Rheumatoid Arthritis and Pregnancy Grand Rapids MI
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Grand Rapids, MI
Rheumatoid Arthritis and Pregnancy
If you have rheumatoid arthritis and are considering having a baby, you're likely to have concerns. Will you pass the disease on to your baby? Will halting your meds make your arthritis worse? Which arthritis drugs will hurt your baby? We've got some answers for you on how to cope with rheumatoid arthritis and pregnancy.
1. Controlling Rheumatoid Arthritis Before Pregnancy is Essential
Planning ahead makes a difference to your rheumatoid arthritis and pregnancy. To feel your best during pregnancy and after your baby is born, get your arthritis under control as much as possible before becoming pregnant, advises the University of Washington Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine (UW Medicine). Maintain close contact with your rheumatologist, obstetrician and physical therapist and follow your treatment program diligently before, during, and after pregnancy.
2. Pregnancy May Improve or Worsen Rheumatoid Arthritis
Research shows that about 70 percent of women with rheumatoid arthritis go into remission when they're pregnant. Symptoms generally begin to improve or, in some cases disappear, from about the third trimester. For the other 30 percent arthritis symptoms stay the same or may become worse.
The jury's still out on why these changes in rheumatoid arthritis occur during pregnancy. Some suspected causes are changes in estrogen, or a change in the mother's immune system to protect the baby. Regardless of the reason, expectant mothers who go into remission view it as a blessing, especially as being pregnant will require going off certain drugs that help to relieve the painful symptoms of arthritis...
