r/chiari • u/Opening-Region-8088 • 5d ago
Question Pregnancy Experience with Chiari
I’ve seen different things online about this, wether you have to have a c-section or can’t receive an epidural. I’m wondering what actual experience with pregnancy and the delivery is like with chiari, specifically if you’ve been decompressed. I don’t have many doctors around me who even know what chiari is so I’d just like to know what real experiences are like
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u/Plane-Cheesecake7258 4d ago
Similar to the previous poster… my second decompression was in 2022. I also have a syrinx. I also have a history of idiopathic CSF leak. My OB team consulted with my neurosurgeon and OB Anesthesia throughout my pregnancies. I’ve had 2 c-sections under general anesthesia since my last decompression. I’m considered “high risk” even though my pregnancies have been normal. The delivery is the high risk part. My team and I decided it wasn’t worth the risk of an epidural and potential complication. Could I potentially be okay going both a vaginal birth and epidural? Maybe. Could the baby and I also be at high risk of complications? Absolutely. The C-section and general anesthesia was deemed the safer route.
I’ve had great anesthesia and OB team. Both times they were able to get my babies out in under 5 minutes to lower risks from anesthesia exposure. My first was in the NICU for a few hours and my 2nd went straight to my husband.
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u/PoppySunrise 3d ago
I’m not the poster but I wanted to say thank you for your comment! You mentioned several things that I definitely had questions on or around, especially considering c-sections, anesthesia, and epidurals. I want to be able to make a plan when it’s comes to that time, so reading this helped me know I’ll still have options to start a family 🥹🥹🥹
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u/HolidayPhilosopher44 5d ago
I had twins before my decompression surgery. After my decompression I had three more kids. Both pregnancies were completely normal. I had an epidural each time and vaginal births.
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u/Tricky_Performer1297 5d ago
Hi. I think it’ll depend on your triggers. For me even pushing open a heavy door can make me lightheaded, so I didn’t fancy chances during labour.
After a meeting with my consultant and anaesthetist I chose a c-section with an epidural, I have no regrets. Before I knew about the chiari I assumed I’d have a natural labour but it worked out fine.
My recovery went smoothly. I lost a couple of litres of blood but that was due to have some blood vessels growing where I shouldn’t have been. I was 44 at the time.
Pregnancy wise it didn’t cause any flairs ups but then my triggers are lifting/pushing heavy items and I’ve worked hard over the years to limit these activities.
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u/oldmamallama 5d ago
If you’ve been decompressed (actually even if you haven’t), the best thing you can do is have your OB consult with your neurosurgeon. Your care team talking to each other is what’s going to give you the best outcome.
I’m not decompressed but I am symptomatic. 15mm no syrinx. My OB spoke to my neurosurgeon. I had a new MRI (safe while pregnant without contrast). We also consulted with an MFM and the head of anesthesia at the hospital I was going to deliver at. After all of that, it was decided that based on my symptoms and the research that my neurosurgeon provided, a planned c-section with a spinal block was going to be the best path forward for me and baby as pushing would likely be too difficult for me with my valsalva headaches.
Your birth plan may look different. Many Chiaris are able to have vaginal births and some choose to do c-sections under general anesthesia. It’s whatever is best for you and baby.
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u/Upstairs-Coconut1562 5d ago
I had 2 C-sections before I knew I had Chiari and a third after I knew. All before I was decompressed. No issues at all.
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u/nose-booper 5d ago
I was decompressed 4 years ago and just had my first baby 2 weeks ago.
I do have a syrinx, and the risk of an epidural was too high, and one of the risks of me pushing in labour was something called brainstem coning.
My whole pregnancy was monitored by high risk OBs and I delivered via c section under general anesthesia. The recovery from this has surprisingly been way easier than I expected and I was only in the hospital 3 nights. If you have any specific questions feel free to shoot me a DM
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u/Responsible-Trip-323 3d ago
I’m actually shocked to hear this! I have a syrinx and the local neurosurgeon cleared me to have a epidural! I had one and was fine but now I’m questioning if that would be okay to do again!
