Nerve Damage from Childbirth

MICA Month 2024: Standing Up for Those Who Can’t

May, the month we celebrate mothers, launches our seventh annual MICA Month. Standing Up for Those Who Can’t is our theme to advocate and to educate globally regarding maternal nerve injury from childbirth birth awareness. MICA, run by a team of dedicated volunteers, has achieved a great deal since our launch in 2018. We are very proud of the many resources we have developed that are now available to any mom globally suffering from a nerve injury. Our advocacy focus in 2024 is a message of HOPE. We will be discussing pain management, triggers (emotional), the healing process and guidance for pursuing lifelong fitness after physical therapy. We are reminded to be Joyful in Hope, Patient in Affliction and Faithful in Prayer. Romans 12:12.

A Ski Trip

For years, you never could have told me this was going to be possible.

When I started to regain the use of my legs, I was elated I could simply hold my baby while standing. The doctors weren’t really sure what was going to happen. “We think you’ll get better. See us in 6 weeks if you’re not” was the final direction I received while I was in the hospital. Unfortunately, I got to surprise the staff when 6 weeks later I was back and still didn’t have use of my legs. But eventually, I did stand up and hold my baby.

When I had my second baby two and a half years later, I literally took pictures standing and holding her, just to prove I could.

Foot Drop Awareness 2023

September 22 is National Foot Drop Awareness Day

Foot drop is when a person has difficulty lifting the front part of their foot. If a person has foot drop, the front of their foot might drag on the ground when they walk. Foot drop is not a disease itself; it is a sign of an underlying neurological, muscular or anatomical problem. These problems can be caused by a nerve injury, muscle disorder, nerve disorder, brain disorder, or spinal cord disorder.¹ For women who have sustained foot drop from childbirth, generally it is their peroneal nerve that has been affected.

Foot drop after childbirth can be devastating (as can all foot drop). It can be hard to diagnose, hard to get proper care, hard to care for oneself, and hard to care for one’s new baby. Experiences and moments a new mom hoped for can be ripped away, while she just tries to get through the day with one or both of her feet and ankles not working properly.

MICA Month 2023: Standing Up for Those Who Can’t

May, the month we celebrate mothers, launches our sixth annual MICA Month. Standing Up for Those Who Can’t is our theme to advocate and to educate globally regarding maternal nerve injury from childbirth. MICA, run by a team of dedicated volunteers, has achieved a great deal since our launch in 2018. We are very proud of the many resources we have developed that are now available to any mom globally suffering from a nerve injury. Our advocacy focus in 2023 is a message of HOPE. HOPE for moms planning for a baby after nerve injury, as well as HOPE for moms in recovery both short and long term, as we discuss physical therapy as a necessary tool for recovery. BE JOYFUL IN HOPE, PATIENT IN AFFLICTION, FAITHFUL IN PRAYER. Romans 12:12.

Foot Drop Awareness Day 2022

Today is National Foot Drop Awareness Day.

Mental Health and My Birth Trauma

I recently completed a new section of the website! If you haven’t already, I encourage you to check out the new “Mental Health” section and learn about mental health, birth trauma, and nerve damage from childbirth. Healing from any birth trauma, including nerve damage, is not only a physical journey but also a mental and emotional one. No mom I have spoken to about their injury has come out unscathed mentally. It is essential we talk about this part of our healing too.

So, in honor of the website’s new addition, in this blog post I am going to focus on the mental health aspect of my nerve injury from childbirth.

MICA Month 2022: Standing up for Those Who Can’t

May, the month we celebrate mothers, launches our fifth annual MICA Month. Standing Up for Those Who Can’t is our theme to advocate and to educate globally concerning maternal nerve injury from childbirth awareness. MICA, run by a team of dedicated volunteers, has achieved a great deal since our launch in 2018. We are very proud of the many resources we have developed that are now available to any mom globally suffering from a nerve injury. Our advocacy focuses this year on maternal mental health and specific positions during childbirth as the primary cause of nerve injury. Please celebrate with us our many achievements from the past five years. For I will restore you to health and heal your wounds declares the Lord. Jeremiah 30:17

Holiday Healthy Tips

A mama, a warrior, and an advocate shares a bit about her journey with nerve damage over the holiday season. We are so appreciative to Jodi. Thank you for being willing to share your story with us, thank you for helping others, and thank you for digging into the tough topics.

Wishing everyone an amazing end to December. But, if it doesn’t feel so amazing right now, that is okay too. You are not alone.

MICA Month 2021: Standing Up for Those Who Can’t

May, the month we celebrate mothers, launches our fourth annual MICA Month. Standing Up for Those Who Can’t is our theme to advocate and to educate globally regarding maternal nerve injury from childbirth birth awareness.

Mental Health After Femoral Nerve Damage

An incredibly strong mama shares with us today her mental journey with femoral nerve damage. Her powerful story truly shows that this injury reaches far beyond our lower extremities. It affects every aspect of life after having a baby. Thank you so much for being brave enough to share this story with us and helping so many others by doing so.

Once the physical healing is done, it seems that everyone else move’s on without a second thought. Sometimes it feels like friends and family do not care anymore, and that is understandable simply because they do not know the full struggle of this recovery. Only those who have faced this challenge will ever understand the true impact this injury has on a mother, and coming to terms with what happened, to be okay with your experience, that can feel impossible.