Caring for a laboring woman with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a case report

A case presentation of a pregnant 32-year-old woman with advanced amyotrophic lateral sclerosis who presented in labor at 38+6 weeks gestation is described. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive neuromuscular disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It is usually diagnosed after the fourth decade of life, and is more commonly seen in men than women; thus, it is rarely found in the obstetric population. When the perinatal team is confronted with a pregnant woman with ALS,patient management can be a challenge.