National Osteoporosis Society - Osteoporosis Forum / Special Forums / Osteoporosis associated with Pregnancy

Midwifery care

Liz Robson — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 23:58:57 GMT

I am Liz Robson, a principal lecturer in midwifery at De Montfort University. I do not have osteoporosis YET, but my aunt does.

I have an academic interest in this subject related to pregnancy and have written a chapter on osteoporosis in a textbook that I am co-editing with a consultant obstetrician. The book is "Medical Disorders of pregnancy: a manual for midwives" The second edition is underway and I wonder if any members of this forum have any points they wish to raise about midwfery care? Was any care received good, or were there omissions? Could midwifery care have been better?

I would value your opinions and experiences.

Liz Robson

Osteoporosis associated with pregnancy

bendandbreak — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:42:11 GMT

I've just joined the forum and have already seen a couple of posts from women who've had fractures due to pregnancy, so I'm surprised not to see them in this section. I'm bucking the statistics here by saying I had two sets of fractures following childbirth. I took a risk with a second pregnancy due to the unlikelihood of a recurrence. Oops. Cue home helps, meal on wheels, bath lifts, a whole new glamorous world, with a new baby to look after too. He's seven now, and I still remember what a horribly frightening and depressing time it was. So if anyone out there is going through it right now and wants to offload, I'll share my gory details so you know you're not alone and you will get through it.

Pregnancy related or OI (Osteogenesis imperfecta)

mummyof2 — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:31:17 GMT

Hi All

I hope you are well and pain free at the moment. I was diagnosed with pregnancy related osteo after experiencing months of pain following the birth of my second son. I was told by the NHS physio that i just needed to do gentle breathing exercises to improve my core muscles - yeah right!! After paying a considerable amount of money seeing a private physio who took me under his wing and personally called my GP it was discovered i had four spinal fractures and T scores of -3.

Anyway i have just had a check up and i was told that they would not consider taking me off the Actonel as the risk of fracture is just too high. I was also told that they wanted to check for OI as quite a few women who were thought to have pregnancy related turned out to have OI

Have any of you been told this?? I had blood test 4 weeks ago for DNA testing - Does anyone know how long it takes to get results.

I could call my consultant and ask her but i think she thinks i am panicking about it all as i was quite taken aback when she mentioned the OI as it is genetic. I dont care abut me its my gorgeous babies im worried about but she doesn't get that at all! ( My son broke his thigh bone at 2) i chased up the blood tests and i think she thinks im fussing!

Ic annto beleive such similar experiences some of us have.

Any info/advice re OI would be appreciated.

Many thanks x

Childbirth with Osteoporosis

AC1 — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 11:50:53 GMT

Hi All,

I was diagbosed with osteogenesis imperfecta type 1 in Aug 2009 after a pelvic fracture in feb 09 (I have previously had fractured wrist, arm and toes). I tried oral alendronic acid in Aug 2009 but it made me so ill with digestive side effects that I am unable to take it again. I have been on calcichew D3 forte ever since as have been trying for a family. I am told that I will need to have the annual iv infusions of zoledronate (sp?) in the future, which terrifies me as the side effects sound horrific with that too.

Anyway, I am now 5 mths pregnant and my obstetric consultant is suggesting I try for normal delivery but with no instrumental intevrnetions eg. no forceps etc, bu that I will need a c-section if I or baby are in distress. I think it would be better to just have a c-section straight off, so there's no risk (my baby has a 50% chance of having osteogenesis imperfecta too). He is liaising with my orthopaedic consultant at Oswestry and also paediatric consultants etc and i'm hoping he'll have made a decision when I see him at my 28 week appt in Sep.

I am just wondering if anyone on here has osteoporosis (I am deemed significantly ostroporotic - I am 31) and given birth naturally following a previous pelvic fracture? I am really worried about it.

