Lupus patient labour - how? C-section?

[ruta74]

Dear girls!

I havent been around much lately coz "being busy" with my pregnancy. I can almost see the finish line now and since everything has been ok. But now I have been hospitalized and no doctor can say what they should do with me.
I was diagnozed discoid lupus several years ago which has been developed to systemic lupus now.
Namely I have started to have pretty remarkable joint pains in my hips and its getting worse and worse. Of course it is normal in the end of pregnancy because of the over-burden. But I still have to accuse my disease for it and my rheumy also found something there (in the hips) with the ultrasound.
And now being hospidalized in pregnancy-pathology they cannot decide whether I need c-section or not.
I was prescribed Medrol and my rheumy said if the pain does not go away it means it is beacuse of the overload. Otherwise he thinks its okay to give natural birth.
The gynecologists are not so optimistic though. They are sure that my pregnancy has to be ended a little bit earlier (38 weeks) with knife or without it. But noone can tell for sure.

Now here I am , searcing the net by myself and trying to get some information and material about it. What could be the risks with me. Should I go for c-section? Or can I try myself. I feel so awfully weak and my joints are sometimes killing me. Lately hands and knees give me some worries aswell.

Has anyone of you been in the similar situation, maybe someone can tell from their own experience what has been decided and why? What are the sure indictions that c-section is neccessary?
The thing is that my doctors say its pretty rare in Estonia, my disease so they cannot make any conclusions on statistic either.

I was even in the situation where my doc looked me into my eyes and asked "what do YOU think?"
I really dont know, ..really dont know.

I`d like to give natural birth to my baby, but if it still means several risks...and if it ends up with emergency c-section after I have lost my common beacuse 18 hours of constant pain - "trying" to do it myself for example...?

Can anyone give me some advice or guide me to some material in the Internet about it.
I woud very much appreciate any help and info.

Thank you in advance, and wish you fellow-pregnant lupies a healthy and worries-free pregnancy!!

Best wishes to all,
Ruta

[cath]

Dear Ruta,

Congrats!!!!!!!! Nearly there style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/flowers.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cloud9.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/hide.gif


Its a tough decision I know, and there are no guarantees either way.

From professional experience, it seems that often women who are sick with a medical problem actually have relatively quick easy labours. Of course I can't promise you that, but given that with a caesarean you are definately going to encounter risks (higher blood loss, longer recovery time, increased risk of blood clots/PE, risk of infection, increased risk in next pregnancy), and with a go at labour you might have problems, or you might have none, its worth a go I think style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/hugbetter.gif

Of course if baby is in danger or you have to have a immediate caesarean, that is another matter.

Just my 2 cents worth.. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/halo.gif

Either way, the VERY best wishes to you, hubby and bubby.
Can't wait to here you're good news.... style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/foryou.gif

X C X

[confused1]

Hi Ruta,

Congratulations! I didn't have lupus when I gave birth and I know that changes so very much. But I have my 2 cents worth to say about birthing in general:

I had one of each -- "natural" and C-section. It only mattered for about 24 hours either way. After that, there is the recovery and being a mom. C-section won't change how you feel about your baby. Neither will a long or painful labor. Once it's over, then you get on with the job of mothering and the actual birth experience becomes just one more story to share with other women over a cup of coffee.

I didn't enjoy giving birth either time. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone, if not for the fact that you can't have a baby without it. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif But I love my boys, wouldn't trade them for anything, and now -- going on 19 and 17 years later -- I can safely report to you that the method of birth has nad no lasting effect. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

Good luck and much happiness to you!! And try not to worry too much.

Love,
Sunny

[Hatty]

How scary for you! I wish I knew the answer to your problem, as it must be on your mind a lot: at the end of pregnancy all one wants is to be able to trust your doctor/midwife and trust your body. I was lucky enough to be able to have my baby naturally at home, and it is in general true that while lupus can make pregnancy difficult, if the baby and you have been fine so far, it does not usually make the actual birth much harder (except of course you are more tired and your joints hurt). There is plenty of evidence to show that if the baby is not in distress it is better for the baby's early development to go into labour naturally and have contractions before a caesarian than to have one straight off, as it helps its lungs etc get into shape for the real world. I would have thought that as long as the baby's heartrate is being monitored you should be allowed to try a vaginal birth if you want to? Then if they are concerned you can have a caesarian.
I am not medically qualified so please don't take me too seriously, it is just based on what I have read.

Either way, as the message before says, in the long term it is not the labour but the child that counts: all the very best of luck with everything and even if it takes a while to feel settled and able to cope, once you can get to know you baby you will realise that it was all worth it! (even at 2am, honest...!)

Good luck!

Hatty

[sunladyb]

Hi Ruta,

Congratulations!!!!!

I was not ill when I had my children I had them both by C section. The first was an emergancy one as my daughter was distressed and the second was an elective one.
I did feel like I had been robbed of giving birth naturally with my first child but I soon got over that and I was up and out of bed caring for my little bundle within 10 hours. I did lose quite a bit of blood though and have to have iron injections after. The second was completely different I was in bed for nearly 24 hours after having my baby and I was in more pain after I was dosed up with morphine and couldn't take care of my baby. I was told there were 2 reasons why first it was my second c section and secondly I had lost more blood.
If I was you I would go on what your docs say if your gyno says they are more inclined for a section than natural they have their reasons for thinking that way.
It is a really tough decision to make I would have loved to have given birth normally both times but the elective section was advised on medical grounds.

I wish you luck in what ever discision you come to I know it will be right for you and your baby.
Love and best wishes
Dawn style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/foryou.gif