Hi Everyone  
My name is Amy Connelly and I am a 28 year old wheelchair user. I have decided to write this blog because, against the odds, I have become pregnant. I have found very little information online to support people with physical disabilities who are pregnant and I hope that by sharing my experiences, I can help others.                  

So, by way of background, at just 6 months old I was diagnosed with a type of cancer called neuroblastoma which was in my spine, bone marrow, liver, chest wall, and eventually on my optic nerve. The spinal tumour was surgically removed but I developed a curvature of the spine and the nerves supplying my legs were permanently damaged. I also required chemotherapy and radiotherapy   before I was eventually in remission by the time I was 2 years old.

I have been in remission ever since but I have been in a wheelchair all my life. I had surgery when I was 12 years old to correct my curved spine but the rmetal rods snapped twice just 3 years later meaning I underwent the  12 hour surgery 3 times. I have also had surgery on my feet and eyes.

My parents were told that I would probably never walk (which was true) but also that I would be unable to read without brail and would not live independently.

I went to a school for special needs children until I was 8 years old but I then moved to main stream education. I obtained 9 GCSEs and 5 A levels before I left my home town of Plymouth to go to the University of Birmingham where I completed a language degree which involved living in Italy independently for a yeah before spending a summer in Spain.  I then completed a law conversion course (a law degree in a year) before doing my Legal Practicr Course.

I now work for a national law firm and hope to qualify as a solicitor soon. I live with my partner of 5 years Louie who does not have a disability. We bought our first home in August 2016 in Bristol where we live with our cat Elsa. The house has a stair lift but apart from that it is just a normal house. I climb (using just my arms) in and out of the bath and do what I can in the kitchen to cook meals although Louie does most of the meal as I struggle to reach the hob.

I can wash and dress myself but we have carers  twice daily to take me to and from the train station as I have to commute an hour each way to work. They also help with cleaning and laundry as Louie also works full time.

I was always warned that there was a possibility that the chemotherapy and radiotherapy may cause problems when it came to having a child so we were extremely shocked when in December 2018 I became pregnant whilst on the pill.

My parents and extended family  have been so supportive but we have had a lot of people questioning how we will cope. Luckily, I am quite used to thinking of creative solutions and we have already thought of solutions to some of the problems we can foresee.

I have seen my consultant who has warned that because I am less than 7 stone, my baby will be small and premature. The due date is 23rd August 2019 but we have been told that the birth is likely to be in July 2019 or perhaps even earlier.

Many of my friends assumed I would have a C section and whilst that is always a possibility, the consultant has said that as I have feeling in my lower body, a vaginal birth is still an option.

The main difficulty to begin with was with medication. I was taking a muscle relaxant called Baclofen and Tramadol for back pain. Both of these medications are not recommended in early pregnancy. Fortunately, I horse ride at Avon Riding Centre which has always  helped to keep my muscles relaxed. Riding means that I can reduce the dosage of the medications I take by more than half which reduces side effects.  Since becoming pregnant,  I have swapped the Baclofen for 2mg of Diazopan at night and Codeine Phosphate when needed which, combined with a gentle weekly horse ride, seem to be doing the trick and are thought to be safe for the baby. I am hoping to ride for another 6 weeks by which time the baby will be developed enough for me to go back on stronger medication.

I have also had to inject Clexane everyday, (I have had to get over my phobia of needles quickly). This treatment is needed because of my reduced mobility and pregnancy increasing the risk of blood clots. The needle is very thin and I hardly feel it now.

One of the chemotherapy medications I received, Epirubicin, can cause weakening of the heart muscle. I have had 5 yearly heart scans but as my heart is under extra strain in pregnancy, I had another scan at 8 weeks gestation and this will be repeated at 28 weeks.

We had a scan privately at 7 weeks. I was so nervous that taking my medication before I found out I was pregnant may have caused damage to the baby. To be told that all was well was a big relief and the 12 week scan was also normal. The sonographers have found scanning me more difficult as the baby is on my left side due to my curved spine. The doctors say this won’t be an issue

I am in the process of getting a bath lift and I plan to contact a Bristol based charity called Remap who help make equipment for disabled people. We plan to buy 2  cribs so we can have one upstairs and one for the baby to nap in downstairs. My dad is also going to make a changing table as the usual units do not fit my wheelchair underneath. We have searched for car seats to go on the front of my wheelchair but no luck so far. I will keep trying. We have purchased a sling that will enable me to carry the baby but have my arms free to wheel myself.

I am 14 weeks pregnant tomorrow and the feeling of sickness has stopped. I was never actually sick so I shouldn’t complain. I do feel more tired and even though my bump is small, I have noticed my transfers from wheelchair to car etc  are more tiring. I just need to keep active.

We have another scan 2 weeks on Sunday to confirm the gender and check baby’s growth. I will blog again after the scan.