RA and Pregnancy

Hi, I am also new to this site. I do not think RA determines if you can have children. Although it does have something to do with estrogen. I have 4 teens, ages 18,16,16,& 14. I was told that I had low low risk of becoming pregnant. The reason I believe it does have something to do with estrogen is that after each pregnancy, my swelling worsened.Then, after a partial hysterectomy, my RA symptoms went to extreme. At 36 yrs old, I do not know how I will feel day to day. Sorry to go on & on. Hope the info helps.

I just read that studies have shown that women with a lower amount of conception time are more likely to get RA. Found it under Risk Factors on this site. Just thought i'd let you know. I'll let you know if I find anything else out.

I just came across this site today and read your question.  I'm 36 and have had severe RA for 18 years.  I wanted a child badly and got off all medication for one year (Dr. recommended 6 months).  I don't know if stopping all my meds helped or not, but I was able to conceive as soon as I tried.  My Dr. told me that having RA would not decrease my chances of having a baby, but the fact that my body was so "worn out" physically it would be harder for me to go through the pregnancy than a normal healthy woman.  Yes it was a painful year without my medication, but it was well worth it. Yes my RA came back even more severe after my son was born, but again I wouldn't change that for anything.  Good Luck!

I have had moderate/severe arthritis for the past 11 years. A rheumatologist told me when I first started to be treated that having more children was not an option due to the medications I was taking. He recommended a tubiligation to avoid having any more children. I did - and 3 years later was told by another rheumatologist that having more children might be the best thing for my arthritis. I had a reversal done and have had 2 children since then! My symptoms did not come back any worse after the first pregnancy (post reversal). I did well for about 5 months off all of my drugs as I was nursing. After my second pregnancy (post reversal) I started to have some issues with flare-ups by nothing like I had had in the past. I might add that my second pregnancy (post reversal) I took enbrel the entire time and had a very healthy and happy little boy!

 

My advice to you is talk to your Dr about your medications. Find out what you can be on and be safe with for your entire pregnancy. Enbrel works before, during and after pregnancy. I have been on every medication under the sun for my arthritis and know how frustrating it can be. A different course of meds may be what you need...

Hi!

I've had RA since I was 17 (I'm now 33) and tried various meds.  I went off all meds for about a year while trying to get pregnant.  My symptoms were so bad I had to try something new- Enbrel.  I stayed on Enbrel while pregnant but went off to breastfeed.  It did take me about a year to conceive, whether this had to do with RA or not I don't know.  Just wanted to let you know that I think Enbrel is great and safe for pregnancy.  I was about to give up trying to get pregnant then found Enbrel and my attitude changed.  I got pregnant, had an easy pregnancy, and a healthy, beautiful girl.  My symptoms did return about 6 weeks after delivery ( I was off all meds at this point) so I went back on Enbrel.  Good luck!