Anyone been pregnant with RA | Arthritis Information

I have two children 4 1/2 and 2 1/2 both pre ra. I want one more child so my doc and I decided I better wait to start any meds until after that. I just had a miscarriage on Tuesday, I was 5 weeks pregnant. I am obviously upset but I was just wondering if any of you have any experience with ra and pregnancy. I know it can make symptoms better and I know that my miscarriage had nothing to do with ra was just looking for any info anyone personally has....Thank you.Yes, I have been pregnant twice while having J/RA.

Sorry, to hear about your misacarriage. Much hugs to you.
joonie2008-11-20 07:48:02I'm so sorry about your miscarraige reegie. I have not been pregnant since I've been diagnosed with RA myself. I have 2 sons and would like to try for a daughter, so I have been reading up on pregnancy with RA. I have read and been told by my RA dr. the same as you, that with RA and being pregnant, usually the symptoms disapear, but come back like gangbusters after you deliver...that's not fun to hear about when you know you will be trying to take care of a baby. My Rheumy also said it's ok to take some meds for RA while pregnant.Really, do you know what thy are?Maybe do a search on this site for pregnancy, I know this has been discussed before and think maybe prednisone is safe. I was dxd after the birth of our first DD and was on sulfasalazine. When we decided to have another child I went off that and it took me forever to get pg, but finally did and had remission in my RA. Two weeks after 2nd DD was born the RA came back with a vengance and started MTX. A year later had an unplanned pregnancy and lost the baby at 3 months. Maybe because of the MTX, maybe because I hadn't had as tight of control of the diabetes. Seeing a high risk OB/GYN would probably be a good idea, it never hurts to plan ahead in this circumstance. Good luck with your decision.Steroids are typically considered ok while pregnant to keep symptoms at bay.

I suffered 5 miscarriages myself and its something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. I am sorry for your loss.
Thanks everyone. [QUOTE=reegie]Really, do you know what thy are?[/QUOTE]

Yep, I do know which ones they are.

When I was first dxed I was still thinking of having another one, because of that my rheumy started me on the one that are safe during pregnancy. They are Plaquenil and Sulphazalazine basically. Both are okay during pregnancy. I think once you hit MTX things start to get tricky as with Arava. Then the TNF biologics etc is just a big no no.

You could probably do a pregnancy on a combo of Plaq and Sulpha, no problems.
Cordelia2008-11-20 14:38:51Interesting, my pcp told me not even to start on the plaq until I was for sure I was done having kids, which is why I've never started taking anything. I did start on some pred to get through this but I will have to make another appt with my rd and pcp. Thanks for the info!!Actually now some of the docs say that humira and enbrel are ok. There is no proof that they aren't, its just that they are newer so no one really knows if there are any things that might develop later in the childs life from the tnf's. I was diagnosed as a teen and became pregnant in my 20's. I was on Enbrel at the time but it was super new. So, my OB and RD agreed that I shouldn't be on it. Pregnancy is supposed to put RA into remisson but I was under crazy stress at the time. I began having major issues so I took pred. the whole time. One known since effect is premature birth. My son was born at 34 weeks. He was perfect, but early. Not sure it if was the pred or not since I was a preemie and my sister had a preemie as well. I just think we are a very efficient family...who needs 9 months :) [QUOTE=rocckyd] One known since effect is premature birth. My son was born at 34 weeks. He was perfect, but early. Not sure it if was the pred or not since I was a preemie and my sister had a preemie as well. I just think we are a very efficient family...who needs 9 months :)[/QUOTE]

Hi Reegie,

Sorry I didn't reply sooner... As others have mentioned my Rheumy said Plaquenil it typically ok. He did say when I want to start to try and become pregnant , if I was taking MTX, he would take me off MTX. He said if I got pregnant on MTX it would be devistating and would probably need to terminate the pregnancy. Sounds horrible doesnt it? YIKES... He was telling me about the different categories that the drugs are in and MTX was one that was in category X I believe which causes birth defects.

That's right, MTX is a category X, they actually give higher dose injections to induce miscarriages in some woman!! It is known that it does cause birth defects. You really need to be off mtx 3-6 months before you even try. Yeah that is why I was leary to start anything. I really wasn't expecting this miscarriage though. I know that it is probably for the best as there would've probably been something wrong with it, doesn't make it hurt any less though. I am just grateful that I have my two little boys, especially since my husband is gone deer hunting!

Reegie, I don't know anything about being pregnant and ra but I wanted to express my sympathies to you. I had a miscarriage years ago and I know how devastating it can be. I hope God blesses you in time with a perfect, healthy, baby.