chiari

[pepper77]

can you still  get pregnant when diagnosed with chiari malformation i also have spina bifida an one healthy child. i am just recently diagnosed with chiari

[kia932]

I also have Spina Bifida and Chiari 1. I had thr decompression surgery on Jan 11. I wanted to know how did your pregnancy go in regards to the Spina Bifida? Were you on bedrest at all? Did you have any complications? There is not a lot of research online that I could find about pregnancy and spina bifida. I would love to hear about your experience. Thanks

[chiarian05]

I have had three girls.  I have chiari and a list of other disorders/diseases/conditions.  My youngest daughter (age 10) has chiari and syringomyelia, we are in the process of finding her a surgeon.  My oldest daughter (age 16) has chiari and a cyst on the frontal lobe of her brain.  

You can still get pregnant and have a healthy pregnancy.  I personally wouldnt have even tried having a baby if I knew about the chiari prior to getting pregnant.  Watching my daughters suffer is the worst immaginable thing Ive ever experienced.  Doctors dont usually care enough to tell you that your baby can be born with chiari as well.  In my daughters cases .. both of them are worse than me.  

There is a 50/50 chance of your baby being born with chiari.  Another thing doctors dont tell you is that chiari can be deadly if not treated in a timely manner.  

Im not trying to scare you away from having a beautiful baby or anything and I am not trying to discourage you from getting pregnant.  I am just trying to inform you and give you my prespective.  I hope I havent offended you in any way.  I love my chiari family and would never do anything intentionally to hurt any of them.  

Have you talked it over with your chiari specialist at all??  I think he/she would be able to give you more of an idea on pregnancy and chiari.  

I wish you much luck and happiness.  

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Many women with chiari get concerned about if they can safely have children, it is a valid concern. Increased CSF pressure during labor and delivery are a cause for concern.

Studies have shown that chiari does not worsen symptoms during pregnancy and no significant worsening during labor and delivery.

Please put your mind at rest and enjoy motherhood second time around. Take care!

[Lauri8967]

Of course - one has nothing to do with the other.  As a matter of fact, most people dont even know they have Chari or the accompanying spina bifida!!  (Usually they go together, but the spina bifida is very mild).  
Besides, you are BORN with a Chari and you already have one healthy child.  You already had the chiari when you got pregnant the first time around, you just didnt know it!!
Gook luck
Kitty