What should I expect during childbirth?

Author: Hannah Goodings | Reviewer: Frédérique Courtois | Published: 11 September 2023 | Updated: ~

Having regular appointments and good communication within your medical team are both key to developing a safe and successful birth plan. During delivery, some SCI specific complications to be aware of include:

Depending on the level of injury, contractions or fetal movements may not be felt by the mother. This has the potential to lead to an unexpected birth, which can be dangerous to both the newborn and the mother. To avoid this, regular cervical dilation checks should be completed from week 28 onward. For women with injury levels above T10, early hospitalization after week 36 may be recommended.

Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is a risk throughout all the stages of pregnancy, but the risk is even more elevated during the time of labour and delivery. Some stimuli that may lead to AD include contractions and manipulation of the uterus, bladder or vagina, all involved in childbirth. AD leads to a sharp rise in blood pressure with symptoms such as a throbbing headache, red skin, nausea, and can be life threatening. The treatment for AD occurring during birth is to stop all manipulation and position the mother in an upright position. If AD cannot be controlled during birth, a caesarean section may be required to safely deliver the baby.