Chiari Type 1 and Pregnancy

[NicoleIvyy]

I'm 23 and I've had two decompression surgeries, the first when I was 14 and the second when I was 21, I also had a small syrinx prior to the second surgery that did deflate after surgery. I'm engaged and getting married later this year and my fiance and I would like to start trying to have a baby with the first couple of years of our marriage, I've heard both sides that it can be completely normal and also that it can be very bad. Has anyone had the experience of pregnancy and giving birth that you can give me advice on? Was your baby healthy? Do you know if they may have Chiari as well? Did you opted for C-section or natural birth? If you did natural birth did you have any complications? I don't want statistics or anything like I want to know what people experienced, I've done the research and I know the statistics and facts, I just need to know other womens experience with it.

Thank you,
Nicole

[selmaS]

  Hi Nicole and welcome to the Chiari forum.

I had my daughter by natural childbirth....but my Drs wanted to do a C-section bcuz  she was sunny side up and I was not dilating.....this was all LONG b4 I knew I had Chiari....

I was given an epidural, and worked to turn her around....I did end up with a CSF leak due to a student nurse pulling me into an upright position b4 I was supposed to move.....so I had 5 days of torture.....but the leak sealed on it's own.

Since you have had 2 surgeries....I would think having a C-section would be something your OBGYN would suggest....

There is an article written by Diane Mueller a NP who worked with Dr Oro a top Chiari NS.....and the article is on Pregnancy with Chiari and Syringomyelia.....

Read the article and talk with your OBGYN and possibly your NS as they will know what is best for you.....all of us will have a different experience as we all may have a different combo of conditions going on....so our bodies will react differently.

I wish you all the best.