What Are the Effects of Rheumatism on Pregnancy?

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If you have arthritis during pregnancy or when planning it, you need to be vigilant. Because the rheumatic disease often attacks women in their fertile period, even since the fertilization process and symptoms can last until pregnancy and childbirth. Check out the following full explanation of rheumatism and pregnancy.

How does rheumatism affect pregnancy?

Rheumatoid arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system is overactive and mistakenly attacks healthy tissues or organs. When you are pregnant, your immune system will decrease due to drastic hormonal changes so that you are prone to experiencing rheumatic symptoms.

Starting in the first trimester, pregnant women who experience rheumatism will experience symptoms of fatigue and the effects of inflammation that become more active. If the symptoms of rheumatism continue to be active, then there is a high chance that this symptom will continue to increase until entering the second trimester.

Reporting from the Arthritis Foundation, about 70 percent of pregnant women experience increased symptoms of arthritis when entering the second trimester. This can last for the first six weeks after giving birth. This is thought to be due to an increase in levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines and hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy. However, if you have only mild symptoms of rheumatism since the second trimester, then it is likely that these symptoms will remain mild until the third trimester.

Other risks that may arise if you experience rheumatism during pregnancy

Women with rheumatism have various pregnancy problems that start from conception, pregnancy, even to birth and breastfeeding. Besides the symptoms of rheumatism getting worse as described above, here are four other risks that might occur.

1. Preeclampsia

Women who have problems with the immune system are more at risk of developing preeclampsia or high blood pressure during pregnancy. If preeclampsia has reached complications, pregnant women will experience seizures, kidney problems, and the most severe can cause death in the mother and / or child.

In addition, women who experience rheumatism during pregnancy tend to give birth to their babies by caesarean section. The reason is that any form of arthritis involving the hip area makes normal labor (through the vagina) more difficult.

2. Babies born prematurely

Pregnant women who experience rheumatism may have a higher risk of preterm birth. In a study in 2013, researchers from Stanford University found that as many as 28 percent of women gave birth during pregnancy too early (less than 37 weeks). Meanwhile, previous studies in 2011 also noted that women with rheumatism had a higher risk of giving birth to premature babies.

3. Give birth to a low birth weight baby (LBW)

Data from Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Datas shows that one of the health problems that may be experienced by women who experience rheumatism during pregnancy isgive birth to babies with less weight. This theory is reinforced by a study in 2009 that showed that women who experience more symptoms of rheumatism during pregnancy were more likely to have children with low birth weight.

4. Complications of pregnancy

Some rheumatoid drugs are considered to increase the risk of pregnancy complications. The example is disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) which when consumed can be toxic to the fetus. Therefore, you must consult a doctor to get the right medicine to deal with rheumatism during pregnancy.

5 weeks pregnancy

What can be done if you have arthritis when you are pregnant?

Not all women who experience rheumatism are free from joint pain during pregnancy. This is what makes about 40-50 percent of pregnant women with rheumatism need treatment to treat rheumatism. However, of course you cannot just take rheumatoid medicine without a prescription from a doctor. Rheumatic drugs that are safe for pregnant women are prednisone steroids that can be consumed during the second and third trimesters until breastfeeding.

In addition to taking drugs, you must maintain the health of the womb and yourself by adopting a healthier lifestyle, including:

  • Eat foods high in carbohydrates and fiber
  • Control weight gain suggested by a doctor
  • Exercising, with the doctor's approval
  • Stop smoking and drink alcohol

Although there is a risk of rheumatism during pregnancy, of course this is not a barrier for you to plan a pregnancy. The most important thing is that you and your partner must do a health check before becoming pregnant. Ask your doctor about the side effects of the rheumatic medication you are taking.

Also talk about vitamin supplements, fish oil, and folic acid supplements which can help reduce the risk of birth defects. With good pregnancy care, you can certainly go through the pregnancy smoothly and give birth to a healthy baby.

What Are the Effects of Rheumatism on Pregnancy?
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