From the article: Top 10 Pregnancy Questions for Women with MS
The decision to have a baby is always influenced by many factors - emotions, health, finances and other circumstances all play a role. For women with MS, there are additional things to consider and questions that swirl around this decision: Will I have enough energy to raise a child or will I need help? Will I breastfeed or start back on treatment right after the baby is born? How will a pregnancy affect my health? Is this a good idea? Share your thoughts and experiences on pregnancy and motherhood and learn how others answered these questions for themselves.
Share Your Story
43 and 5 wks pregnant
- im 43 and have ms since i was 21. i have 4 heathly children.im 6bweeks pregnant now. what are the risks in having this child, i know my age dont help either,i am ok with my illness but get very tried quickly,im scared , if i termintate wot might happen, etc, will baby have ms,downs etc, or shall i risk and hope for the best and have it
- —Guest jackie69
My ms story
- I was diagnosed with ms after I had my second child. I had suffered from many symptoms through out the years but I could never could get complete health care for all my problems. I grew up in the projects and was placed in fostercare.I"ve been molested as a child and experimented with cocaine as a teenager I had my first child at 16.I buried my mother,father and grandmom and I'm the only child and grand.So I thought I was having nervous break downs.After I had my second child at the age of 30. I was sucidally depressed and asked to see a nuerologist and he finally diagnosed me with ms.
- —Guest Tenille L
children
- I am not worry about myself my concern is, will i hae a healthy child? i dont wanna pass my MS to my kids... I am planning to get pregnent but i am worry about the baby's health????? any advice????
- —Guest MS mom
My pregnancy with MS story
- I always chuckle a bit when I read that pregnancy reduces risks of exacerbation because I developed optic neuritis and was ultimately diagnosed with MS during my 1st pregnancy at age 31. I went on Avonex almost immediately after giving birth. It's 4 years later now and I'm 14 weeks pregnant with our 2nd child (I stopped the Avonex before trying to conceive, will start again after this baby is born). This is right about when the ON struck with baby #1, so I'm crossing my fingers this pregnancy will be what I read it COULD be. :) If you have MS, please don't let anyone discourage you from having children if you want to. Though I didn't have a chance to make a choice with my daughter (since I was already pregnant when I got the dx) we're still having a 2nd child. The disease modifying treatments are so good nowadays I truly believe I will be able to be an involved, active mother to my kids for years to come. I wish you all the best with your pregnancies and/or MS!
- —Guest Amanda
3 pregnancy
- first i m sorry about my English language , so i discovered my disease MS on 2009 when i had my first baby because after i had my first MS attack that was i lost balance i toke some tablet but in this time i didn't understand well because i never hear about MS,on 2010 i was pregnant with my second son i didn t have any problem during pregnancy but after have my second son i had again Ms attack it was very hard i couldn't walk and hard pain muscles in my right arm and because the attack are very cross the neurologist sew i have to start medication but not rush you know the first decision is difficult i didn't my problem now i am pregnant 5 weeks but i don t want that it by accident now i spook with hospital for stooping that now and i wile do that next week but between us i don t feel good about that because i can t to stop the my baby life please i want ad vices and mental support because iam so down thanks
- —Guest sam
Afraid to have a baby
- I am already a mother to an adopted son who is 6 turning 7. However, I have always wanted a child of my own. The big problem is that I am 43. I have read that if you have a child, the chances of relapse after birth is huge. My mother has MS as well as a cousin. So I do know that it is genetic. Not what they state in this article. Should I have a surrogate? I would really love to experience being pregnant but not at the expense of my future health or my ability to raise my son. Does anyone have any suggestions or help?
- —Westhawkmbca
SO GLAD I HAD A BABY EVEN THOUGH I HAVE
- It was 8 years ago yesterday that I had my son. I was 32. I'd been Dx'd with MS for 3-1/2 although it was probably really about 5 years before that that I had my first symptom. I had done research regarding MS & Pregnancy. I had heard the scary stories about relapses prevalent months after delivery. But having a child is the best thing I have ever done! Sure, I want to scream sometimes, but having someone who calls you Mom and makes you happier than you could ever imagine is worth anything I may have to deal with in my life! What parents tell you REALLY IS TRUE! You don't know what unconditional love is until you have a child! Wow!
- —Guest Matchabeli
i m so depresse about a future...
