Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine that causes pain and in some cases impaired mobility as well. Women with scoliosis may have several apprehensions about motherhood – fearing that a pregnancy could somehow worsen the condition or perhaps that the condition itself may not allow for a normal, healthy pregnancy.
Can women with scoliosis have children?
Earlier, women with scoliosis found it difficult to enjoy a normal and healthy pregnancy. However advancements in medical facilities and technology have made it possible for more and more women with scoliosis to have normal, safe pregnancy and childbirth.
Studies have shown that most women with scoliosis can go on to have normal, healthy pregnancy, whether or not they have undergone surgery for their condition. On the whole, the study found that women who had had surgery were less likely to have the curvature of their spine increase due to pregnancy.
What women should know about scoliosis and pregnancy
It is important for a woman with scoliosis to consult with her doctor if she is contemplating pregnancy. It is important to judge whether surgery is required to correct the condition, particularly in light of the fact that she is looking to have a baby.
If surgery is recommended, one needs to wait for several months after the surgery to give the spine time to heal before trying to get pregnant.
One of the main reasons that the curvature of the spine could increase is because of the weight gain during pregnancy.
The aspect that pregnant women with scoliosis may find difficult to deal with during pregnancy is back pain. Back pain is anyway a problem during pregnancy – as the belly grows, pressure is put on the back and the center of gravity alters. So for women with scoliosis, pregnancy back pain may be a lot worse.
Pain management is another issue that could confront pregnant women with scoliosis. It would have to be seen whether an epidural can be administered. The efficacy of an epidural as a pain management aid could also be less. If an epidural is not possible or not recommended, other pain management options would have to be discussed and opted for.
In some cases, women who have had scoliosis surgery and a subsequent pregnancy could find that the pregnancy has caused a kind of relapse. This could make it necessary to undergo further surgery following the pregnancy to restore the spine’s normal curvature.