When I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at 25, I was faced with that daunting question, “Will I still be able to have a baby?” … It was one of the very first thoughts I had after being diagnosed with RA. My partner and I knew we wanted children someday, and as I went from being a successful dual degree graduate student to barely being able to walk, I worried a lot about our future.
Chronic inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and more are often diagnosed or active during women’s childbearing years. Based on the experiences of a mother living with rheumatoid arthritis, this article covers basic considerations that women living with chronic inflammatory conditions may want to keep in mind when it comes to planning a pregnancy. This includes medication considerations prior to and during pregnancy, issues related to trying to conceive (TTC), managing pregnancy with a chronic inflammatory condition, breastfeeding, and the postpartum period.
Pregnancy and Chronic Illness: What I Learned
Women: Total Health & Wellness
