Pregnancy and Arthritis

stlucia

Hello everyone,

Apologies for being so quiet again recently. I have been reading the boards in the evenings but my arthritis has cranked itself up a good few notches on the flaring/pain/fatigue scale so I've been lying low....but there is a rather exciting reason to all this...I have come off the methotrexate in order to have a baby! My husband suggested I write a blog as there is so little 'real life' info on pregnancy and arthritis on the web...so I have and here is the very beginnings of it...
http://www. removed as per A.C. online forum guidlines MOD ECM
Everytime I read the title I laugh which is a good thing as the RA is certainly not letting me have any fun!!
The plan is to keep writing on various topics and hopefully it might just help someone else. I'd love your thoughts...
Lucy xxx

page35

Hi Lucy
Just read your blog, found it very interesting and wanted to wish you good luck with the blog but most of all the getting up the duff
Im 35 and have RA, mine started when my daughter turned 1, so i havent had experience of being pregnant with RA, but it was very differcult having so much pain and a baby and it took 9 months for them to diagnose me. But i managed and you will too.
there isnt much info about pregnancy and RA, so this i am sure will help. it is always nice to know you are not alone.
Best wishes
Sharon x

tkachev

Hi Lucy,

Well I did get pregnant with R.A. but I never had to try very hard :oops: .Fortunately I hadn't reached the MTX and Humira stage so everything sailed along. It was after my Lucy was born that I got a massive dose of pain so my advice would be to get appointments in place for soon after the birth in case. and if you envisage any difficulties with hip or spine joints during the birth make sure they are aware.In my present condition, with many inflexable joints, I would need a caesareon.
Nice to see you posting Page. Hope you are well?
Best of luck.

Elizabeth

stlucia

Hello,

I broke the rules...oops! The link to the blog can now be found if you look on my profile...

Feel very embarrassed that I broke a rule :oops: :oops: :oops:

cacyhi

My RA started when I was pregnant with my first child (although there were probably signs prior to this that I missed) and went into a full blown flare after he was born. I have had four pregnancies and I have had a flare up during each of them for a couple of months and then after the births. Mind you following number 4, it seems like I have been in remission. I was never on drugs like humira and MXT, I managed through the pregnancies with NSAIs and paracetamol.

the only thing I will mention is that I had really long labours with the first and second which was not a good thing in terms of what it did to my body. when I had the last one I was under a specialist in women with autoimmune conditions at St, thomas hospital ( i was terrified of another long labour) and I was induced and had a controlled labour from start to finish with plans in place in case things went as before.

I would make sure you feel you are at the right hospital for you and explore a local specialist in childbirth/pregnancy with someone with an autoimmune problem. I have always found osteopath and physio useful. Wishing you the best of luck.

Beatrix

Hi Lucy, what a great idea to create a blog about your experiences. I'm sure it will be helpful to many people and also for yourself to look back on as a written record. Love the title lol All the best getting up the duff

Jackie x

stlucia

Carol thank you very much for the really useful advice. I will investigate that as I'm not sure what my hospital will cater for. Are you close to London anyway to be transferred there for your delivery?

Jackie, thanks very much for the encouragement!

x