Scoliosis and Pregnancy: Is It Safe?

Having a child is one of the most joyous things a family can do. But it can also be scary. It’s natural that a woman with scoliosis might wonder:
Is it safe for me to have a child?
Will my scoliosis cause any complications?
Will my scoliosis get worse?
Will my child have an increased risk of scoliosis?
These are understandable questions, and they’re all important. Thankfully, the research on pregnancy and scoliosis is quite clear. There are no increased serious risks of complications — to mother or child — if a woman with scoliosis decides to have a baby.
Though women suffering from scoliosis are slightly more likely than women without to suffer back pain — and especially lower back pain — during the later stages of pregnancy, the reality is that over 50% of women experience back pain during pregnancy; scoliosis only slightly increases those odds.
Many women with scoliosis may suffer a slight worsening of their curve during pregnancy, but with proper treatment before, during, and after, this can be controlled and, hopefully, reversed. In fact, if you’re treating your spine comprehensively, through therapy and diet, you’ll still be able to continue your treatment program during your pregnancy. As an added bonus, the gentle stretches and exercises might help alleviate any pregnancy-related back pain. Of course, the frequency and intensity of your therapy will slow down during your third trimester, though this shouldn’t affect your curve.
A mother’s main concern during pregnancy is the well-being of her child. Thankfully, here the evidence is again conclusive: there is no increased risk of defect or harm to your baby if you have scoliosis. Whether your child will have a seriously increased risk of scoliosis or not is still being determined. Of course, scoliosis is hereditary, and since 30% of people with scoliosis have a family member with scoliosis, your child will have a higher risk of scoliosis. But those odds are still quite good, and if their scoliosis is identified early enough, it can be managed and controlled through therapy.
There are a few more serious warnings for pregnant women who have had spinal fusion surgery — an expensive, invasive procedure that should be avoided if at all possible. These women are at an increased risk of curve-progression during pregnancy. Many women who’ve had spinal fusion surgery before their pregnancies have reported being unhappy, long term, with the results of their surgery. And while most women with scoliosis are free to give birth vaginally, women who have had spinal fusion surgery may not be able to take an epidural, as the doctor likely may not be able to get the needle into their spine. If you’ve had the surgery and are hoping to have a vaginal birth, you should speak to your OB/GYN very early on in your pregnancy.
If your curve is more severe, it will need to be closely monitored by your doctor. You’ll also have a higher risk of back pain later in pregnancy. The good news is that a ScoliSMART treatment plan is perfect for women during their pregnancies. The gentle physical therapy, healthy diet, and clearer lines of communication between the brain and the rest of the body will all enable an easier pregnancy and birth.
Having a child is a joyous, celebratory occasion. Though women suffering from scoliosis will need to be more vigilant than those who are not, they should still be able to have a healthy, happy child — and a safe, manageable pregnancy.
Have additional questions about scoliosis and pregnancy?
Please see https://www.treatingscoliosis.com/blog/scoliosis-and-pregnancy-what-you-need-to-know/ for answers or find us on Facebook.