Thanks,

Amy

I'm a new member introducing myself.

suzy Q — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 14:51:18 GMT

Hi everyone,

I've just rejoined as a member and I'm excited to see there is now a forum for pregnancy related op. I think it's great that you have the opportunity to share information and concerns. I was diagnosed (eventually) when I had my son 20 years ago and ended up with 4 spinal fractures. I'm due to have a scan soon and wondering about what drug I should go on. It seems like a minefield! At the moment I only take calcium with vit D which I don't think is really necessary, as I was never lacking in calcium. I would love to hear from anyone in a similar position?

I'm also trying to get in contact with some girls I met at the prenancy related op conference back in 1992. One girl was called Karen and the other was Kate. I often wonder how they are; so I thought I'd just mention it in case they use this forum. I sympathise with everyone in this forum and if anyone wants to talk to me, please do.:unsure::unsure: I do understand what you are going through but you will get through it.

Help and Advice Required

Mixed up Mama — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 20:59:46 GMT

I am so grateful that I have found this forum - I have felt totally isolated this past 12 weeks.

I will try to be brief with my case study - Three years ago I gave birth
to a baby boy after a horrific pregnancy - I was sick throughout to the
point that once I'd given birth, I weighed 2.5 stone less than I did prior
to falling pregnant. My son was healthy 7lbs10oz. I breast fed him for 2
years until I fell pregnant again.

In June this year following a text book pregnancy, I gave birth to a baby
girl (9lb 2oz) I was extremely active during and after pregnancy as we
live on a farm and work kept me busy and active. (I also rode horses
throughout both pregnancies).

About 8 wks after giving birth, whilst riding my horse, (nothing strenuous
as we were just getting back into the swing of things), I felt a sharp
pain in my back between my shoulderblades. It felt as though I had been
shot in the back and sounded like something had snapped. I thought I'd
over done things and pulled a muscle and took it easy for a few days
(although I was in agony) A few days later, whilst changing the bed, I
was bent over tucking the sheets in when my back literally gave way...
The sound was incredible like cracking knuckles, I heard and felt 4
distinct cracks going down from my shoulderblades to my mid back - I
literally was in agony and couldn't move - I thought that I'd perhaps
popped ribs so went to the doctors for pain relief (I was given mild
cocodamols and ibufren gel due to breast feeding)

I was in so much pain that I made an appointment to see my chiropractor
who worked on me 2/3 times a week for about 5/6 wks - After straightening
me out he saw no improvement in my pain and sent me back to my doctors to
be referred for a spine xray.

Three weeks later, the results came back, I have wedge fractures of L1,
T10 & T12,with minor fractures to T7 & T8.

I was told this over the phone by my doctor, who has put me onto Vit D &
Calcium tablets and Alendronic Acid - I've had blood/urine tests for
cancers/cealiac but all came back clear - my doctor is baffled and put it
down to oesteoporosis due to having had endometrioris and subsequently
taking Synarel for a period. I have also been for a DEXA scan and am
awaiting the results of this.

I seem to have baffled all the doctors involved so far due to me being 37
years old, I'm "too young" for osteoporosis, but no one so far has
mentioned the possibility of Pregnancy Related Osteoporosis. Having not
actually sat infront of a doctor yet, I'm awaiting an appointment through
to see a Specialist Rheumatologist, I feel like I've been abandoned and
can't quite believe that I've got a broken back. It's got to the point
that I can no longer pick up my baby, although I'm still breast feeding
her as it's easier for me than making up bottles when I'm not mobile.

Please could you advise me of what to do? Do I sound like I have
Pregnancy Associated Osteoporosis and if so... what do I do? Who should I
see for help? What is the prognosis? As I mentioned, we live on a farm
and I have horses, so it's a rather crucial time for us at the moment.

Many thanks for reading this - I look forward to hearing from you

Swwimming - with baby and toddler

Mixed up Mama — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:01:38 GMT

I'm just trying to think ahead now as I know I've got to strengthen my bones - Is swimming a good exercise to do when you have osteoporosis? My little boy would like to start swimming and in an ideal world my baby would have a great time at baby splash classes- do you think this would help (obviously when I'm in less pain!) Does anyone else take their little ones swimming? Do swimming themselves?

Hope you are all well