Broken Ankle - 37 weeks

[catinacast]

Hi

I'm keen to hear from anyone in this or a similar situation. Two tuesdays ago i managed to fall over in my kitchen and break my ankle in two places with torn ligaments and the lot!

Straight to hospital in an ambulance and then an op on the Thursday - we had a local anesthetic rather than general and the baby was monitored throughout and I don't really have a bad word to say about how the hospital handled the situation, which is obviously, though I thought quite surprisingly, rare.

Didn't have any drugs apart from paracetamol and pain was manageable apart from when the anesthetic wore off and they immediately got me up on crutches, this was followed by complete agony for a good few hours afterwards.

I have been in to see the mid-wife since and I can still go to the birth centre apparently, but the mid-wife did say, laughing heartily, how are you going to do it... and I said that I'd hoped she was going to tell me!

Anyone else given birth with a leg in plaster??? Or one-legged? I still don't have the proper plaster on (I'm hoping Tuesday) and am hoping for a super speedy non-complicated recovery and a late baby.

In the meantime I cannot do anything. If I stand up for more than a few minutes I'm knackered and its all very frustrating. I was thoroughly enjoying being pregnant. Now I'm worried that all i can think about is my blummin ankle and the baby is coming second.

Help!

Poor you! I'd suggest you ask if there is a possibity you can have a walking cast or rocker boot so you can put some weight on that foot? They are likely to say no and if that is case best thing you can do is rest with foot up to prevent swelling- especially important as you will be a bit swollen anyway from pg. So try and rest rest rest!

Labour should be fine- if you need to stand for a while bend leg and rest knee on foot stool. With help there is no reason you couldn't sit on birthing ball. Hope all goes well.

As a m/w I have cared for a lady in labour who had a pot on her leg up to her knee. She managed OK and could cope with the birthing ball and some standing while leaning on her hubby, etc.

Top tip - make sure you have a bin liner taped over your pot while in labour. If it gets blood and gunk all over it/inside it you don't want to be having to go to fracture clinic the next day for a new pot.

Great tips thank you and nice to know there are similar people in my situation. I've bought a bag thing that apparently keeps the cast waterproof so will use that and they might even let me in the pool!

I'll ask tomorrow about a walking cast or rocker boot as i have my first appt.

xxx

Hi poor you I broke my ankle at 10 weeks, and had to have op with pins & plates etc both sides so I can sympathise! Im 32 weeks now and it is more or less back to normal - still swells a bit by end of day, but can drive etc.
For the first 5/6 weeks I was told not to put any weight on it, so I would check before trying to get a boot or similar. You will just have to rest it as much as possible & keep it elevated. The best bit of advice I can give you is to make sure you do the physio exercises after as much as possible - it does make a big difference.
I assume you can bend your knee? If so I would suggest lying in bed with your foot supported by some extra pillows and keep off it as much as you can.