timking of having a baby

[shawlexwes]

I'm 23 years old. I never had any real health problems until I found out I was prenant at 18. After I was about three months along I started to get severe pains in my hands, wrists, knees, and ankles. Soon after that my hair began to fall out by the handfuls and I broke out in hives all over my legs and arms. I got sores in my mouth and became depressed. I went to my family doc. He diagnosed me with rhumatiod arthritis. He also belived that I had either lupus or sclaraderma. Ever test they took was inconclusive. After I had my daughter, (by c-section prematurely) all of my symptoms worsened. I started to see a specialist every two weeks. My liver and kidney funtion tests came back good, (thank God). They put me on a couple different meds but nothing seemed to help. All they did was take blood and x-rays every visit. I read up on both diseases and it scared me to death. I felt like nothing was helping, so I just stopped taking everything and stopped going to the doctor. I prayed everyday for God to heal me so I could take care of my daughter, By the time she was one, I felt o.k. I very rarely have any problems, when I get really stressed out I break out in hives, or when I do alot of physical work my hands and wrists hurt. But now that she's 4, I really want to have another child, but I'm scared. I'm scared to go to the doctor and hear anything that he has to say, I'm scared that it will all start back over again, I'm scared that I won't be able to take care of my daughter and a new baby if it does come back. I have a healthy wonderful daughter and I feel pretty good, should I just be greatful for what I have and leave it at that? Does pregnancy bring out lupus symptoms?

[jodipat]

Hi,
I am 28 and am currelty pregnant with my second child (first is nearly three). I do sympathise with you greatly. I was diagnosed before having my first child - but had health problems for years which they just could not find out what was wrong with me. At 18 and having lost most of my hair I was convinced I had HIV but was eventually diagnosed with SLE.
In most cases you actually have a better time whilst pregnant (not always though) and it flares once have given birth. I would suggest seeing if your consultant runs or knows of a pre pregnancy planning clinic. I went to one for this baby and they were so much more useful. I think now you are diagnosed there is a better chance of you being well during pregnancy because you will have better monitoring knowing what is wrong with you. They would also discuss with you what drugs etc they can start you on once you have had the baby to minimise a flare. It is safe to take plaquinil and steroids during pregnancy though.
I have decided to have another more for my daughters sake than mine. I figured when the baby is older they will be less exhausting than trying to keep an only child occupied as they can occupy each other!

I hope is of some help to you and you get some good help from you hospital.

Take care

Jodi

[pnutts]

I always thought I would have a big family. It's not going to happen but I do have two beautiful healthy girls and I need to stay healthy for them.

I often think of having another but the stress from this last one put on my body was enough. My doctors would probably kill me too if I did.

I Would definately talk with your dr.'s about your risks. Remeber you do have one amazing child.

[Raglet]

Lots of women with lupus have successful pregnancies ! Seeing you are managing pretty well on no meds, then it sounds like your lupus is on the mild end of the scale. It makes sense to talk to a doctor before getting pregnant so they can keep an eye on things for all of your sakes. Not everyone flares after childbirth (I didn't) - some studies have shown that the rates of flares in women who have had recently given birth are the same as in any other group of women with lupus, so it is far from automatic that you will get sick once the baby is born.

But it does make sense to talk to a doctor about it - and good luck with it all

raglet

[macfamily53]

Well first of all i think you have gotten some wonderful advice if you decide to have anohter baby that will really benifit you most defaintely. I understand wanting another one tottally but it does hav to be yours and your husband decision for sure . I think from what i have heard from everyone with lupus that you should have a specailist check you out before getting pregnany also.I have two healthy kids but was not sick with lupus as far as i know. there was things that when on with the first one but everything came out great for her and me. I hope the advice some of them have given you does help you somewhat if you do decide to but it does sound like you are doing fairly well and personally think you might be okay to try it but talk to a specialist defaintely. Good luck with your desicion and your health aslo. Take care. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/hugbetter.gif

Tammy

[peonyprincess]

First, congratulations on a healthy child. Also congratualtions that some of your labs as well as some of your organ functions have come back good.

You asked if Lupus is brought out during pregnancy. That is something that I do not think that anyone knows for sure. The problems that I encountered while being pregnant were carrying the baby to term. I lost two before having my oldest daughter. I lost two more before I got pregnant with my boys. There were supposed to be three, but I lost one of them early in the prenancy. The last one, my daughter came without a hitch. As far as having Lupus symptoms, I didn't have any. My Lupus was in remission until I got sick and went thru a nasty divorce.

While we question ourselves at being good parents and raising our children right, the questions become more serious when we have an illness that will never fully go away. Yes, I can imagine it will be difficult at times trying to raise a toddler, but a good support system of family and friends will actually be all you need. They will be able to take baby at times, allowing you to rest and they will be there to give you not only the physical support but the emotional support that you will need. As for wanting another child, I would talk to your physician, rhuemy and ob/gyn docs and get them all on the same page. I feel it would be crtitical to have everyone working together for the same common goal. Until that time...................enjoy the one that you have been blessed with, the grow up far to fast. It seems like yesterday that my oldest was singing Barney songs, now she has a drivers license and is going to proms.

Nancy

[cath]

Hi and welcome,

I'm glad to know you are feeling pretty well at the moment. Do you still have check ups with a rheumatologist?

Being fairly well is a good position to start a pregnancy in. It is better that you are feeling good and not on meds, that if you were in a big flare.

I strongly suggest that you see two specialists if you are planning to get pregnant - a rheumatologist, to get an update on how you are doing lupus wise, and an obstetrician/gynacologist to dicsuss risks in pregnancy.

It would be a good idea to have blood tests for liver and kidney function, (LFT's and U&E's), a full blood count (CBC), blood tests for APS (lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipids), and an ENA to see if you are Ro positive or not. It is also a good idea to get a BP taken and a urinalysis. You and your doctors than have a better idea of how well you are.

Once you are pregnant, it is also wise to have regular check ups by both specialists.

Quite often it seems that during pregnancy mums with lupus feel pretty well, but many have increased symptoms after the birth. This may well have to do with the hormonal changes in pregnancy and lactation.

All the very best

X C X

[shawlexwes]

Thank you all so much for your advice. I was scared to go to the doctor before deciding to have another child or not, but I see now that I need to get over my fears and do what is best for me and my family. I plan on making an appointment with my obgyn and primary doc to check everything first and get a professional opinion. Thank you all so much, I think we all know what we need to do, but somehow it helps to hear it from someone else, someone who knows exactly what I am going through. Thank you all so much!!! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/Thanx.gif
-Shawna