ya know what??? my hubby and i were just entertaining the idea of another baby before all of my joint pain began. my daughter just turned 3, and i really want another baby. but this diagnosis made me sit back and wonder should i? could i? is it fair to do so? i mean as it is now i have days where changing diapers is unthinkable, picking up my child is not possible, and pulling up my own pants is hard enough?
anyone here have ra while pregnant. anyone have kids after they were diagnosed? i am sure its possible, but i was just wondering if there were any personal stories
I had a remission of well over a year after I was pregnant a few years back.
I had a miscarriage at 3 months, but it was probably more due to my age (37 at the time) and/or my liberal use of a hot tub and naproxen before I knew I was pregnant. I had sprained my knee really badly right around the time I must have gotten pregnant (I was running a lot at the time), and was on large doses of naproxen for the pain/inflammation. I also used the hot tub 3 or 4 times per week for long periods of time to ease the pain, as well as the sauna. And the husband was 49 at the time... there are studies that suggest that paternal age may play a role in miscarriage as well.
I had two healthy pregnancies prior to that (but I didn't have RA at the time).
I have had JRA/RA since I was 8 years old. My hubby and I wanted children. So, after controlling a bad flare, we went to work on creating a child. I have infertility issues (I have PCOS along with everything else) so it took a while to get pregnant. But, I didn't have any arthritis issues during my pregnancy with my twins. Although my doctor was afraid I would flare afterwards, I did okay for just over a year after they were born. I did breastfeed so I didn't take many medicines. After about a year, I started flaring. So, I weaned the kids and started taking biologicals and more medicine.
It is hard to have kids with arthritis as you already know. My twins are now 6 and my health really went down hill over a year ago. Even if I wanted more kids, I know that I could not handle it physically. But, that is just the stage that I have reached in my arthritis and unfortunately, no medicines are helping at this point. I have had this disease a long time and have been releativiely healthy until this last year. I have just hit an uncontrolable point. You are at the start of your journey and have lots of options to control the disease. Flares come and go. Let your medicine take its course right now and control this flare and you maybe ready for that next child.
A question popped into my mind, and Pip would be the one to ask. Could you do AP (antibiotic Protical) and be pregnant? I don't know.
My PA really settled in when my son was about four, so I can't answer much of what it is like to have babies. I also had a few more years where it was just light flares. I know the fatigue is probably the bigger question. The fatigue for me is huge, and determines a lot of what can and cannot happen.
My question is how much of a support system do you have. Do you have a mom or MIL that could help if you are flaring and need to rest more? If you have a support system that is willing and able to help a lot go for it!
[QUOTE=Shelly41]
A question popped into my mind, and Pip would be the one to ask. Could you do AP (antibiotic Protical) and be pregnant? I don't know.
My PA really settled in when my son was about four, so I can't answer much of what it is like to have babies. I also had a few more years where it was just light flares. I know the fatigue is probably the bigger question. The fatigue for me is huge, and determines a lot of what can and cannot happen.
My question is how much of a support system do you have. Do you have a mom or MIL that could help if you are flaring and need to rest more? If you have a support system that is willing and able to help a lot go for it!
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Thanks Jaz. I knew you or someone would have the answer. So, that would not be a risk I would be willing to take.
Go back to the support system.
Erica,