Paraplegic and delivery

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i had a patient last week who was a paraplegic, paralyzed from t8-t9 down and on mag for preterm labor. when the physician performed a cervical exam she was extremely sensitive to it...couple questions arose!! how can she feel the cervical exam and how is she going to deliver lady partslly (the doctor was talking like it was very possible.) can you delivery without pushing? thanks!

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

I saw a show on Discovery Health that had a woman in a similar state. The doctor had her just wait while the UC's did the work he then had her try pushing while he used the vacuum. The baby was born lady partslly with no complications. It was an interesting show:)

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Your patient is very lucky to have a smart doctor :D

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

There are documented stories of babies being born with no pushing on Mom's part, just letting the uterus do its work and baby comes on his own. :)

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Specializes in LDRP.

Yes, we had a paraplegic deliver lady partslly. g3p2, both lady partsl

She actually delivered in the bed without the doctor, kinda unexpected.

the worst part, i think, was that she had very, very, very stiff leg muscles and it took 3 people to cath her. one to hold each leg out and one to cath. if you frog-legged her, they'd straighten out and lay down.

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Here is also a link to a post I posted a few weeks ago..that may help:

https://allnurses.com/ob-gyn-nursing/need-your-help-423334.html

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Specializes in Nurse Manager, Labor and Delivery.

Think about all of those women who deliver without pushing on a daily basis.......those great epidurals (just a hair from being a spinal) and the baby just kinda oozes out all by itself unbeknownst to the patient. Same goes for those patients that have labored down from a good epidural and only push once. I would think the disablity doesn't take away the ability to push, only the sensation to feel the push (just like women that are numb from spinal/great epidurals). I certainly think it can be done.

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