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Worried about Chiari 1 flaring up during 2nd pregnancy.

I'm a mother of one, which is amazing.  But, when I was pregnant with her I found out that I have Chiari 1 Malformation and Pseudotumor Cerebri, which made my pregnancy extremely difficult.  I was bed-ridden from 3 months pregnant until I was induced at 38 weeks.  They couldn't give me any type of spinal medication due to the condition.  My husband and I are thinking about expanding our family, but we're worried that I will get sick again, and this time possibly not be able to care for my daughter.  I'm not sure what to do.
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459325 tn?1274755074
Hi! I am currently 4 mths pregnant and my CM symptoms have gotten worse. My pregnancy wasn't planned, so I was on some medications and luckily taken off most of them pretty quickly. However, I have had debilitating headaches and I finally got a nerve block yesterday. I believe it is helping, although there is still pain at the injection site. I also suffer from POTS so I have an extremely high heart rate and have to be pretty sedentary. I have a 5-year old daughter and it is extremely difficult to care for her as bad as I feel.

I was told at my 13-wk u/s that my baby might have CM 2. So I have suffered tremendously through this pregnancy, but each experience is unique-your symptoms may get better. It really depends on what other problems u have due to CM. I will need a C-section. With my 1st pregnancy, I felt much better and still hadn't been dx with CM. Most drs will tell u that there are not known problems for mothers with CM, but there is not much research on the topic so I don't really believe much that they say. Are u a candidate for surgery? Maybe u will feel better after that and will want to try. I agree with the others that adoption is a good choice. If I decide I want more children, I am going to adopt rather than go thru pregnancy again. It has just been way too hard on my body. Pls let me know if have more questions and I wish ur family the best.

Sarah
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Avatar universal
I have seen both a neurosurgeon and neuro-opthamologist who both specialize in Chiari cases. The only symptoms I currently suffer from are RARE migranes, like maybe 2-3 a year?  When I was a child I got them much more frequently, more like a monthly basis.  My condition only flared up for a period of 2 months in my second tri-mester, but it really threw me off kilter, because the migraine was constant and I was bed-ridden in a dark room, and then magically it was gone, all of the pressure in my head and behind my eyes was normal, no headaches, I was fine. It flared for a short period during labor, but nothing like when I was sick. They've told me the safest option is to go under full anaesthesia and be completely out cold to deliver the baby via c-section, and I opted to just risk it and go the natural route.  Things went pretty well given the circumstances.  I'm just worried if I go under for c-section for the next baby that I won't have that instant bonding with my baby. Maybe I'm just crazy
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620923 tn?1452915648
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

U really need to talk with a chiari dr...a specialist in this field, not just a dr that can  or has done a few surgeries.....

Many have had successful pregnancy's....they do not recommend a natural birth...C-sections r the way to go...

But a chiari dr should evaluate u to see how ur CSF is flowing and if u have an obstruction....and also look at what symptoms u currently r dealing with.

The pregnancy it self can trigger more symptoms...and so can the lifting of an infant..or small child.....it all depends on where u r with ur condition.

Please see the list of chiari drs to start ur research.

"selma"

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Avatar universal
Have you considered adoption? If you're worried about caring for your daughter because a pregnancy could land you on bed rest, then why not skip the pregnancy? I know it's not that easy for many, but adoption was an easy decision for us. We wanted 2-3 bio kids and then to adopt 1 or 2. That was our plan from before we were married. My hubby's brother was adopted and so was my favorite aunt.

We had one baby, then after 2 yrs of failed attempts and 6 months of fertility meds, we decided to adopt. We weighed all the options and decided to do foster-adopt. There's so many children here in the US than need loving homes. We found an agency that only places for adoption, not just routine foster care. Their kids have gone through and failed family reunification services or parents weren't offered svcs due to having lost multiple kids, etc.

We weren't picky; just wanted a baby. Our oldest son was 4 months old when he came to out family. It was an easy peasy adoption. We fostered the required 6 months, then filed to adopt. We finalized a week before his 1st birthday. 6 months later, we were placed with a 6 month old girl. Both babies are African American and their birth-mothers abused drugs during pregnancy. They're awesome kids! They have a few issues from the drug use, but nothing crazy. They're 7 and almost 8 now.

We went back to our agency 3 yrs ago for another adoption. We were placed with a 6 week old boy; mixed race of AA, Mexican, and later, we found out, Native American. His adoption was stressful and messy due to the Indian tribe. They wanted him in an Indian home. Thankfully, the alleged birthdad refused to paternity test and we finalized his adoption right on track, when he was 9 months old. He has been the light of our lives, a wonderful kid. Everyone dotes on him do much. He's almost 3 now and we don't think he has any problems from his birthmom's drug use. She was in jail most of the pregnancy, so drug use was limited.

Ok, I probably told you more than you'd ever want to know about my kids and their adoptions. We're considering going back to our agency once my health stabilizes and possibly adopt an older baby or toddler this time. It makes me sad that my youngest doesn't have a playmate/sibling near his age. My 2 older adopted kiddos are best friends. They have such a special, wonderful relationship. I'd love for my youngest to be able to have something similar.

If you want to expand your family, adoption is a wonderful option. Feel free to e-mail me if you want any more info.

TTFN,
Jenn
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