title: Challenges in the management of the pregnant woman with spinal cord injury.
abstract: About 12 000 women of childbearing age sustain spinal cord injuries each year in the United States. Around 2000 of these women become pregnant in a given year, yet few providers are aware of the interprofessional team approach needed to achieve a successful pregnancy with healthy outcomes for both mother and fetus. A family-centered approach by an experienced team can make the childbearing experience both safe and optimal for the maternal-fetal dyad. The challenges related to caring for women with spinal cord injury during pregnancy, including skin breakdown, urinary tract infections, respiratory compromise, bowel motility, depression/anxiety, preterm labor, and autonomic dysreflexia, are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Midwifery Faculty, Louise Herrington School of Nursing, Baylor University, Dallas, Texas 75246, USA. Barbara_Camune@baylor.edu
authors.forename: Barbara D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Camune
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008880:Midwifery / Q000379:methods; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000379:methods; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000451:nursing* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy; D014481:United States