This post is dedicated to all the girls and women who ask me about what it was like to be pregnant with scoliosis: such a common question that I thought it would be nice to write a text about it here.
This is a complex topic! In fact, the spine is complex on its own, and pregnancy is too. When we combine the two, we have to see what will happen. For those who already experience back pain before pregnancy, the biggest fear is that it will worsen. For those who don't have it, the biggest fear is developing it. After all, if there's one thing we all want to avoid, it's pain. When it comes to the spine, it's even more critical.
What inspires me to write about this today is the number of questions I frequently receive from readers of my blog about what it was like to have a pregnancy while dealing with scoliosis. Since I had to undergo surgery, people's curiosity is even greater. I completely understand this curiosity because I had many questions myself about how the spine typically behaves while we carry our babies in our bellies, and especially how it would be for me, a scoliosis case. Well, in truth, this varies from person to person, like everything. But the news from me is encouraging:
No, I didn't have any pain at all. The lower back region, as the months went by, became a bit more tired, which required me to take a little rest on the bed or sofa occasionally. But actual pain, not even close.
Being operated on didn't hinder me at all; I continued with all my movements normally. After a while, what actually becomes bothersome is the baby bump and not the back!
I tried to do sporadic and light outdoor walks to release tension in my body.
I could have done any sport I wanted; the doctor cleared most activities. I didn't do it out of laziness.
I didn't do Pilates (after the first three months) or physical therapy for the same reason as above. But I know these activities would have helped me feel more relaxed and less tired.
My delivery was via cesarean section because initially, I could only have general anesthesia. This was due to the metal rod, which leaves little space for an epidural in the spine. In the end, everything went well, and I didn't need general anesthesia. If we had known this from the beginning, yes, I could have attempted a normal delivery without any worries.
The most important thing for those who want to avoid backaches and compensations during pregnancy is to follow medical recommendations as closely as possible, including in terms of weight gain. Certainly, the heavier the weight, the higher the chances of experiencing discomfort and pain, not only in the back but throughout the body. Additionally, try to stay active whenever possible. Taking a walk and doing gentle water aerobics always helps. But of course, never do anything without your doctor's knowledge. After all, each case is unique.
Furthermore, all you have to do is wait for the little one to come into the world and be happy!
Do you want to know inspirational life stories? Check out all the testimonials we have published here on this blog.
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