Pregnancy may be possible for woman the size of an 8-year-old
On TLC's I Am Shauna Rae Tuesday, Shauna Rae visited a doctor for a routine checkup and to ask about her fertility health.
"I know that things can be affected by my height. I know that I may not be able to carry a baby. I mean, I don't plan on getting pregnant anytime soon. I would like to know if I can be a mom," Shauna told Dr. Cheek.
Since Shauna's size is linked to a dormant pituitary gland stemmed from brain cancer, her size is not a genetic form of dwarfism. In that case, the doctor said that Shauna would carry an average-sized child, which would put her in a higher risk situation.
Dr. Cheek told Shauna, "In addition, I know that there is the history of chemotherapy, and depending on which chemotherapy you had, that may also impact ovarian reserve and how many eggs, and how many good eggs you have left." Shauna explained that since she is becoming an adult, she is starting to think about "adult things."
"The doctor did say it would be risky for me to have a child at my size. I knew that answer. But I think my height would affect the ability to take care of a child tremendously. Um, do I think I could carry around a toddler? I can lift a five-year-old for, like, five minutes," laughed Shauna.
Ultimately, while having children isn't at the top of her priority list, as she still has to get over the hurdle that is her dating life, Shauna ultimately shared what she's worried about the most.
"The major concern when it comes to having kids, though, with me, after they are born, is the fact that they will get taller than me. That'll take a huge emotional toll, not only on me, but on my child. And that is the more concerning things for me than the physical aspect of me having a child," admitted Shauna.
Video Transcript
[MUSIC PLAYING]
SHAUNA RAE: I know that things can be affected by my height. I know that I may not be able to carry a baby. I mean, I don't plan on getting pregnant anytime soon.
- But you do feel like someday you would like to be a mom?
SHAUNA RAE: I would like to know if I can be a mom.
KYLIE MAR: On "I Am Shauna Rae" Tuesday, TLC's new show about a 22-year-old woman who has the body of an eight-year-old, Shauna visited a doctor for a routine checkup and to ask about the possibility of having kids one day.
SHAUNA RAE: Do I think I could carry around a toddler? I can lift a five-year-old for a like 5 minutes.
KYLIE MAR: Since Shauna's size is linked to a dormant pituitary gland stemmed from brain cancer, which is not a genetic form of dwarfism, the doctor said that Shauna would carry an average sized child, which would put her in a higher risk situation.
SHAUNA RAE: Now that I'm becoming an adult and I have to think about adult things, I'm starting to think about my fertility. The doctor did say it would be risky for me to have a child at my size. I knew that answer. But I think my height would affect the ability to take care of a child tremendously.
KYLIE MAR: And while having children isn't at the top of her priority list, as she still has to get over the hurdle that is the dating world, Shauna ultimately shared what she's worried about the most.
SHAUNA RAE: The major concern when it comes to having kids, though, with me after they're born is the fact that they will get taller than me. That'll take a huge emotional toll not only on me, but on my child, and that is the more concerning things for me than the physical aspect of me having a child.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
