Lupus Basics

Lupus is a chronic, inflammatory disorder of the immune system that can affect several body systems at the same time.

Pregnancy and Lupus

In most cases, women with lupus can safely become pregnant. With the proper medical care, one can lower the risks of pregnancy and deliver a normal, healthy baby.

Nevertheless, a pregnancy should be carefully planned.

Your lupus should be under control or in remission for about 12 months before you get pregnant. Moreover, you should no longer be taking some medications.

Discuss this with your doctor.

1. Find an obstetrician (OB) experienced in managing high-risk pregnancies, who can work closely with your primary health professional or Rheumatologist.

2. Plan your delivery at a hospital that can manage high-risk patients and provide the specialized care you and your baby may need.

3. Talk to your doctor about which medicines are safe to take while pregnant.

Pregnancy will not cause flares in and of itself. If your condition does flare, it is most often during the first or second trimester or the first few months following delivery. Most flares are mild and easily treated with small doses of corticosteroids.

Another complication is pre-eclampsia. This is a serious condition. One experiences a sudden increase in blood pressure, protein in the urine, or both. The condition requires immediate treatment with the possibility of early delivery.

Babies born to women with lupus have no greater chance of birth defects or mental retardation than do babies born to women without lupus.

As pregnancy progresses, your high-risk OB will regularly check the baby's heartbeat and growth with sonograms (a machine that creates pictures of your baby's organs).

While early (premature) birth can present a danger to the baby, most problems can successfully be treated in a hospital that specializes in care of premature newborns. Only about 3% of babies born to mothers with lupus will have neonatal lupus.

Breastfeeding is considered safe for mothers with lupus even if you are taking some medications. If you have to go back to medications and want to breastfeed, before you breastfeed, talk with your doctor about how the medicine might affect your baby.

Pregnancy sometimes mean special problems for women with lupus. The ability to conceive or fertility, may be decreased during periods of flares. This could be the result of the hormonal changes caused by lupus or from side effects of medications used to treat lupus. (There are certain medications you should not be using during pregnancy.)

Women with lupus have an increased chance of having a miscarriage.

Speak candidly with your doctors and be sure your doctors are sharing information.

Your rheumatologist may suggest a 'High Risk' obstetrician. If not ask him/her if they think one may be needed.

Certain abnormal antibodies present in the some women with lupus may contribute to the chance of a miscarriage. Therefore it is important that you discuss your plan to become pregnant with your doctors, and that you are seen regularly by your doctors during the pregnancy. Have regular blood tests to detect the presence of abnormal antibodies and to measure other signs of lupus activity. Using these precautions, many women with lupus have normal pregnancies.

If your doctor advises against pregnancy, or if you do not wish to have children, some experts believe that the safest method of contraception for women with lupus is a diaphragm used with contraceptive jelly. While a percentage of women with lupus are able to safely use combination pills with low dose estrogen and progesterone or progesterone only (minipill) birth control pills, for many its best not to use either birthcontrol pills or intrauterine devices because of the risk of infections.

Lupus is unique and individual. You need to openly discuss with your doctor a form of birthcontrol suitable for you. What is right for one person with lupus may be all wrong for another lupus patient. With such of wide selection today of patches, shots etc., you need to examine what is correct for you and your lifestyle.

Many women experience a resurgence of symptoms after a pregnancy, so there are many questions to ask. Has there been 12 months of remission or control? You need to ask yourself if your lupus is controlled enough that you will not be consistently sick. Ask your doctor what medications can be taken while pregnant. Should you consider breastfeeding? How soon will your medication regimen be reinstated after pregnancy?

If you are experiencing trouble with your periods-see a doctor.

Pregnancy and birth control issues are best are best openly and honestly discussed with your doctor.

Bones & Lupus

Pregnancy and Lupus drugs

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