Pregnancy and Arthritis.
Last updated Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Arthritis and pregnancyQuestions to ask yourself Deciding to become pregnant should be a conscious decision for all
women. Since it will probably be one of the greatest decisions a woman
ever has to make, it is important that she has the information to do so.
If you have arthritis and are pregnant or are thinking about having
children, you may want to ask yourself these questions, if you haven't
already:
- Am I ready?
- Will my arthritis go away?
- Will my child inherit arthritis?
- How will arthritis affect my pregnancy?
- How will pregnancy affect my arthritis?
- How can I plan ahead for my pregnancy?
- How can I make it easier to care for myself and my baby after birth?
This information aims to help women with arthritis answer these and
other questions. As you review this information, list the pros and cons
of having a child. Then, refer to this list as you and your partner
make a decision. Since arthritis and pregnancy affect everyone
differently, the answers to these questions will be different for
everyone. Self-test Any couple who is thinking of having a baby will have certain
physical, emotional, and financial issues to consider before conceiving
the child. A woman with arthritis will have particular concerns related
to arthritis. The self-test will help evaluate the physical ability of
a woman with arthritis to care for a new baby. Following the test are
some questions to think about and discuss with others.
Self-test for strength and endurance
This test will give you a good idea of how caring for a baby will
affect you physically and what problems you may have to work on before
having a baby. Try the activities below and list any problems you have
with certain ones. Your therapist, doctor, or nurse can help you work
out the problems. (Note: the weight and structure of a bag of potatoes
is used to mimic the motions of carrying and lifting a baby.)
- Can I lift a 10 lb. bag of potatoes from the height of my bed?
- Can I hold a 10 lb. bag of potatoes in one arm while sitting for at least 10 minutes?
- Can I go up and down stairs easily while carrying a 10 lb. bag of potatoes?
- Can I walk around the house carrying the 10 lb. bag of potatoes for up to 10 minutes?
- Do I get more pain in my hips, knees and/or feet when I am carrying the 10 lb. bag of potatoes?
- Can I screw on and off the top to a baby bottle?
- Can I push a diaper pin through a thick diaper?
- Can I get through my average day without taking a nap?
- Can I bend my neck (chin to chest) to see the baby if I were holding it close to me?
Other questions for you, your family, and your doctor to consider
Any major life decision should be made at a time when you are not
under stress. You need to be clear about why you wish to get pregnant
and when you wish to do so. The why might be very difficult to answer,
because we're all influenced by previous life experiences, current
roles and relationships, and by our frame of mind. It's not uncommon,
for instance, for some women to choose pregnancy when they are feeling
lonely and depressed, thinking that a new baby will change things for
them. You might want to ask yourself the following questions when
thinking about how you feel about having a baby:
- Am I expecting a new baby to fill a void in my life?
- Do I want to get pregnant only to try to relieve some of the pain I'm having from my arthritis?
- Are there people around me who can help me when I'm not feeling well?
- Is this a good time to have a baby, personally, emotionally and financially?
If you're not sure how you feel about some of these questions,
discuss your feelings with your family and friends. You might also find
it helpful to talk to your doctor or other health team members. These
people can also refer you to a counselor or someone specially trained
to help with these issues, or to other women in similar situations.
How useful was this page or article?
|
|