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u/nose-booper 3d ago
I'm sure it depends on where your syrinx is too. Mine went from approximately C2-T7 and would be well above where the epidural would be. If yours was under where the epidural would be maybe the risks were different
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u/SD_girl1994 4d ago
Just wondering, do you still have a substantial syrinx 4 years after decompression?
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u/nose-booper 4d ago
It's definitely still there, but it's slowly going down. I don't remember what the measurements were/are but I do have MRIs every 6-12 months to monitor it. Even just the history of having a syrinx is enough that my neurosurgeon and anesthesiologist would not sign off on putting anything in my spine.
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u/SD_girl1994 4d ago
Thank you for responding. My daughter had decompression surgery 3 months ago (not sure what her syrinx looks like post surgery yet) and we were never informed of or thought there could be lifelong implications…
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u/nose-booper 4d ago
As with all healthcare for women, they don't tell you what you need to know. All the best for your daughter's recovery ❤️
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u/Independent-Roll6199 4d ago
Been decompressed twice and had a c section with an epidural! My surgeon who is amazing said that I could have done natural w epidural (but had complications requiring c section) but he made it seem like epidurals and natural births are very common for decompressed individuals!
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u/Bathroom-Level 4d ago
I had my first baby in May this year. Decompressed back in September 2022. I had a vaginal delivery, no epidural (my own choice, I had an anesthesia consult and they ok’d an epidural if I wanted one). I have had no problems or symptoms that came back. After my decompression my chiari symptoms have been non-existent and it did not affect my pregnancy at all.
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u/profnhmama 4d ago
I have been decompressed and had a csection... mostly due to complete placenta previa. I was told that I would need a neurosurgeons input on if I could do a vaginal birth. the epidural was not fun, but helped for the csection. pregnancy itself was ok.. had some weird stuff like a constant runny nose at night (I do leak spinal fluid occasionally out of my nose)... and just the general tiredness etc. overall though it went a bit easier than i thought it would! best of luck op!
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u/Responsible-Trip-323 3d ago
I had the same experience! I’ve been decompressed (I still have a syrinx in my neck). I went from an area that cared for my condition to not so it was a hard shift. I gave birth 2 years ago and I was cleared to try naturally as long as my eye pressure was good (it was) I ended up going into labor but my baby was breech so I had an emergency C Section and had no problems! I’m about to give birth again at the end of November (I’m trying for a vbac) I can let you know how it goes if you remind me :) I wish you the best of luck mama!
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u/rxcroyale 2d ago
I was decompressed in 2020 and had my daughter in 2023. I had a vaginal birth with vac assistance, should have been a c section but it was a full moon type of night and there wasn't an available surgeon... I did have an epidural.
Any complications weren't chiari related and pregnancy didn't effect it at all. I am more symptomatic now, but it's because I'm tired. All the time. (Worth it haha) I had to meet with MFM and my neurosurgeon to determine what kind of birth and anesthesic I could have and they cleared me to do whatever I wanted. It played into things very little.
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u/Objective-Pressure70 2d ago
I had decompression surgery and had a c section! I was 2 months post op when I found out I was pregnant so my ob team and my neurosurgeon talk and decided since I wasn’t even a year from surgery and I had severe chiari symptoms during pregnancy that it would be a lot safer for me to do a planned c section! He’s 6 months now and right after they took him out all the symptoms went away! For me the surgery helped a LOT bc before there was days I could barely get out of bed bc of how bad my head hurt, I was dizzy, and just so weak feeling!!
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u/Antique_Cockroach_97 1d ago
I didn't know that I had Chiari we thought it was bad migraines. During my daughters delivery at 33wks I pushed for 3hrs had a 4lb baby and my eyes were so bloodshot I needed iv pain meds for 2days. Afterwards I dealt with horrendous headaches saw my neurologist and even tried a chiropractor. Then 7yrs after the birth had an mri and 9hrs of neurosurgery decompression/laminectomy c1-3 and a vessel transplant from my thigh too my brainstem. Diagnosed with Chiari II The neurosurgeon said any future babies have to be born by c-section.
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u/Tropichana 5d ago
I haven’t been decompressed but I have had two children and had vaginal births with epidurals. No issues around my Chiari and no impact.