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Readers Respond: How did MS affect your pregnancy, your decision to have children or motherhood?
Responses: 6

By , About.com Guide

User responses are not monitored by About.com's Medical Review Board.

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

33 weeks pregnant

I am 33 weeks pregnant and so far so good. I haven't experienced any ms symptoms other than fatigue. I've was diagnosed oct 07. My doctor suggests I breastfeed once the baby is born to avoid a relapse. New studies show it's very successful.
—Guest Andrea

one annoying symptom

I have been diagnosed with MS for 10 years. It has been relatively stable with few attacks. The only enduring symptom has been a visual impairment due to two bilateral attacks of optic neuritis. So we decided to get pregnant! After going off all meds (DM and symptomatic) it took over a year, but hey- still no new symptoms! Occasional acupuncture helped with any annoying little symptoms. Well- the first two trimesters went swimmingly. Then boom- one of the most annoying MS symptoms out there popped back up with a vengance- PLMS (periodic limb movement syndrome). In a nutshell, a tingling sensation would build to a crescendo punctuated by an involuntary movement that would bring the tactile noise back down- repeat every 30-40 seconds. I had previously been taking 1800mg of Neurontin (gabbapentin) for this prepregnancy. Well after discussion between my OB and Neuro I went back on Neurontin- just at 300mg a day. Fortunately, I have restarted acupuncture so I keep the pills to a minimum.
—Guest speech teacher

Nearly 39 weeks

I have actually been fine during most of my pregnancy. In fact sometimes I have even forgotten I have MS. Now in the late stages fatigue is hard, but I am not sure it is MS related as many expectant mums get very bad fatigue. I have been blogging about my pregnancy for the last four months on my blog, and I intend to keep it up once baby arrives too. http://www.mstrust.org.uk/interactive/babymsme/ Good luck to you all xx Hellie
—Guest Hellie

I was fine during pregnancy

I was diagnosed 2 yrs after my son was born, although the doctors think I had MS before my son was born. I was fine after the pregnancy too. I want another baby but things are now not going so smooth. I am having alot of MS issues. I want another baby so bad but getting pregnan has not been easy at all! Not sure what to do.
—Guest MS Mom

im very scared!

my wife is pregnant right now. she has ms and i dont know everything i love her so much i hope we are normal. i hope we know what is going to go on but we are ignorant to the situation since she hasnt felt nothing in about three years please give me advise!
—Guest mr hub

not so well

i was 28 weeks pregant when i had my first MS attack, i couldnt move my left eye and my left side of my face had drouped and i had double vision up to when my baby was born, i was told i had MS after i had 2 more MS attacks which where to the right side of my body (i couldnt feel my right leg. my baby was 5 months old) and when my baby was 6 months old i couldnt use or feel my right arm, im on medication now and my baby is a toddler and i want to have another baby but im not sure i didnt have a very good pregancy and im really scared, my neoligist says it wouldnt be a good idea and im just scared ive had MS only for 2 years now.
—Guest Elise

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