Not long ago, patients suffering from lupus were urged not to get pregnant. That is no longer the case, thanks to improved medicines and greater knowledge of the disease. Many women with lupus can now have a good pregnancy and give birth to healthy kids. However, this does not rule out the possibility of becoming pregnant while living with lupus. When you have lupus, blood clots, impaired renal function, and premature birth can all occur as a result of pregnancy.
For keeping your baby and you safe during the pregnancy, your doctor may need to keep a close eye on your condition and adjust your lupus medication. We’ll go over the dangers of pregnancy when you are suffering from lupus, what medications you might need, and what are the best ways to prepare yourself in this article.
What Are The Risk Factors?
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects people for the rest of their lives. Lupus damages healthy parts in the body, such as organs, blood, and joints, if it isn’t handled properly. A flare-up of lupus can affect your entire body, including your reproductive organs. As a result, everyone with lupus who becomes pregnant is regarded as “at risk.” However, just because you have lupus and are at high risk for pregnancy problems does not indicate you will have one. Not all pregnancies following a lupus diagnosis are equally risky.
If you suffered from kidney dysfunction or have a past record of vascular blood clots, or if your blood antibodies are out of whack, getting lupus most probably complicates your pregnancy. People with very well lupus who seem to have a strategy in place with their physician before becoming pregnant have the best chances of having a healthy pregnancy. In addition to an OB-GYN, pregnant women should have their care coordinated by a maternal-fetal medicine specialist and a rheumatologist.
Get Rid Of Some Lupus Medications
Many medications that are used in the lupus treatment should not be taken while pregnant since they can lead to birth defects.
If you’re planning to become pregnant soon or are already pregnant, it’s critical that you talk to your doctor about prescription changes. Shifting to a different medicine before becoming pregnant allows you to adjust and reduces your risk of difficulties later on.
Some drugs should be avoided during pregnancy, such as cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, NSAIDs, blood thinners, immunosuppressants, and others. With a doctor’s approval, corticosteroids like prednisone, which are commonly used to treat lupus, can be used safely throughout pregnancy.
