Arthritis and Pregnancy

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shan09

Posted Sunday, April 19, 2009 5:59 PM

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Last Login: Sunday, April 19, 2009 6:09 PM
Posts: 4, Visits: 2

Hello all. I am 29 and have had arthritis all my life. I recently learned through a home preg test that I am pregnant. This is completely unexpected. I have in the past researched all of this and even talked with my rhuemy and ob. I had made the decision not to have children but alas life and carelessness decided a different fate for me. I am scared as I have been told and read many different things about how pregnancy can affect those of us with this disease. I am looking for any advice, info, life experiences that any of you would be willing to share. I am accepting this and want to be a fully prepared as I can be. I am going to be seeing my Dr. asap, but any outside support and or knowledge would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all!!

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Jillian Soto

Posted Friday, April 24, 2009 7:08 AM

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Last Login: Friday, May 08, 2009 9:49 AM
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I am the proud mother of an almost 3 year old, and I have had RA since I was 2, I am now 30. I had a very hard time getting pregnant, and then miscarried twice. When I finally had my son, my pregnancy was not especially hard on my joints, I took prednisone the whole time, and enbrel. The harest part is actually having to take care of another human being 24 hours a day 7 days a week. It is VERY exhausting, and therefore does affect your joints. My best advice to you is to get a lot of rest, whenever you can, and try to get some help. I am now in the process of deciding whether I want to try for another one or not, and I am not really scared of the pregnancy itself, just the raising of 2 kids part. I'm still very undecided. Good luck to you!

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rachrobbins

Posted Thursday, June 18, 2009 5:46 AM

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Last Login: Thursday, June 18, 2009 5:53 AM
Posts: 4, Visits: 6

I have had arthritis since I was a child and am now in my later twenties and planning on having children. I would like to hear experiences, advice etc. as well.

Thanks in advance!

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Denise_222

Posted Friday, July 17, 2009 4:36 PM

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Last Login: Friday, July 17, 2009 4:51 PM
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I am 34 years old with RA for 10 years and have a 4 month old. My RA was practically gone during my pregnancy. I took 5mg of Prednisone during the pregnancy but I dont think I really needed it. I desperately wanted to breastfeed so i continued with just the Prednisone for 3 months after she was born which was WAY to long and had to hire help just to lift my baby until the meds started to kick back in. Other than that and going off the drugs to try and get pregnant I did not have any issues with my RA and the pregnancy itself.

I would really like to have another baby but I now take methotrexate which i will have to go off of and i thought the only thing i could take while trying to get pregnant was prednisone which does not control my flares when not pregnant.

i am interested in what you thought of taking the embrel during your pregnancy/trying to get pregnant?

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to safely get pregnant without having to be bedridden because of the flares without the drugs?

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mommy'angels

Posted Sunday, July 19, 2009 12:39 PM

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Last Login: Sunday, July 26, 2009 11:45 PM
Posts: 3, Visits: 7

I have had arthritis problems since 2, now I am 30, & diagnosed with RA about 10 years ago. I have 3 wonderful boys & also had feeling of not having them of fear of passing this on. My mom & grandma have RA. My 2 sisters do not. The doctors seem to think it runs in the female side of my family. My doctor took me off of all my medicine except prednisone for the health of my baby. i was on all kinds of meds at different times of each child, methotrexate, remicade, & enbrel. My husband got taken vasectomy because the doctor won't give me meds because I could get pregnant again due to my age. During the pregnancy like on my 3rd month I had no pain till about 6 weeks after their birth. Now they help take care of me. They don't know me being fulling capable of doing everything so they just know some days dress mommy. I do what I can with them when I can. I make every ball game & make sure a good dinner is on the table. I don't know where I would be today with my health if it wasn't for my family getting me out of bed. The depression would be alot worse but we depend on each other. But I do think God gave me boys for a reason. I also did get my 6 year old tested for RA. He does not have it. All I can do is pray they never do.

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Jen B

Posted Thursday, October 22, 2009 9:22 PM

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Last Login: Thursday, October 22, 2009 9:32 PM
Posts: 5, Visits: 6

My RA was mild before I got pregnant. It was tolerable during pregnancy -- I just took prednisone as needed. My knees took a hit from the extra weight though. The pregnancy and delivery was normal.

My problem is that I flared horribly after my daughter was born, and I am still trying to get it under control (she's 16 months now). I wanted to breastfeed after I had her, so I did not go back on my meds. My RA started flaring up again about four months after I had her, and got increasingly worse even after I started back on methotrexate. It has been a struggle to take care of her some days -- I am so exhausted and weak that I can't pick her up or dress her sometimes. I also can't unscrew her bottles or sippy cups. My self-esteem has really taken a hit, and the only thing that got me through is a husband that jumped in and pulled more of his share of baby-duty.

If I had to do it again, I would forget breastfeeding and go straight back on my meds after the baby was born. I would have also gone into my doctor sooner and more frequently when I was getting worse instead of better. I tend to be an optimist/still in denial, though, so I hoped I would be in permanent remission after the baby was born.

Despite my health problems, my daughter is doing great. I've given up all control I thought I should have, and am thankful for all of the help I've received from others.

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