Have Rheumatoid Arthritis and Thinking of Getting Pregnant

Hi L.,

I also have rheumatoid arthritis and just had my first baby at 41 years of age. When I got pregnant I was taking Humira and a very low dose of Methotrexate (2 pills per week). I immediately stopped taking everything when I realized I was pregnant. One of the wonderful benefits about being pregnant was that the RA went into complete remission - so much so that I convinced myself it had gone away for good. However, now that my daughter is 2 months, the RA had begun to creep back into my joints. I'm scheduled to see my rheumatologist soon and will be going back on the meds. Based on my experience, I think you can enter pregnancy with a great deal of confidence that you'll feel just great - probably better than you do now! Good luck!

-S.

I am 38 and have advanced Arthritis and fibromyalgia as well as tendonitis and Carpal tunnel all by the age of 25. I had my daughter when I was 30 and my son right befor my 35th birthday.

My own experience is that without the medication (I was not taking the same medication, but had to stop what I was taking) I was not in as much pain as I feared I would be. and when I was in pain I took it easy, ate healthy (which in itself helps tremendously) and was all around gentle with myself.

My own experience of alternative pain relief is to take a nice bath with some lavender (which works very well for relaxing the body and relieving pain) I know that at some point in the pregnancy you won't be able tyo do it anymore, but it is a good tip for pain relief. Good luck with having the babies you want ... even if it is painful ..... a short time of pain ... is worth a lifetime of joy

Kay

Hi L., It's been a few years since you wrote this, but I am now where you were 2 years ago and would love to here how things turned out. I am 31, and thinking about getting pregnant. My son is 10 so it's been a while for me, and I didn't have RA when I had him. I have had RA since age 28, and have wanted to have another baby ever since they put me on the methrotrexate in 2008. I take .06 ml a week but often I find it's wed. or thurs. and I didn't take my shot on monday like I should have. I have so many questions I hope you or someone can answer. How long was it before you went into remission after becoming pregnant? How long after you stoped taking your meds did you begin to feel pain? Was it to the point that you found you had a hard time getting around? I hope to hear from you!

Thanks, K.

I was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis and prescribed methotrexae just before I got pregnant. I never got to take the drug but I was told that with enough planning it would be completely out of my system. During my pregnancy I found 100% relief from my arthritis and my psoriasis was in pretty good condition too. My baby is now 6 weeks old and my arthritis and psoriasis have come back with a vengeance so I will need to get on something now but pregnancy was a sweet relief.

Hi L.,
Let me preface this by saying that this is a very personal decision and that autoimmune diseases differ enough from person to person that I think your best bet is to listen to your gut instincts. I do not have RA, but I do have multiple sclerosis. I had a big flare when I was pregnant and that's when I was diagnosed. However, many people believe that you are less likely to flare w/ an autoimmune disease while pregnant (and more likely post-partum, with the chances during the year as a whole being just the same as any other year according to my doc). When I spoke to him (and he is a leading MS expert), he told me he had no concerns about my being pregnant again but that I should consider my fatigue levels in relation to having two kids. He did not discourage me from having a second child; he just pointed out what he believed would be my biggest challenge. I have extreme fatigue related to the MS, and, from what I hear, having two kids is exponentially more tiring than having one. For that reason (and because my first child came 11 weeks early - he's fine), I decided not to have another child. I need all my energy for the child I already have. That being said, I don't know your specific symptoms and if how severe they are. If I did not have severe fatigue (at least without my meds -- with meds, I'm able to function, though not at the same level I did before) I would probably have had another child, even knowing that I flared the last time I was pregnant. I guess what I'm trying to say is that, for me, I had to assess how having two kids would affect my health and my ability to interact with my kids. For me, the fatigue was too big of a problem, in terms of both my ability to be avialable as a mom and the potential that the extra fatigue would lead to more flares. If I did not have extreme fatigue and was only looking at potentially flaring during pregnancy (not that flaring is a minor issue, and I in no way mean to minimize the significance of an RA flare), I would have had a second child. Talk to you doc, and think about your specific course of RA and how your body will respond to the extra demands of having a second child. If you are doing really well on your meds and will likely be fine once you're back on them, I would say go for it! Again, though, only you and your doc can assess your experience with RA and think through how you will feel while pregnant and then afterwards with the extra demands of a second child. Somewhere, your gut instincts probably know the answer. The tough thing is to quiet the fear of what might happen and allow those instincts to speak more loudly than the fear so that you know which one you're listening to!

I just saw the post about myofascial release (sometimes known as trigger point therapy), and I completely agree that it's amazing. I also have fibro, though I was a competitive athlete my whole life and have significant wear and tear on my body from that, and myofascial pain therapy has been a life saver. I have no idea what effect it would have for RA pain, as my understanding is that RA pain is caused my inflamation in your joints, but if you get muscular pain, it's worth a try! My husband actually bought the text book, and the practitioner showed him how to find trigger points so that we would not go broke paying the professionals!
K.

My recomendation would be to do a cleanse, colon, liver, blood, any and all. My experience is that they make a huge difference in arthritis and my overall health and well being. I wish I would have known about them before I had my babies.

