency C-section for DS1 for failure to progress - but my 'lovely' midwife didn't put it on my notes or tell me until after that he was the wrong way round (POP) which didn't help me. He was 9lb 6oz, so when DS was breech for ages & going to be big again, I went for an elective.

I had an eipdural with them both for the ops, which was fine. But with DS1 I'd been on the drip for ages to try to speed it up, so had the epidural then while lying flat on my back. The epidural didn't take completely for that (so I was very glad they managed to top it up for the section or I'd have had to have a general) so I needed gas & air too & the lying flat for so long left me in agony.

Which is why I opted for an elective the second time. DS2 was 8lb 1oz at 38 weeks - so if I'd gone full term/late again, he'd have been another hefty lad.

About the heriditary nature - I'm the oldest of 4 children & have it worst, my brother's is visible to the naked eye if he's no top on, my younger sister's is vivsible throught her clothes & baby sister's in only visbile on an Xray (or probably to a specialist). Don't know about the wider family.

Many congrat.s!!