Wondering what kind of question to ask? Wondering what the doctor's response will be? Below is a sample question and physician response.

Question:
My wife had a detached retina repaired two years ago with a combination of a scleral buckle which consisted of two surgeries since the first buckle didn't "take" and laser. We are expecting our first child in late December and her doctor is suggesting cesarean section may be our best option due to risk of re-detaching the retina and/or rupturing the buckle. Her pregnancy is otherwise uncomplicated. He advised we consult her eye doctor. Her eye doctor has not provided hard data, but commented that there is a risk to her eye with vaginal delivery. Yet there are increased risks with c-section too.

We feel the opinions expressed were not strongly supported or expressed, and are confusing. Is there any data available to help us with our decision? What are the risks, pros and cons of each option?

Doctor's Response:
Your wife's OB should be able to provide you with articles supporting his/her view for c-section. You can go to Google.com and look up pregnancy / detached retina. This cross reference should be able to help you find articles on the subject.

The risks of vaginal delivery in this case are increased optical pressure causing a detached retina and the possibility of permanent eye damage. There is the possibility of fetal distress with a vaginal delivery as well as uterine wall rupture (low risk for this as your wife has never had a c-section in the past). Vaginal delivery requires a shorter hospital stay. Recovery is quicker for the woman. Cesarean section is major surgery and carries with it the increased risk of bleeding and infection. It requires a longer postpartum hospital stay, may delay milk let down if your wife plans to breast feed, and has a longer recovery period. However, there will be less chance for increased intraocular pressure and thus less of a risk of retinal detachment for your wife. Good eye sight is essential to have when raising a child. You need to pin down your wife's OB and Ophthalmologist and have them go over everything in detail with you.

Check out the internet to see what you can find and bring the information to them. That way they will see that you have done your homework and be more likely to answer your questions.

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