How to plan and prepare for a healthy pregnancy.) � �
How will my rheumatoid arthritis affect my pregnancy and my baby? " � RA does not usually cause problems with pregnancy or the babys health. But some medicines used to treat RA can be unsafe for a baby. � �
How will my medicines affect my pregnancy or my baby? " � Some RA medicines can hurt an unborn baby. You should not use these during pregnancy. � �
- Methotrexate can cause miscarriage (when the pregnancy ends before 20 weeks). It can also cause the baby to not develop correctly.
- Leflunomide can cause the baby to not develop correctly.
- High doses of steroids in early pregnancy can increase the risk of a birth defect called "cleft palate. " � (In babies with cleft palate, the roof of the baby's mouth does not form properly.) High doses of steroids later in pregnancy can cause other problems, such as the mother's water breaking too early.
It is important to talk to your doctors about all medicines you take and follow their directions carefully. Do not start taking any new medicines, supplements, or herbal drugs without talking to your doctors first. � �
Some RA medicines can be taken during pregnancy, but only at certain times or in certain amounts: � �
- NSAIDs " � These include medicines such as ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil � �, Motrin � �), naproxen (brand name: Aleve � �), and aspirin. They can safely be used at some times in pregnancy, but not at other times.
- Steroids " � These medicines, such as prednisone, are fairly safe in low doses during pregnancy. They are often used in pregnant women with RA to help keep the disease under control. (These steroids are not the same steroids that athletes take to build muscle.)
There are other safe medicines available, too. Your doctors can help you decide how best to treat your RA symptoms without hurting your baby. � �
Will pregnancy affect my rheumatoid arthritis symptoms? " � It might. Many women with RA notice that their symptoms get better during pregnancy. But some women's symptoms stay the same or get worse. � �
Some normal pregnancy symptoms are similar to RA symptoms, including: � �
- Feeling tired
- Swelling of the hands, feet, or ankles
- Joint pain
- Trouble breathing
- Numbness or pain in the hands
Even if your RA symptoms get better during pregnancy, they often get worse again after the baby is born. Your doctor will decide when to start up your regular RA medicines again. � �
Will I be able to breastfeed? " � Yes. Women with RA can safely breastfeed. But they have to avoid certain medicines while they do. Some RA medicines can get into breast milk and be harmful to a baby. � �
If you want to breastfeed, talk to your doctors. They can tell you which medicines you can take and which ones to avoid. Most of the medicines that are unsafe during pregnancy are also unsafe while breastfeeding. Some women need to stop breastfeeding if they need these medicines to control their RA. � �
All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. � �
This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. � �
Topic 16275 Version 7.0 � �
Release: 22.8 - C22.206 � �
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