Of the 5 million people around the globe who have the autoimmune disease lupus, 90% are women, just like you. Many of those women become or will become pregnant and deliver healthy babies.
In the 1970s, most doctors warned their lupus patients against pregnancy. We’ve since learned much about the effects of hormones on autoimmune diseases and can increase the odds that you and your baby remain safe.
But when you have lupus, you and your doctors must work carefully together. Lupus raises the risk of complications for you and for your fetus as it develops. Even with our advances in understanding about controlling lupus, roughly 10% of pregnancies end in miscarriage when the mother has lupus.
At the Rheumatology Center of New Jersey, our skilled and knowledgeable rheumatologists want you to have the healthy, happy family of your dreams. We work with you at our offices in Monroe, Flemington, and Somerville, New Jersey, to ensure you get the care you need while trying to get pregnant, carrying your baby, and delivering a healthy child.
How can you and your baby stay safe with lupus? Follow this advice:
The sooner you tell us that you’d like to become pregnant, the sooner we can help you plan for the best outcome. We advise you to start talking to us about your plans for pregnancy about 3-6 months before you begin trying to conceive.
Ideally, your disease should be controlled and minimally active, thanks to medications that are safe to use during pregnancy. We may need to adjust your medications in order to accommodate the greater risks that conception, pregnancy, and childbirth bring, as well as switch you to safer drugs.
If you have lupus, you may have already sustained kidney damage or other complications that could make a successful pregnancy more difficult. Prior kidney disease, for instance, raises your risk for preeclampsia — a dangerous and potentially fatal condition.
You should also be tested for anti-Ro antibodies. The presence of anti-Ro, antiphospholipid, and other antibodies could cause complications, including blood clots and miscarriage.
Prior blood clots, miscarriages, and other pregnancy complications also complicate your pregnancies today and in the future. If you do become pregnant, you’re considered a high risk and will receive extra monitoring and care.
Even if your current medications successfully control your disease and minimize your flares, we may need to switch drugs and management techniques if you become pregnant. Some lupus drugs could increase the risks for you and your baby.
If your medications don’t endanger your health or raise your risk for miscarriage, you should continue them throughout your pregnancy.
If your rheumatologist switches or adjusts your medications, remain on the new regimen for 3-6 months until your disease is controlled again before trying to get pregnant.
If you’re already pregnant and are on a medication that has a less-than-ideal safety profile, don’t panic. Come to see us as soon as possible so we can adjust your medications and monitor your pregnancy.
More than ever, your safety (and your baby’s safety) depends on adhering to your medications and to your rheumatology appointments. In addition to your OB/GYN checkups, we suggest that if you have a low-risk profile, you visit us every three months.
If you have a high-risk profile, your pregnancy is labeled as high-risk and must be monitored by your medical team, including your rheumatologist and your OB/GYN. Everyone on your team should be as experienced with high-risk pregnancies as our rheumatologists are.
Your screening schedule depends on your individual risk profile.
Are you already pregnant or are you planning to conceive? Speak to our expert rheumatologists about family planning with lupus by calling our helpful staff or booking an appointment online today. We serve Monroe, Flemington, and Somerville, New Jersey, and surrounding areas.
