Hip replacement and Pregnant

[Liz]

Hi, I had a THR 8 yrs ago at the age of 21. I have a 5 yr old child and suffered quite considerably through the later stages of pregnancy as the strain on my hip caused lots of problems and I could barely walk towards the end. I had to have a planned C Section as the degree of movement in my hip was so small. After the birth the hip pain subsided gradually and the took about 6 months to get back to how it was pre-pregnancy. I am now pregnant with my second child and have been told the chance of revision surgery is greatly increased in women after a second pregnancy as the hip cant cope with a pregnancy again - is this true??? Has anyone else had problems like this after becoming pregnant with a THR?

[sara]

Hi,

I'm sorry to hear about your difficulties during pregnany. I am 27 year old female and am thinking about getting metal on metal hip resurfacing. Was your THR metal on metal? If so did you fear that the excess ions from your prosthesis may have affected your baby? I'm not sure if there is a difference between the ions of THR and hip resurfacing but that is one of my main concerns in getting pregnant post surgery. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I hope your second pregnancy goes well.

[Anne]

Hi there,
I'll be 35 in another month and just found out I'm pregnant with my second child. My first pregnancy destroyed my left hip which was affected by hip dysplasia undiagnosed until I was two. About a year after giving birth to my daughter, I had THR. My doctor told to not get metal on metal if I hoped to have more children -- therefore I have the latest/greatest metal on plastic. I had a lot of respect for my surgeon and completely trusted him. Keep your fingers crossed that the pregnancy and birth go well...after poking around on the internet, I've come to the conclusion that THR and pregnancy is different for everyone.

[Kara]

When I had my hip totally replaced 3 years ago we went with Ceramic on Ceramic because of the worry with excess ions with metal on metal and me wanting to have more kids.

I had 2 before my hip replacement, and am now pregnant, and having my 3rd next week. I have noticed little difference in my hip, not too many problems with the replacement.

I am planning on having a 4th and final child, so we will see with that one, but the doctor told me he could see no problem with having a baby, or babies with a hip replacement. I am having a C Section, but that is only because my other 2 were C Sections also... nothing to do with my hip.

[claire]

hi im thinking about having the metal on metal hip resurfacing but am worried about the metal ions effecting any children i have in the future has anyone had a baby after this surgery and has their been any effects on the children.thanks for your time and any advice would be very much appreciated.

[ruth]

want to know about the pregnancy and the implications, would be possible to give birth naturally?

Thank you

[Shito]

would anyone in the world walk properly after the THR? What is day to day life after the surgery? I am looking forward to haveing one soon. I am soooooo scared!!!!

[Lianne]

Shito wrote:

would anyone in the world walk properly after the THR? What is day to day life after the surgery? I am looking forward to haveing one soon. I am soooooo scared!!!!

I am 9 weeks post op THR. I was in total pain before the surgery and that was instantly gone after. I took 8 weeks off work and concentrated on my physio and exercises. The first 2 weeks are kind of rough but it really got easier every day. For me, I have no regrets.

[Kara]

From what I was told is you could still do it, even though they push your legs up to a 90 degree angle or more your knees are angled out. The physical therapist who helped me is the one who said it would work.

ruth wrote:

want to know about the pregnancy and the implications, would be possible to give birth naturally?
Thank you

[Ruth]

Kara wrote:

From what I was told is you could still do it, even though they push your legs up to a 90 degree angle or more your knees are angled out. The physical therapist who helped me is the one who said it would work.
<quoted text>

You made childbirth naturally?I am Portuguese, what it means C Section?to open the legs, you have flexibility to make a normal childbirth?
Sorry so many questions but I'm so confuse and I do not have children yet
tkhs
Ruth

[Michelle]

I am 22 and I have to get Thr too and I'm worried about having kids in the future. My doctors want me to wait for the surgery and to see if I have kids in between time but I'm in a great deal of pain and I want the surgery now! I am so scared so does anyone have any advice for me?

[Michelle]

For those that have advice for me, can you please email me at [e-mail], Thank you!

[Kara]

Mine was by C Section after my hip replacement because my other ones had been by C Section so I had no choice. But the therapist said that you could do it naturally.

A C section is: Caesarean section or c-section, is a form of childbirth in which a surgical incision is made through a mother's abdomen (laparotomy) and uterus (hysterotomy) to deliver one or more babies.

I can sit with my legs "indian style" still with my hip replacement, so I am still flexible like that.

Ruth if you or anyone else wants to email my address is [e-mail]!

Michelle I am going to email you!

[Peggy]

Hi,
I'm a 31 year old girl from the Netherlands. I also need a new hip and the doctor advices a metal on metal hip. But I also want childeren.
Everyone is asking the same question: is that possible? Has anyone recieved an anwer? Is there someone in the world who has become a child afther placing the metal on metal hip?
My email: [e-mail]
In Belgium there is a doctor who has done a lot of hip operations, I asked him the same question. If I have an answer I will write it here.
Greet Peggy

[Kara]

From what my doctor said, Peggy, is there is no proof one way or the other if Metal on Metal will or does effect the baby in anyway. The last time I had talked to him about it there wasn't enough research done to know for sure.

But when we decided on a Ceramic on Ceramic he wanted to go the safe route, otherwise he would have done a metal on metal on me.

I will say after giving birth to my 3rd, the only one I have had after the replacement, my hip feels GREAT! There was some discomfort in it when I was pregnant towards the end when my hips spread, but I feel great now!

[Kara]

Oh and this is Kara from Marion, Iowa still, it changed my city and state for some reason.

[Jessica]

What about sex and THR???

:)

[Peggy]

Kara, thanks for your answer. And congratulations with your 3rd child.
If someone else has answers, I like to hear them.
I e-mailed a doctor in Belgium and he also said that it is not a problem.
I still got 5 days before I have to make a decision.

[Sarah]

Michelle wrote:

I am 22 and I have to get Thr too and I'm worried about having kids in the future. My doctors want me to wait for the surgery and to see if I have kids in between time but I'm in a great deal of pain and I want the surgery now! I am so scared so does anyone have any advice for me?

Hi Michelle, dont know if you had had yr THR yet , but dont worry, yes, its not the most fun thing to do, but its wonderful afterwards! I had my first THR at 28 and in the first year, had a healthy baby in the normal way!!(they will keep watch however to see if a c-section is needed)I have read it is better to have a child in the early years upon having a THR, however you cant always plan things like that!Best advice I can give you (being as I am now on Hip revison no.2)is get free of your pain, have the surgery, do the rehab and weightbearing free exercise(SWIM) to keep fit and flexible. this will enable you to give child bearing in the future the best chance of success! All the very best..Hope you see this!

[Michelle]

Sarah wrote:

<quoted text>
Hi Michelle, dont know if you had had yr THR yet , but dont worry, yes, its not the most fun thing to do, but its wonderful afterwards! I had my first THR at 28 and in the first year, had a healthy baby in the normal way!!(they will keep watch however to see if a c-section is needed)I have read it is better to have a child in the early years upon having a THR, however you cant always plan things like that!Best advice I can give you (being as I am now on Hip revison no.2)is get free of your pain, have the surgery, do the rehab and weightbearing free exercise(SWIM) to keep fit and flexible. this will enable you to give child bearing in the future the best chance of success! All the very best..Hope you see this!

Thanks sarah I really appreciate the comment, I am relieved that there are other people like me that has gone through this and it's reassuring! And thanks to Kara to for the great information! Did you also have ceramic on ceramic?