One of the most frequent questions from women with this condition is: Can someone with lupus get pregnant? The answer to this question depends a lot on the health conditions that a woman with lupus might have. The medical recommendation is that they should not become pregnant due to the potential risks for both mother and baby. Even so, most of these women, despite all the risks that the disease may pose, manage to conceive and give birth to perfectly healthy babies.

What is Lupus?

Lupus is a rare autoimmune disease, more common in women, caused by an imbalance in the immune system. In lupus, the immune defense turns against the body’s own tissues, such as skin, joints, liver, heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain. Because it attacks certain areas of the body and causes varied symptoms, sometimes it can be confused with other conditions and its diagnosis delayed. Lupus requires careful treatment by specialized physicians. People who are treated correctly can lead a normal life. Those who do not get treatment may develop serious complications, which can often be fatal.

How to Prepare for Pregnancy When You Have Lupus?

For the answer to whether someone with lupus can get pregnant to be yes, some steps must be taken. A healthy pregnancy begins well before it happens. Therefore, it’s important that you:

  • Make sure your lupus is under control – The healthier you are before getting pregnant, the more likely you are to have a healthy pregnancy and baby. Pregnancy places extra stress on the kidneys, so having active kidney disease can cause problems and may even lead to miscarriage. So, if possible, avoid pregnancy until your lupus has been under control for at least six months.
  • Talk to your doctor about medications – Some medications are safe to take during pregnancy. Others, however, can harm the baby. Your doctor may need to stop or switch some medications before pregnancy. Some of them need to be stopped months before conception.
  • Choose a high-risk pregnancy specialist – Because lupus can present certain risks, you’ll need an obstetrician experienced in high-risk pregnancies at a hospital equipped for such situations. If possible, look for this professional before you become pregnant.
  • Check your health insurance coverage – Inadequate health insurance could mean you and your baby do not get the treatment you need. Make sure your insurance plan covers your health needs and your baby’s, as well as any problems that may arise.

How to Manage Possible Problems During Pregnancy?

Regular prenatal exams are important for all women. But they are especially important for women with lupus. That’s because many potential problems can be prevented or better treated if addressed early. Here are some problems that may occur during pregnancy: Flares – Some women report improvement in lupus symptoms during pregnancy. But flares can occur in up to 30% of women during pregnancy. Disease activity is most likely to increase during the first few months after delivery. That’s why it’s important to wait to get pregnant until the disease has been under control for at least six months, as this reduces the risk of flares during pregnancy. Most flares, when they occur, are mild. Your doctor can treat them with low doses of corticosteroids. Hypertensive complications – Complications involving high blood pressure can affect up to 20% of pregnant women with lupus. High blood pressure can be caused by pregnancy itself and can increase the risk of pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia occurs in one out of every five women with lupus and requires immediate treatment. Miscarriage – About one in five pregnant women with lupus has a miscarriage. Miscarriages are more likely in women with high blood pressure, active lupus, and active kidney disease. Preterm birth – About one in three women with lupus has a premature delivery. This means the baby may be born before 37 weeks. That’s why it’s important to know the symptoms of preterm labor, which may include:

  • Low back pain
  • Pelvic pressure
  • Loss of blood or clear fluid from the vagina
  • Abdominal cramps
  • Contractions that occur every 10 minutes or less

Seek medical attention as soon as possible if you have any of these symptoms. Women with lupus can get pregnant, but face a higher risk of complications during pregnancy. However, their babies can be just as healthy as those of women who do not have the condition!

Taking Care During Pregnancy With Lupus

In addition to visiting your doctor regularly and following your treatment plan, there are lots of things you can do to take care of yourself and your baby while you wait for the big arrival:

  • Get plenty of rest. Plan for a good night’s sleep and take breaks throughout the day.
  • Eat a healthy diet. Avoid excessive weight gain. Ask your doctor for a referral to a nutritionist if needed.
  • Avoid cigarettes and alcohol.
  • If you have unusual symptoms, talk to your doctor immediately.

How to Manage the Birth of the Baby?

Your doctor will decide the method of delivery—cesarean or vaginal. He or she will do this based on the mother’s health and the baby’s health at the time of birth. Many women with lupus can have vaginal births, but if the mother or baby is under stress, a cesarean section may be the safest and quickest way to deliver. If the woman took steroids during pregnancy, the doctor may increase her dose during labor to help the body cope with additional stress. Often, even if the delivery goes perfectly well, women with the condition experience severe lupus flares soon after the baby is born. Likewise, other problems may occur after birth, including:

  • Breastfeeding problems – Babies born prematurely may not be strong enough to breastfeed and extract milk. Mothers who had preterm births or are taking certain medications may have trouble producing milk. Also, some women need to take medicines that can pass into breast milk and are advised not to breastfeed. Most of these problems can be solved. It’s important to talk to your doctor if you have any questions about breastfeeding.
  • Neonatal lupus – Neonatal lupus is not the same as lupus in the mother. About 3% of babies born to women with lupus will have the condition. Most of the time it is temporary, which means it will go away. The condition consists of the presence of maternal autoantibodies in the baby’s bloodstream, resulting from transplacental transmission. By the time the baby is 6 or 8 months old, the condition usually disappears and never returns. In rare cases, babies with neonatal lupus will have an abnormal heart rhythm that is permanent and may require a pacemaker.

After birth, it’s important to make regular visits to your doctor to monitor the changes happening in your body. Check how you are recovering and returning to your pre-pregnancy state. Even though you’re focused on taking care of your baby and finding it hard to make time to care about your own health, remember that it is very important to care for yourself. See Also: Hormone Replacement Therapy: Benefits and Consequences Photos: Doktorinternet