Anybody suffered a fracture in late pregnancy? How did you manage? Was it healed before you gave birth?

[mawbroon]

I am 32 weeks pregnant, and fell on the snow yesterday breaking my ankle in three places.

I am in a plaster cast and have crutches, and will likely be laid up for 6 weeks.

I have plenty help around, but am still wondering how on earth I am going to cope with 4yo ds.

I am also likely to need a section, so will be laid up for another 6 weeks after this.

Anybody else had similar? how did you cope? Did the pregnancy have an effect on the way it healed?

Poor, poor you. I broke a toe/metatarsal four weeks ago (also about 32 weeks). I could still hobble about, so not nearly as bad, BUT I thought it might help you to hear that it's healed very quickly (I did exactly the same thing to the other foot while not pregnant, and it took a good couple of months to stop hurting whereas this time it's nearly back to normal already). The doctor told me I could expect it to heal nicely because of all the extra hormones floating about.

Oh that's good to hear about the extra hormones. It didn't really cross my mind to ask how the pregnancy would affect the healing when I was in A&E.

I'm glad your toe is on the mend.

What a nightmare! I hope you feel better soon.

Thanks BPB.

I have already got sore shoulders and arms from dragging myself up the stairs to the toilet.

The hospital said I should ring the GPs tomorrow (they are shut for holiday today) and organise getting a commode. That'll look bonny in the living room, eh?

Poor you, a broken ankle at 32 weeks sounds really really rubbish. I don't know what impact pregnancy has on healing from a fractured bone, but I had an accident at 16 weeks and had a small fracture in my left wrist and dislocated right shoulder. Both have healed absolutely fine. I also found that all of the superficial cuts, bruises and friction burns I had healed much faster than I expected and I wondered if my improved circulation had anything to do with that.

Certainly you shouldn't heal more slowly because you are pregnant. I would have thought the biggest issue is less healing now, but regaining the strength in your ankle once the cast comes off, particularly if you have a caesarean and need plenty of rest afterwards. I don't know how it works where you are but I assume you've already seen the consultant at your fracture clinic and have a follow up booked? It might be worth ringing and asking about physio referrals early (if you haven't been referred already) so that you have an outside chance of seeing the physio and getting some advice on gentle non-weight bearing exercises that are compatible with caesarean recovery before you have the baby.

That's a good idea Veronica, I hadn't really thought about physio, I just kind of assumed that would happen once the cast is off.

I didn't actually see an ortho consultant, they only saw my xrays. There was some confusion as to whether I was going to need surgery or not, so I wouldn't be surprised if they changed their mind again at the fracture clinic (I have an appointment there a week today)

I will also phone the midwife tomorrow. I haven't seen the consultant yet about a section. I think that was to happen after my scan on 2nd feb (this baby is likely to be breech, same as ds because i have a wonky shaped uterus)

Oh how I wish this hadn't happened!!

Oh you poor thing, how horrid! I don't have any advice I'm afraid.

I'm only 11 weeks but have been really paranoid about falling on the ice as I was thinking if I did break a bone I wouldn't be able to have decent painkillers. I hope they have given you something that means you're not in too much pain?

Oh poor you - it must be very difficult, I'm 32 weeks also and am having enough trouble dragging my sorry carcass round, let alone on crutches.
I had a broken arm in a cast last year and that was bad enough - made simple things very tricky. Huge sympathies, make sure you get lots of help!

Ouch, the pain hasnt' been bad up until now, but is kicking in just now. My midwife said it's ok to take some co-codamol as long as I don't go daft on it.

I think I have also just realised that things are only going to get worse as I get bigger and will not be fully recovered when it's time for the baby. I was feeling a bit sorry for myself earlier on.

Poor ds, he will be spending much more time away from me than he ever has before and he was crying this morning that he didn't want to go to granny's because he didn't want to leave me . That broke my heart.

I am 36 weeks pregnant and broke my ankle last tuesday in two places so am very interested in all you have to say.

I too have been told that i'll be laid up and in a cast for 6 weeks. I did have to have surgery but the toes don't seem to be swollen and they're wriggling around okay so I"m hoping for a miraculous recovery!

Anyone else been in this situation who has been through a natural birth with their leg or ankle in plaster?

Mawbroon how are you getting on? I've been back from hospital since Friday and have had had round the clock attention from members of the family since then, but I'm finding it all quite tough, even washing is nigh on impossible!

Any tips greatly received.
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