Flares in pregnancy (not just maternity trousers!)

[Hatty]

Hello

I last posted on this site when I was pregnant with my last baby, who is now one year old and lovely (if exhausting!). Thank you so much everyone who helped me with advice and support last time.

I am now 13 weeks with my second baby (it was planned I promise, I think I am a bit mad) and seem to be having a flare: lots of joint pain, headaches, pain in lungs and shortness of breath etc. I have been under a lot of stress as my father is dying and I have had to move home plus baby to look after him, so this probably hasn't helped!

I wondered if anyone else had experienced flares in pregnancy and had any advice to give!

love Hatty

[alobreto]

Hi, Hatty! ;)
I'm sorry I don't know a thing about lupus flares and pregnancy except that I know hormonal changes can do a variety of things. :unsure:

My heart goes out to you in caring for your ailing father. :love: You're like the middle of the sandwich, getting covered on both generational sides with responsibilities.

I think a healthy person would be stressed with these things going on, :hugbetter: so it's not surprising that symptoms are flaring. I hope you're under the care of a high-risk OB/GYN doctor in concert with the rheumatologist to give baby #2 the very best start in life.
Regards,
Angela :flowers:

[cornishgirl]

Hi Hatty :wave: ,
Congratulations to you hun, sorry to hear your having a bit of a flare. The same thing happened to me when I fell pregnant the second time and also had a family member dying as well so I'm kind of relating to your situation pretty well. A stressful time I know but you must make sure your looking after yourself as best you can and hopefully your flare won't become to severe. If you obsteatrician hasn't had his initial appointment with you yet or is unaware you are in flare you must get your GP to make an emergency referal as it is really important your bloods and baby's health are looked after. You should have the option of using planquinel if your symtoms don't subside but quite often women find a bit of relief after 13 weeks due to the natural increase in steroids your body produces during pregnancy. Your obsteatrician should make it clear to you at your appointment about particular scans or blood tests you will need at each stage of pregnancy and some even recommend bringing on an early controlled labour, it all depends on what your specialist feels is best for you and baby and what you are comfortable with. I'm sure you know all this from when you had your first pregnancy but it's funny how each one can be so different and have completley different effects on our bodies. I keep my fingers crossed that your pregnancy continues to go well and your flare settles down soon, all the best hun, Lucy :flowers: