[blparent] Pregnancy and blind moms with lumbar shunts

[mary jo hartle]

Hi all,
I don't know why it's never occurred to me to ask on this list about this
issue until now--a little late in the game for me I guess.  In any case, I
would be interested in speaking to any blind moms on this list whose
pregnancy --mainly delivery was impacted in some way by a lumbar shunt.  I
found out upon going into labor with my first child that I could not have an
epidural because I have a lumbar shunt which begins in the base of my
spine--right in the area where an epidural would be placed.  Had we known
this to be an issue, we may have been able to do something prior to the
delivery to make having an epidural a possibility.  Who knows.  In any case,
I am looking for anyone who may have had some experience with this now in
preparation of delivering my second child.  So, if you have a lumbar shunt
and have had success in having an epidural, or had a similar experience to
me where you could not have one as result of your shunt placement(that is,
your shunt is located in the lower back spinal region, not in your head or
neck area) , I'd appreciate hearing from you.  I hope my request makes
sense.  
Sincerely,
 Mary Jo Hartle 
Mjhartle23 at gmail.com