What to Know About Arthritis and Pregnancy (2023)

FAQs

What is the risk with arthritis and pregnancy? ›

Women with very active disease during pregnancy are also at risk of having smaller infants and premature deliveries. Women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) should discuss their desire to become pregnant with an arthritis specialist (rheumatologist) and an obstetrical care provider before trying to become pregnant.

Disease changes during pregnancy

The good news for women with rheumatoid arthritis is that about 70% of them see their condition improve during pregnancy.

Don't Worry That Rheumatoid Arthritis Could Hurt Your Baby

Although some women with RA may have a slight risk of miscarriage or low-birth-weight babies, the vast majority have normal pregnancies without complications.

These aches may be due to various factors of pregnancy like weight gain, change in posture and hormonal changes. Joint pain, stiff sensation, and aches in hips, elbows, knees, fingers and ankles are common in pregnant women. The initial aches are a sign that your body is preparing for childbirth.

If you need pain relief in the last 3 months of your pregnancy, acetaminophen (for example, Tylenol) may work for you. It is considered safe during this time. Other drugs, such as prednisone, may be used safely in pregnancy at low doses to reduce soreness.

Paracetamol is the painkiller of choice for use in pregnancy and its use does not require medical supervision. It is not uncommon for women to have used other types of painkiller early in pregnancy before finding out they are pregnant. In general, this type of use is not expected to harm the baby.

Load up on fruits such as strawberries, blueberries and oranges or green leafy vegetables to reduce inflammation. Top recipe tip: When cooking vegetables you could also add in some spices such as turmeric, garlic and ginger to give yourself an added anti-inflammatory boost.

Women who have uncontrolled rheumatoid arthritis may be at increased risk of complications such as preterm birth and babies that are small for their gestational age. This may increase the likelihood that the baby requires more medical care early in life.

Your arthritis is unlikely to affect your fertility, this is your ability to get pregnant. But fertility does decrease with age, so some women will need fertility treatments, such as egg boosting, intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

Does arthritis cause infertility? ›

Having a rheumatic disease can make conception more challenging and complicated. Most couples get pregnant after six months to a year of trying to conceive. But pregnancy may take longer or be impossible for some people with inflammatory forms of arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus.

Bodywide (systemic) inflammation may affect the uterus, cervix, and placenta, thus impairing fertility. Women with infertility who had IVF and followed an anti-inflammatory diet tended to have higher rates of successful pregnancy than women who did not follow the diet.

Even in your third trimester of pregnancy, bending is still considered safe for your baby. You'll probably find it becomes increasingly difficult for you, though, if not impossible. Apart from your extra body weight, the size of your belly is increasing.

Relaxin is a reproductive hormone produced by your ovaries and the placenta. It loosens and relaxes your muscles, joints and ligaments during pregnancy to help your body stretch. Relaxin also helps your body prepare for delivery by loosening the muscles and ligaments in your pelvis.

Joint pain, stiff sensation, and aches in hips, elbows, knees, fingers and ankles are common in pregnant women. The initial aches are a sign that your body is preparing for childbirth. Also Read: Suffering from pregnancy-related aches?

In most cases, Tylenol (acetaminophen) is a safe choice to treat pain during pregnancy. Newer studies have raised questions about the safety of taking Tylenol during pregnancy. But the FDA and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) still recommend Tylenol as a safe medication while pregnant.

As of October 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states people who are pregnant should not use NSAIDs after week 20 of pregnancy unless specifically advised to do so by their healthcare provider.

There's not enough known about Biofreeze during pregnancy to determine whether it's safe. The product hasn't been tested on people who are pregnant. Check with your doctor about using Biofreeze or other pain relief treatments. They may give you the go-ahead to use topical menthol products or may suggest alternatives.

If you've accidentally taken a one-off dosage of ibuprofen before week 30 of your pregnancy, don't worry. This is unlikely to cause any harm, however regular use is dangerous and not recommended. If you have any concerns, please talk your GP, pharmacist or midwife.

