Open AccessPregnancy and women with spinal cord injuries
Author(s) -
GHIDINI ALESSANDRO,
HEALEY ALEXIS,
ANDREANI MARIANNA,
SIMONSON MAUREEN R.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1080/00016340802356909
Subject(s) - medicine , pregnancy , spinal cord injury , autonomic dysreflexia , spinal cord , obstetrics , population , complication , surgery , psychiatry , biology , genetics , environmental health
Objective . To investigate the impact of pregnancy and childbearing on women with spinal cord injuries and their attitude toward pregnancy. Design and setting . State‐wide questionnaire survey from two databases, Florida, USA. Methods . Women with spinal cord injuries between 18 and 40 years were invited to participate. Main outcome measures . Knowledge about pregnancy after spinal cord injury and complications of pregnancy. Population . Hundred and fourteen women with spinal cord injuries. Results . Twenty‐three women (20%) received information about pregnancy during rehabilitation, but only 12 (10%) found it adequate. Rates of response of ‘adequate information’ were similar between women who became pregnant after injury and those who did not (9.0% vs. 8.6%, p = 1.0). Younger age at injury was the only predictor of pregnancy after spinal cord injuries. Preterm delivery occurred in 33% of women; 22% were unable to feel preterm labor. Thrombosis (8%), urinary complications (59%), dysreflexia (27%), and worsened spasticity (22%) were the most common complications in pregnancy and post‐partum depression (35%) was the most common complication in the puerperium. Conclusions . Inadequate information about pregnancy is common among young women with spinal cord injury. Heightened surveillance for certain complications is warranted in women with spinal cord injuries.