Coventry University is leading the international effort on hypermobility conditions in pregnancy

COVENTRY University is leading an international effort to improve pregnancy and birth for people with hypermobility conditions.

Dr Sally Pezaro, from the university’s Center for Health and Community Research, led an international project aimed at improving health outcomes for those with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD).

These often underdiagnosed conditions present a range of complications during pregnancy and delivery, including joint pain, rapid labour, slow wound healing and increased bleeding.

Collaborating with a diverse team of experts from around the world, Dr. Pezaro led the development of expert clinical guidelines to address these challenges.

Drawing on expertise from midwifery, obstetrics, medicine, rheumatology, dietetics, genetics and incorporating insights from patients, the project sought to reduce knowledge gaps and misconceptions about hypermobility conditions and perinatal care.

The aim was to provide evidence-based guidance to healthcare professionals, fertile people and their families, facilitating informed decision-making and improving care throughout the birth journey.

Key areas of focus included pre-pregnancy screening, pregnancy risk assessment, birth options, postpartum recovery and general care of people with hEDS/HSD in the birth setting.

Through a comprehensive review of existing literature and collaboration with the Ehlers Danlos Society International Consortium, the team developed new clinical guidelines tailored to support people with hypermobility conditions at every stage of pregnancy and birth.

The guidelines advocate early screening and consultation, the use of specialized techniques such as dissolvable sutures to enhance healing, and the provision of physical therapy and assistive devices to support functional activity.

Importantly, they also emphasize the need to prepare for active, potentially sudden and rapid labor and birth, which may occur outside the expected place of birth.

Dr Pezaro said: “This work marks a significant step forward in providing specialist care for people with hEDS/HSD during their birth journey.

“By providing these global evidence-based clinical guidelines, we aim to improve the quality of care and outcomes for these individuals by ensuring that their specific needs are met with precision and compassion.”