- I have been diagnosed with MS for 2 years( optic neuritis).after 1 year i had no relapse So i decided to get pregnant but my husband dont want. he says that( healthy wife is better than havig a baby), i use betaferon & i have a bad pain in my body after anjecting & i must sleep too much for getting better.that is what i m scared about havig a baby, my husband is 40 and i m 32, i m going to be mad with this problem,if i couldnt care a bout a baby....
- —Guest shadow
MS and children abnormalitys
- Hi. I am thinking of trying to have a child. I was diagnosed with MS when i was young. Do i need to come off my medicine completly so my child doesnt have abnormailities or can i stay onthem please email back xcountrywalker@yahoo.com
- —Guest Paige
2 Babies
- In 2007 was diagnosed with accute transverse mielitis, but told that it would most likely develop into MS. My daughter had just turned 1. We decided to have second before going on treatment. I got pregnant in February of 2008 and miscarried in the first trimester. We waited for 2 normal cycles and tried again and got pregnant with my second daughter that was born in April 2009. Looking back, I am thinking that the miscarriage might have happended because I was under alot of stress. I had just been given the news about the MS, had had several MRI's, spine tap... My pregnancies and daughters were/are normal. Everything was fine, no symptoms, or major relapses after the miscarriage or the birth of my second daughter. (I occasionally feel some tingling in my feet). We are now contemplating a third, but I think I should go on treatment, (it has been over 4 years since I have known about this condition). Has anyone else gone this long without treatment?
- —Guest ms mom
Guest Soo
- I am 34 weeks pregnant and have not experienced the promised relief from my MS. I am thrilled at starting a family at the age of 40 but heartbroken at no change. I feel quite cheated, really. I am reminded of my MS every single day.
- —Guest Guest Soo
MS symptoms, abnormal MRI and now 8 week
- I am a 33 year old female. My husband and I are now 8 weeks pregnant with our 1st. I have had bouts of vertigo since I was 25. At 4 weeks pregnant, I developed a very intense headache at the base of my scalp and woke the following morning to the right side of my face numb. The numbness persisted for 2-3 weeks, I saw a neurologist and have an MRI which showed abnormalities. My nephrologist would like me to have a spinal tap to confirm MS diagnosis. Since I am 8 weeks pregnant, I am hesitant to have the tap and potentially introduce further complications to my pregnancy. My husband and I feel that while I am pregnant I will not be able I receive treatment/ drugs so why rush to have these tests to simply diagnose. I'm wondering if any other women with MS found out while they were pregnant OR how you feel about waiting to diagnose after birth? I am very scared to have the tap, and scared to lose the pregnancy. Any support and advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
- —Guest Bdub
Newly diagnosed and trying for baby#2
- I was just diagnosed on Oct 29 20,2011 with RRMS. The only symptoms I have had is numbness in the fingers and hands and loss of sensation in my arms. It is hard to accept when I feel fine. I have had 2 abnormal mri's. My daughter is 15 months old and my husband and i trying for baby #2 now. My cycles are trying to become regular now that that I've cut back on breastfeeding only nursing at night. I hope to get pregnant as soon as possible as my neurologist says being pregnant is the best treatment for MS. It is extremely important to me to breastfeeding our next baby and kamel ling to take the risk of possibly having another relapse while doing so. Does anyone have any experience with this? I am afraid also since I'm not immediately going on treatment that I am taking a chance of another relapse occurring before I become pregnant again. I am scared and trying to get pregnant ASAP. The neurologist says you can't take any medicine while pregnant or after pregnancy if your are nursing.
- —Guest Kaverie13
Any tips for coping with MS baby
- I am looking for any tips and coping strategies that I may be able to pass on to people I work with to help with the emotional implications of coping with MS and being a new mum. Any tips in convincing self and family of the ability to cope as normally as possible would be greatfully received. It would be very interesting to hear from real life people rather than text book scenarios. Thank you and wishing you all the very best for the future
- —becauseicare
Want to have a baby!!!
- I am 36 year old have had MS for the last 10 years. My fiancee has been very supportive from day one and were thinking about getting me off the meds for 3 months and then start trying. I'm a bit scared because I don't know what to expect. Been on Avonex for 10 years. I have a weak left leg. I'm able to walk fine but sometimes I tend to limp. I fell 3 times over the last 10 years I work out 5 times a week at the gym I do a lot of leg exercises I'm very healthy don't smoke and I take Cod Liver Oil, Vitamin D and my multi vitamins. I eat very well. I'm afraid while I'm pregnant I may fall because of my weak leg. If anyone has every gone through what I m going through right now please respond or has had symptoms concerning there mobiltiy to walk while being pregnant??
- —Koukla01
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