Prolapsed discs birth worries

[Bumbleroot]

Hey everyone!

Has anyone else had spinal operations? I'm pregnant for the first time and worried about the birth. I have had two prolapsed discs since I was 21 and have had two operations (discectomies) on them.

I am getting such mixed advice from surgeons/ midwives / anesthetists about avoiding natural birth, getting a c section or having to have general aesthetic to protect my back / the baby.

It is making me worry so much I haven't had a chance to get excited about being pregnant for the first time yet- which makes me feel very selfish and it's making me feel quite lost.

Has anyone else been in a similar position? Thank you for reading, I really appreciate your time xx 🙏

I haven't had such experience, but it sounds like it might be very specific to exactly what's going on with your back, anyway. I'd suggest following the advice of your surgeon and ignoring the midwife, if they're saying different things. The surgeon will know more about the specific state of your back.

I assume it's the surgeon saying c section? In case others are saying it's worth "trying" for a natural birth, ask yourself why. What's the benefit? My scheduled section (different medical reason) was a lovely calm happy experience and I then had a glorious afternoon bonding with my baby. During which I wasn't exhausted or in pain, as was the experience of many I know who had natural births. Obviously you miss more if you have the general anaesthetic but that may be the best option for your back, and you still have that glorious time together once you've come around. Push for the operation to be early in the day in that case, so you do have plenty of daytime with your baby.

One of the worst things about my supposedly wonderful water birth on gas and air was the pressure on my sciatic nerve which I'd had problems with in the past.
Csection with second. Wish I'd had it first time round.

Oh and is it the anesthetist saying that you can't have a spinal block because of the state of your back, so it'll have to be a general? If so, well, I'm afraid they're the one that would know.

The birth is a very small part of having a baby, as long as both of you come through it unharmed. That's the priority. And if the best way to guarantee that is a c section under general.... so be it. I'd suggest you try to stop worrying about other options and let it go, so that you can start being exited and looking forward to your wonderful new arrival.

Your obstetrician should be able to advise about the safest mode of delivery/ relative risks benefits of either, taking into account your spinal surgeon’s advice and any other factors relating to your pregnancy. The anaesthetist is the one to trust re whether to have a GA/spinal. For some types of spinal surgery we’d avoid doing an epidural/spinal injection, but not all types by any means. There may be other features specific to you in addition to the back problems that make a difference to their advice (and it may not be until much later on that it becomes clear what’s best). If you’re still early days it’s probably not really worth worrying too much yet (easier said than done!).

@Soverymuchfruit @Carouselfish @Greybeardy Honestly, thank you all so much for taking the time to reply to me, you are all so right and have really helped put my mind at ease! (And I cried quite a bit!)

Absolutely, I will get as much info from anaesthetist/ midwives/ physio and surgeons as possible and just decide what I am most comfortable with regarding risks to me and baby.

Honestly, you are all heroes and have made my day. Thank you so much.