giving birth after retinal detachment surgery - advice?

[superdenki]

I'm seeing my eye consultant next week to ask about this but i thought id pick your brains as well in case any MNers have had anything similar. is it safe to go for natural birth after a scleral buckling operation, or should I be requesting a cs? my eye still isn't fully recovered and the last thing i want is for it to go pop...

Elective cs would probably be the safest option, other possibility would be an epidural and an elective ventouse delivery, but they won't want you to push at all so cs would probably be better. Have a friend who had same, she was advised to have cs and did.

Hi superdenki,

I take it you're uber short sighted? I am!!

I have had 2 lots of buckle surgery for 2 symptomatic detachments.

My opthalmologist had a good scour of the medical literarure for me ( and I did too, as I'm a dr) and the case series that have been published ahow no increased risk of detachment in people like us with vaginal birth.

Pushing in the second stage may increase the pressure within the brain, but does not cause the types of forces within the eye necessary for a detachment to occur.

So, I has happily sailed through the first 6 months of pregnancy expecting an elective section, only to be told no, go au naturale!

Your opthalmologist will have the casting vote with you though. Best of luck.

Thanks everyone. Yes, welovepumpkin, I'm really short-sighted, so it was bad luck rather than boxing or rugby league that did it!
I'm back at the eye hospital next weds, but I suspect I will have to have the plomb removed as you can see it pressing against the surface of my eyeball. it doesn't hurt, but it doesn't look right either, if you know what i mean.
I don't have strong opinions re: the birth either way. I had a long 'natural' labour with my first which ended in epidural and forceps delivery, so I'm not in a hurry to repeat that experience; but equally the idea of post-cs recovery doesn't thrill me either.
thanks again though for responding, it's good to know I'm not the only one this has happened to!

If they do let you have a VB check out the web for info on exhale pushing, it would probably be better for you than holding your breath and pushing like crazy

Really interesting thread

I had a retinal tear repaired when I was 5+months (and looking about 8months ) pregnant with DS last year

Had planned a VBAC after em c/s with DD, but ended up with an elective c/s at 40+10 (long story)

No one ever mentioned any potential issue with a VBAC

I'm mega short-sighted too, so just one of those things...

I'm really glad I posted this. The eye itself is healing fine which is great news. Consultant was extremely non-committal, but said there were no issues with going for normal delivery, if I want to. I could request an elective section if I felt v strongly about it, but I think i'll see how i get on over the next few months. My mw reckons that there's no way a second labour could be as long and punishing as the first - hope that's true.

The only thing the doc was adamant on is no contact sports or high diving/bungee jumping! So that blew all my thoughts of setting up a 'wrestling for pregnancy' class out of the water...

Just thought I would update the thread with this letter from my consultant as a bit of expert advice for anyone else in the same boat - there were a couple of related threads recently. I quote -
"A normal vaginal delivery will not in any way affect your retina, no matter how hard you push, and so your delivery should be managed as you and your midwife and doctors feel is appropriate, but there is no concern regarding your eyes".
Hooray!

Hi Superdenki,
can you let me know what kind of birth you gave finally?

Anyone else with experience of giving birth after retinal detachment?