Pregnancy and women with spinal cord injuries

Objective. To investigate the impact of pregnancy and childbearing on women with spinal cord injuries and their attitude toward pregnancy. Design and setting. State-wide questionnaire survey from two databases, Florida, USA. Methods. Women with spinal cord injuries between 18 and 40 years were invited to participate. Main outcome measures. Knowledge about pregnancy after spinal cord injury and complications of pregnancy. Population. Hundred and fourteen women with spinal cord injuries. Results. Twenty-three women (20%) received information about pregnancy during rehabilitation, but only 12 (10%) found it adequate. Rates of response of 'adequate information' were similar between women who became pregnant after injury and those who did not (9.0% vs. 8.6%, p = 1.0). Younger age at injury was the only predictor of pregnancy after spinal cord injuries. Preterm delivery occurred in 33% of women; 22% were unable to feel preterm labor. Thrombosis (8%), urinary complications (59%), dysreflexia (27%), and worsened spasticity (22%) were the most common complications in pregnancy and post-partum depression (35%) was the most common complication in the puerperium. Conclusions. Inadequate information about pregnancy is common among young women with spinal cord injury. Heightened surveillance for certain complications is warranted in women with spinal cord injuries.