Can you take muscle relaxers while pregnant? ›

In these studies, there was no evidence of harm to the parent or baby. And while there's little evidence to say it causes harm to human babies, some small case reports show potential complications if it's used in the third trimester.

Acetaminophen. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is the preferred OTC pain reliever to use during pregnancy. It's considered safe and effective for pain relief in all trimesters.

Trophoblast debris, apoptotic cells and progesterone probably stimulate/regulate the production of inflammatory cytokines from these cells. Miscarriage of karyotypically normal embryos may occur when the level of inflammation at the feto-maternal interface falls outside the optimal range.

Load up on anti-inflammatory foods

Some of the best sources of omega-3s are cold water fish, such as salmon and tuna, and tofu, walnuts, flax seeds and soybeans. Other anti-inflammatory foods include grapes, celery, blueberries, garlic, olive oil, tea and some spices (ginger, rosemary and turmeric).

Arthritis tends to affect different joints in women than men. Men get more arthritis in their hip joints; women in their hands and knees. Why? For one thing, women's tendons move around more because, to accommodate childbirth, they are more elastic and also more prone to injury.

Approximately 50% of pregnant women with RA have low disease activity, and 20% to 40% achieve remission by the third trimester; however, nearly 20% will have worse or moderate-to-high disease activity during pregnancy that may require further therapeutic intervention.

There is an increased incidence of RA following the first pregnancy, especially in the first 9 months. Postpartum flares may occur in up to 90% of RA patients, usually in the first 3 months, also more often after the first pregnancy.

Your pregnancy may trigger RA

Pregnancy floods the body with a number of hormones and chemicals, which can trigger the development of RA in some women. Women who are susceptible to the disease may experience it for the first time immediately after giving birth.

Certain csDMARDs, including sulfasalazine (Azulfadine, Sulfazine), colchinine (Colcrys), azathioprine (Imuran), 6-mercaptopurine (Purinethol), cyclosporin (Gengraf, Neoral) and hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) are safe to take or continue taking when you're pregnant.

For most women with RA, a healthy delivery and baby is possible. Baby's health: Having RA does not mean health problems for your baby – including RA. Inheritance isn't 100 percent, says Dr.

Can you get a cortisone shot while pregnant? ›

Hydrocortisone injections can be used in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Your doctor will only prescribe hydrocortisone injections for you while you're pregnant or breastfeeding if the benefits of the medicine outweigh the chances of it being harmful.

Therefore, pregnancy is able to influence the onset and progression of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases by influencing the T cell cytokine-mediated responses during the gestation period, the post-partum period, but also decades after the pregnancy period.

Some studies have identified chronic inflammation in women with implantation failure. It is also believed that inflammation in the uterine lining may increase the risk for a miscarriage.

Long-acting reversible contraceptives such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) and progestin implants. These are the best options for women with rheumatic conditions. They last for several years, so there's no need to remember to take a pill every day or to use a condom.

It goes away post delivery – Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms generally go away after the baby is born. Women who have the autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may experience increased fatigue. Adhere to medication and do not self-medicate – It is necessary to take arthritis medications during pregnancy.

There are hereditary forms of osteoarthritis that are caused by mutations in genes for collagen. This type of osteoarthritis can first appear at a young age, quickly causing severe damage, though not very common. Around 40 to 65% of osteoarthritis has a genetic component, with a stronger link for hand and hip cases.

Arthritis can affect people's quality of life due to pain and immobility. It can lead to problems with sleep, fatigue, depression and anxiety. Some types of arthritis also increase the risk of developing other chronic conditions such as lung disease, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) include aspirin, as well as Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen). For the most part, aspirin is not recommended in pregnancy. Generally, up until 20 weeks gestation, ibuprofen and naproxen are considered safe in pregnancy.

Paracetamol is the painkiller of choice for use in pregnancy and its use does not require medical supervision. It is not uncommon for women to have used other types of painkiller early in pregnancy before finding out they are pregnant. In general, this type of use is not expected to harm the baby.