Hi there L.,
I am 32 yrs old and new to the board but wanted to chime in on this. I have an autoimmune disorder-lupus (once believed to be RA) and have been deterred from naturally having children due to (1) toxic medications once on Methotrexate and now on Imuran) (2) difficulty getting my lupus to stabilize which would possibly result in an unsafe pregnancy. I've talked to high risk pregnancy Dr.s and they suggested to wait until the illness has stablized and there are less frequent flares. I flare easily and stopping my meds would not be in my best interest. They completely advised against getting pregnant while on toxic medication. Stability has not happened for me in nearly 5 years, so we are choosing not to get pregnant anymore at this point. Hope this helps. Good luck to you and always consult with your Drs. regarding any decisions.

L., my name is L. and I have Fibromyalgia. While RA and Fibro are not exactly the same they do have similarities. WHen I became pregnant with my now 18 month old I was extremely nervous. After all I had to take 5 meds on a daily basis just to live "normally." But, when I found out I took myself off all meds and only took pain meds if I was in excruciating pain. The most amazing thing happened; during my preg. I actually went into remission. A lot of women I know with RA and Fibro experience a type of remission or "let up" of pain while pregnant. I hope this helps you.

L.

Hi L., Have you tried the water cure yet? I have a history of asthma and have been doing the water cure and it works! There is a section on rheumatoid arthritis. I think you will find some amazing information and maybe even get rid of your arthritis once and for all. the website is www.watercure.com Good Luck.

Hi L..
I'm almost 36 and was diagnosed with RA six months ago. I am in a different boat from you b/c i already have two kids, but I am debating having another (my husband as of now doesn't want a third, so we're not seriously considering pregnancy, but I did ask my doctors about it). I meainly wanted to email to encourage you to have another. If I only had one child, I would definitely go off my medication and try to get pregnant. I have been told that RA after birth can be extremely difficult for a period of time, but i think in the long run you would be happy you did it. If you are interested, I'd love to share notes re: RA in general, and also share what i've learned from a homeopathic doctor which could help you prior to making your decision, if you are open to complimentary treatments.
L.

Hello L.,

I have psoriatic arthritis and had my first baby at age 38. I was taking ibuprofen at the time and had to stop it when I became pregnant. Amazingly, my arthritis symptoms vanished completely. Apparently, since arthritis is an immune system disease, when you become pregnant your body lowers your immune system so your body will not reject the fetus. Since arthritis over stimulates your immune system, when some women become pregnant, their immune system then changes to a "normal" working immune system. I had zero aches or pains during my whole pregnancy. But after I gave birth, my arthritis symptoms emerged again. So I had 9 glorious months of pain-free pregnancy.

Hi L.,

Rheumatoid arthritis can be helped and even cured. I have cured people with arthritis. You won't believe that it is your circulation that is so poor around your arthritis area which causes swelling, stiffness, and pain.
I am a Qi Gong master and also a distinct healer. If you live near San Francisco, I teach a Shoalin Qi Gong self healing style where one learns to cultivate his chi to self heal. The first class is complimentary so that you can experience what we do in our practice of Qi Gong. Come and check out the class. I have taught at UC Berkeley for 6 years. I just retired last year at UC Berkeley.
If you don't live near San Francisco, I am willing and happy to give you a distant complimentary healing.
Please e-mail me at ____@____.com

Hi L. - I have a close friend who now lives in Kentucky. She has RA and had her second baby at 35. The delivery went fine, and for the most part the pregnancy was uneventful. She was hoping to get a remission of the RA symptoms during the pregnancy, that that didn't kick in until month 7. She takes monthly injections of enbrel (sp). These were continued till month 7 of pregnancy. Soon after delivery she needed to resume the medication. Hope this helps.

I know there are holistic things out there that can help your arthritis. I know that eating a more alkaline diet helps keep the calcium in the bones. did you know our bodies want to stay at around a 7.34 alkalinity and in order to do that it will pull calcium out of the bones. do a google search on alkaline diets. I take Mannatech products for my Osteoarthritis. I also take extra calcium and drink an alkaline water and try to eat more alkaline. I know Rheumatoid is all about the immune system attacking itself. when you restore the communication of the cells, then the immune system may eventually level out and stop doing this. supporting the endocrine system is key to this also. The plant saccharides that Mannatech puts into their products help this communication. We don't eat enough in our diets anymore. you could contact me or go to the mannatech website. I am a 57 yr old mother of 6 and had my last two at 41 and 43. thanks elaine

I was just diagnosed a week ago with RA and I am 31. I asked my doctor about future children and he said I would have to stop taking the medication and make sure it was all out of my system bc of the deformities involved with studies. He also said that RA symptoms seem to subside in most women while pregnant. WOW huh? Gods gift to us maybe? :) Thats definitely encouragement for me - for future plans.

