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675058 tn?1226445723

Baby and have MS

My husband wants me to have a baby, but I am scared because of MS and all the side effects.
8 Responses
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Avatar universal
Hey I am only 21 of age n I recently been dignosed with MS. Been taking the copaxone injection for about 7 mos. n it still havent got any better for me either. Just had my first post reaction n it really was very scary for me. I had chest pain, difficult breathing, very hot, back pains,n nasuea. I guess it seen more difficult for me cause am younger.Do u have any suggestions on it getting any better in da furture? OAN..I recently just got married in june but have with him for 4 wonderful years n now we both or considering having a baby. I want to make him happy cause i no how important this baby is to him and me cause it be my first, but he is more afraid of my health issue. Afraid of what might happen during and after the pregnancy. He is not alone cause I been thorough so much being young my first symptoms was when I was 17 n scared out my mind still n high school. Is there any advice that u can give me to lift me n my husband spirit up. Is there n e one that been on copaxone and had to get off to have a baby please inform me thanks       Mrs. desprite
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675058 tn?1226445723
I want to thank you all for your inputs on the baby issue and MS. You problably don't even have any idea how much you all have being helping.

Thanks you all so much, I really appreciate every thing that you are all doing to help.
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Avatar universal
Have a look at the post i wrote today regarding this. I saw my new neurologist today for the exact purpose of discussing ms and babies. Very encouraging he was and there was nothing negative in what he told me. Pretty much summed it up by saying that if you had a twin with ms and she had 10 babies and you had none, you would not be better off health wise than her. Pregnancy is not thought to make ms worse anymore. Like Quix said its more the fact that you may get more fatigue and need a little helping hand every now and then. But do it for yourself not anyone else.
Good luck
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147426 tn?1317265632
Hi, again.  You've been given a great range of things to talk about.

Do YOU want a child?  As a former pediatrician I can tell you that BOTH prospective parents should want the child.  This is a major issue in a marriage.

Can you have a child with MS?  Absolutely, yes.  MS almost always improves dramatically during a pregnancy.  And the mother's MS does no endanger the baby.  However, the mother with MS may well face a major relapse within the 3 to 4 months after giving birth.

Can you raise a child if you have MS?  Absolutely, yes.  Many of our members here have multiple children (3, 4, 6, 7!!).  However, there may well be times when you will not be up to the responsibilities.  Are there people in your life that can help out at those times?  It is best if there is some wiggle room for the down times, should they occur.

Does having children when you have MS offer your life any risk?  Most recent studies show, if anything, a slight overall benefit to the mother's long-term health with child-bearing.

The biggest thing is that you and your husband decide that you both want a child and that you discuss ways to deal with your fatigue, if any, and with relapses that might occur down the road.  But, I would never, as a physician, say that MS needs to stand in the way of having a family.  It just offers some bumps in the road - not unlike the bumps offered by a father who may be deployed abroad.  It's just another topic for discussion and planning.

Quix
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572651 tn?1530999357
Hi ADaC,
Welcome to this wonderful forum full of knowledgeable people on most every topic, including pregnancy.  Before we get into that though, I want to back up to your question.  You write that your husband wants you to get pregnant but you don't say  YOU want to have a baby.  There is a big difference, and you know having a child will change your life permanently.  

Your bio lists that you are 38, retired from the Army on disability and your husband is remote in Iraq.  Please think through this choice and talk honestly with your husband.  Having children is a joy for most of us, but it isn't necessarily that way for everyone.  If you do decide to become pregnant you doctor should be your partner in planning before you begin attempting to conceive. How long until your husband comes home?

I hope you will come back often to question, talk and research,
Lulu
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Avatar universal
We can help each other here and let each other know how we are going! I have had MS for 6-8 yrs and i am wanting to try for a baby in the next few months. I have my appointment with my new neurologist who apparently specialises in ms and pregnancy to discuss this. I will let you know what he says!
Good luck x
Helpful - 0
198419 tn?1360242356
Hi ADac,

Tahiri mentions what we have heard here often, that MS symptoms lessen with pregnancy.  However, it is important to look at your future when considering bring a new life into yours.  

It's admirable, AD, but please be very very careful to not sacrifice your wants do to fear.  Fear can be so very limiting.  

If you had fears prior to this MS consideration then look into them, maybe this is just adding on to the others.  Only you know, but weigh it all out to be sure you are not worrying yourself into premature decisions about your unknown future.

We're definitely here for you and hope to help you through this.  I'm glad you brought this up because so many others may be feeling this way too. Because we just don't know what course the disease will take with us.

ttys,
Shell
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
First of all, Hello, I have not met you before.  I would like to let you know that having a baby is not a bad thing for you even if you do have MS.  I am not diagnosed, but I do know that most of your symptoms will lessen during the pregnancy.  Of course you will have to go off of a DMD that you are on before you try to conceive.  I would not be worried that the side effects would make your pregnancy more difficult because usually they won't.  I will warn you that most studies show a flair is likely to occur soon following the birth of the child.  I am sure other on here will also post and explain better than I.
Tahiri
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