Table of contents:
- How does rheumatism affect pregnancy?
- Other risks that may arise if you experience rheumatism during pregnancy
- 1. Preeclampsia
- 2. The baby was born prematurely
- 3. Giving birth to low birth weight babies (LBW)
- 4. Complications of pregnancy
- What can be done if you already have rheumatism during pregnancy?
If you have rheumatism while pregnant or are planning it, you need to be vigilant. The reason is, rheumatic disease often attacks women in their fertile period, even since the conception process and the symptoms can last until pregnancy and childbirth. Check out the full explanation about rheumatism and pregnancy below.
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 hormonal changes that are drastic enough so that you are prone to experiencing rheumatic symptoms.
Starting in the first trimester, pregnant women who experience rheumatism will feel the 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 probability that these symptoms will continue to increase until entering the second trimester.
Reporting from the Arthritis Foundation, about 70 percent of pregnant women experience an increase in rheumatic symptoms when entering the second trimester. This can last up to the first six weeks after delivery. This is thought to be due to increased levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines and hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy. However, if since the second trimester you only experience mild rheumatic symptoms, then it is possible 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 starting from conception, pregnancy, even birth and breastfeeding. In addition to the worsening of the rheumatism symptoms as described above, here are four other risks that may occur.
1. Preeclampsia
Women who have problems with the immune system are more at risk of developing preeclampsia or high blood pressure during pregnancy. When preeclampsia has reached complications, pregnant women will experience seizures, kidney problems, and the worst can cause death to 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, any form of arthritis that involves the hip area makes normal (vaginal) delivery more difficult.
2. The baby was born prematurely
Pregnant women who have rheumatism are likely to have a higher risk of preterm birth. In a 2013 study, researchers from Stanford University found as many as 28 percent of women gave birth when they were pregnant too early (less than 37 weeks). Meanwhile, an earlier study in 2011 also noted that women with rheumatism had a higher risk of giving birth to premature babies.
3. Giving birth to low birth weight babies (LBW)
Data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Dataset shows that one of the health problems that may be experienced by women who experience rheumatism during pregnancy is giving birth to underweight babies. This theory is reinforced by a study in 2009 which showed that women who experience more rheumatic symptoms during pregnancy are more likely to have children with low birth weight.
4. Complications of pregnancy
Several rheumatic 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, it is imperative that you consult a doctor to get the right medicine to treat rheumatism during pregnancy.
What can be done if you already have rheumatism during pregnancy?
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 rheumatic drugs without a prescription from a doctor. A safe rheumatic drug for pregnant women is the steroid prednisone which can be taken during the second and third trimesters until breastfeeding.
In addition to taking medication, you must maintain the health of your womb and yourself by adopting a healthier lifestyle, including:
- Eat foods high in carbohydrates and fiber
- Controlling the weight gain recommended by the doctor
- Exercise, with doctor's approval
- Quit smoking and drinking 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 are required to have a health check before becoming pregnant. Ask your doctor about the side effects of the rheumatic medicine you are taking.
Also talk about vitamin supplements, fish oil, and folic acid supplements that can help reduce the risk of birth defects. With good pregnancy care, you can certainly have a smooth pregnancy and give birth to a healthy baby.
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