I don't have RA but I do have IC, so I took ALOT of meds while prego and got through it....so let me know how I can help

Hi L.,

My name is J. and I am 42 years old and a stay-at-home mom with 3 beautiful girls, now 9, 7, and 5. I was diagnosed with RA when I was 28 so I went through all 3 of my pregnancies with RA. My first two I went into remission but really flared with with my 3rd. I was able to take anti-inflammatories and prednisone under my doctor's supervision. I was only able to nurse for 3 months with each before I had to get back on med's. As far as the pregnancy itself, it is safe to have babies with RA as the RA symptoms affect you, not the baby. There wasn't any issue with the med's. However, a year ago I discovered MFR (Myofascial release) which is an extended form of stretching and I'm off almost all of my med's and playing competitive tennis! Good luck you!

Hi L.,

A friend of mine had rheumatoid arthritis and a few other bad health problems too. She carried a notepad EVERYWHERE she went. Even when she went from one room to another! Her husband had to keep her meds so she wouldn't forget and take too many. She is only 36 years old too. Anyway, she started taking Maxgxl. Within 4 days she found she didn't need her notepad. Within 1 week she was almost completely of her rheumatoid meds! Now, it's been 2 months and she's jogging, camping, grocery shopping, sleeping, all pain free and no meds! Check out www.maxgxl.com/maxmagic and watch the video to see if Maxgxl is something you want to try. It's natural and 100% money back!

Hi L.,

I saw your post and thought I would let you know about a natural product that is wonderful with arthritis. It's called mangosteen juice. It is a really fabulous tasting juice made from the whole mangosteen fruit, which grows primarily in Thailand. The juice is an anti-inflamatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti depressant, it balances out all bodily systems, and is SAFE for drinking during pregnancy. It is great to give babies to boost their immune systems and my kids drink it every day as a health tonic. If you'd like to read more about it please visit my website: www.mymangosteen.com/cindysims If you'd like to talk with me about it please feel free to send me an e-mail and I can call you.
It has been an incredible healing tool for my whole family and many of my friends and I just like to spread the word!
Many Blessings,
C.

Hi Laurn,

I can most certainly relate to you and know what you are going through! I do not have rheumatoid arthritis but 4 years ago I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. At the time I had a 6 year old and was trying to get pregnant. My Rheumatologist prescribed Enbrel right before we started IVF treatments. Before I could give Enbrel a chance I had to stop taking it (along with 1000 mg of Ibuprofen for pain.) The DR did mention that pregnancy was known to go into "remission" when a woman gets pregnant. Surprisingly, when I became pregnant with the first try...my sypmtoms were going away rapidly! I was relieved since I was in great pain without all the meds. I had a nice 9 month break! After I gave birth the DR advised that I should not take the meds until I was done breatfeeding. The arthrtis slowly came back and by the time I was done breastfeeding (4 months) we were ready to go back in and try IVF one more time. Again, we had success with the first try and my arthitis subsided once more. I gave birth 6 months ago and for some reason my arthritis has not come back???!!! I still worry that any morning I could wake up and feel that stiff pain again, but for now I enjoy the fact that I am arthritis free! I dont know what I did (if anything!) or what will happen but hopefully this disease doesnt stop you from having another beautiful blessing! I am also 31 years old and it was so hard being young and having an active lifestlye with arthritis. I was given all the information on side affects not only for the arthritis meds, but all the meds for my psoriasis. Those side affects were only IF I kept taking them during the pregnancy. My husband and I decided to go ahead and do the IVF and stop all the meds only during the pregnancies. It was the best choice we ever made....We now have 2 more healthy babies....20 months and 6 months~

I bet there are other medications that would not pose such a risk that you could switch to prior to trying to conceive. Also, acupuncture and alternative treatments have GREAT success with these types of autoimmune conditions. I know, because I have one and have pretty well eradicated it with acupuncture and herbs. Find a good OB in your area who is willing to work with you. It may take a few interviews to find the right one. Also, and this is just my two cents, I would highly recommend a slow or no vaccine schedule for your babe. Kids with family histories of auto-immune conditions tend to have a higher rate or reaction to vaccinations than those that do not.

Hi L. -
I too have RA. For years it was not bad and managed with Advil/Aleve ONLY. Then after my first child it got very bad and I had to stop nursing in order to take methotrexate. Then when we wanted a second child my doctor told me I had to be OFF of methotrexate for 6 months, which I did. So he put me on prednisone in the meantime. Yes, the RA seems to have gone into remission during my pregnancey and I took 5mg of prednisone throughout, it is safe for you and the baby. The 5mg was all I needed. Your OB/GYN should be able to help you too.
I have a healthy 6month old now and am still taking prednisone and still nursing!
Another thing that I have done that was amazing and helped so much was acupuncture. You can do it while pregnant as long as you can sit in a chair, etc... I highly recommend that. And if prednisone is an option, I recommend that as well.
Best of luck to you - you will find something that works and I'm sure have a healthy pregnancy and baby!
S.

don't know if this will help and I'm probably not the kind of person you thought would respond but...I am 52 yrs old and my mom had me when she was 39...my mom had ra and during her pregnancy with me she was in total remission...thanks mom for having me
C.