Any midwives reading this? Or anybody been through similar?
I had a berry aneurysm aged 16, fully recovered and no side effects. Am now healthy 34 year old with DC2 on the way.
I was told at 16 by my neurosurgeon that I would never be able to give birth naturally as the stress on the clipped aneurysm is uncharted territory and who would want to test the waters (ie - mum to be, medical team would be reluctant )
So I have always just gone along with that. I can't give birth naturally. I know that the safe delivery of my baby and the safe outcome for me is best.
Then, I heard from a friend that one of her patients (she is a nurse) had a BA in her teens and went on to have 3 vaginal deliveries with no consequence.
It has played on my mind and having done a little research on the internet, came across a quote from a book (Best Practice in Labour and Delivery) that said:
If a woman (had a) berry aneurysm that has been clipped, she can be delivered vaginally without any special precautions..... link
This has totally turned my head inside out. I always said I felt like I had missed out in some way, not going through labour, but had accepted that it was just what was best.
I am also Consultant led care, not Midwife, because of this. I have my first appointment next week.
I am now considering asking exactly why I was not told, aged 25, that vaginal birth is possible.
I thought there were no other options, but feel as though I was kept in the dark.
The 'research' I have done in the last few days is limited admittedly but it is really hard to find information on via Google. The little snippets I have found have gone against everything I have been told though.
Anybody have any advice?