TTC with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Kathy4678

Hi there!

Newbie here...not sure if this really qualifies as "high risk" or not, but I've been referred to a High Risk OB/GYN.

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and DH and I are just now starting TTC. I have come off all arthritis meds for this process and I'm just wondering if anyone out there has anything they can share about their experience or how your arthritis held up during the TTC process as well as during pregnancy.

Did anyone stay on meds throughout?

Any opinions would be helpful!

chapman73

I have RA and have been off all meds, since first month of pg I'm also on bedrest because of short cervix, it has been very hard for me mainly because of the bedrest being stuck in bed for weeks just makes it more painful.some dr's will allow you to take tylenol just ask.

2dogmom

my dd is one year old but i check here occasionally since i was on this board for so long when i was pregnant and everyone was so helpful.  i was high risk b/c of RA.  i got off meds 3 mo prior to conceiving.  i only had tylenol to get me through.  i've heard prednisone can be helpful, i plan to research that more before ttc #2.  i went on bedrest for the last two months, which, like pp stated, was tough due to stiffness.  heating pads were my best friends.  i had pre-term labor that was "likely due to the RA" that started at 26 weeks.  they also made the decision to induce 2 weeks early (@38wks) b/c of my RA.  they said that the placenta can "age" more quickly when you have an auto-immune disease.  sorry tmi....after delivery at 38wks my obgyn said my placenta looked to be about 42wks "old" and that she was glad we went early .  and that we'd do the same next time around.  hope that helps!  i found a post the other day on a bump board about RA...i've been looking more lately since we'll be ttc again sometime soon...here's the link.   gl!

https://pregnant.thebump.com/getting-pregnant/fertility-ovulation/qa/getting-pregnant-if-i-have-rheumatoid-arthritis.aspx

2dogmom

forgot to add....we had no trouble ttc.  we got pregnant the first time we tried!

cll

I have psoriatic arthritis which is different than RA but is an autoimmune disease and has the same treatment as RA.  My doc was concerned about it b/c I tended to flare about once a year that required meds.  I conceived the first time I tried.  My arthritis was in remission when we TTC'd and when I was pg.  I had a bad flare after I gave birth, which is common with autoimmune diseases but I formula fed knowing I would have to go back on meds for my PSA. I went on Enbrel after I had the baby and wound up on humira (Enbrel wasn't as effective as it once been). I did have a lot of problems with my pregnancy but none were related to my arthritis.  Luckily, the baby is happy and healthy! GL.

Kathy4678

Thanks a lot for the responses- I really appreciate your input.

I have been on just about every drug out there but most recently have been on Enbrel and it has worked really well for me. So I'm nervous about the TTC process- not really while I'm PG, but just not knowing how long that might take is a bit nerve wracking.

Good to hear that you all got PG quickly- hopefully that happens for me too!

Thanks again for your advice!