Giving birth w/ Perthes

[charrison]

Hello all.

My wife was diagnosed w/ Leggs Perthes as a child. She wore a brace, but never had surgery. Her symptoms now aren't severe, though she does have occasional soreness and what she describes as "my hip popping out of place".

We are now expecting our first child (we're both 33), and we're both wondering if natural childbirth is safe or advisable, or if we'll have to have a c-section. I was wondering if anyone here w/ Perthes has any experience on the matter they could share.

Thanks in advance for the information.

ch

[Donna Brown]

Hi

I've had two children having had perthes as a child - my first was an emergency C-section because he got stuck, actually he never engaged and then he was so broad across his shoulders, that he just couldn't come out.

Second time around my doctor assumed I would go with an elective C-section, but did my research and found a supportive specialist who was prepared to let me try to give birth naturally, although I only had 6 hours to get into established labour, or I was back up in theatre having another C-section. It took 4 1/2 hours from the first contraction to giving birth and it was a thrill to do it naturally. I had a good team behind me both times with a midwife who understood my need to try and do it myself.

I had a pelvimetry done after my first child - feet first into a CAT scan machine - and was informed that my pelvis was too flat to ever give birth naturally. When I presented to the specialist and he read that report, he was cautious about me proceding, but I was about the same age you and your wife are, so wasn't a silly young thing and also I was more than happy to go up for surgery if my baby or I were at any risk. His comment was to ensure that I had good strong contractions, as they are what mold the babies head and allow it to pass through the birth canal.

Good luck with your decision - it must be something that you are both comfortable with, but will not potentially harm the baby or your wife and that makes it a hard choice.

Donna

[charrison]

Thanks for the feedback.

We're just trying to get a variety of opinions and experiences at the moment.

The only person my wife has talked to told a horror story. During the delivery, because of the epidural, she wasn't aware that her hip had popped out (or something to that effect) and the contractions and bending caused the hip to grind to the point that she needed surgery afterwards.

We've consulted with our OBGYN who is researching the matter now, but I thought it would be good to here some first hand accounts. It looks like I should check into her maybe having a pelvimetry if it's possible while pregnant.

thanks again

[Donna Brown]

Hi

Not sure that they would do the pelvimetry while she is pregnant, but its certainly worth a try. I found that once I was on the bed with #2, I was stuck there. It was the most comfortable place I could find and I wasn't prepared to move from there, even though a spa pool had been filled ready for me LOL!

If you have a good team around you and are realistic about what is happening and prepared to change tack, if needed then your wife should be fine. Any birth comes with so many unknowns, but perthes is just an added extra that can throw all plans out the window. Be prepared to go with the flow and do whatever is necessary to ensure the health and wellbeing of the baby and mum, then all should be great.

All the best

Donna
PS: There is an adult perthes survivors group (link on 'Online Support Groups & Info'page) that I started a few years ago. I know there are at least 1-2 other women there who have given birth after perthes, so it might be worthwhile seeing if you get some information there too. I am in the process of trying to organise a moderator to look after that group, so that I can step away from it as much as possible. There are obviously going to be times when I will share info there, as I do here, but I do hope that I can achieve the same here sometime, where it becomes more self-sufficient!

[kazza]

Hi there,

I am 33 years old and had perthes as a teenager. I have a 3 month old baby girl and a 3 year old son. Both delivered naturally with no problems at all. With my son, I did a bit of hamstring and quad stretching throughout my pregnancy, but nothing with my daughter.

Wishing you all the best in welcoming your new addiiton to the world - it is truely an amazing experience!

Kaz.

[nattie1985]

Living with the disease since i was 5yrs old and now at 23 and married i have always wondered what other women have been through having children.
Me and my partner are thinking of having children somtime soon i have always presumed that a "Normal" birth wasn't possible with the disease and always thought that you had to have a section done. Is there people out there that have had a normal birth with the disease and if so what was the procedure like any normal birth?.

[Donna Brown]

Hi

Apparently what I went thru when I gave birth normally, was pretty typical for any woman giving birth.

I did surprise my midwife in that she made me walk back to my room after giving birth, pushing the incubator with my daughter in it around for a 'lap of honour' and she commented that I wasn't waddling, like a lot of women do after giving birth. All I can think of there, is that having had hip problems, I'm very good (and always have been) at trying to walk as normally as possible, without a limp, or at least minimising it.

Before you are ready to have a baby, it might be worthwhile talking to your doctor and getting checked out to see if there is any physical reason why you couldn't give birth normally. As I understand it, even having an osteotomy shouldn't change that, as it doesn't have any effect on the birth canal itself. However, due to perthes, your pelvis may not be as strong and resilient as a normal pelvis and when the hormones start loosening the pelvis up for birth, that could de-stabilise things a bit more than you wished. I had to spend a lot of time with my feet up with both pregnancies, but that was a small price to pay for healthy children.

All the best

Donna

[karine]

Hi all,
I'm 30 now, had the disease when I was 2 years old and multiple surgeries later (had a very severe and fast degrading case). I am now thinking about children and it is such a relief to read other women's experiences. Never knew other women with this problem. I'm just happy I stumbled upon this group. thank you!