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Rheumatoid arthritis and pregnancy: Heres what women with RA need to know  |  Photo Credit: iStock Images

New Delhi: Pregnancy is a beautiful phase in a womans life. But what if you have a condition like rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you may have a number of questions, including how it will affect your pregnancy and the babys development. And theres another vital question - will I be able to care for my new baby.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis and are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, its important to know how RA and pregnancy can affect each other. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects many joints, including those in the hands and feet. It may strike women in their mid-twenties and early 30s, aprimary time period when a woman plans her pregnancy. In this article, Dr Singhai Shweta, consultant - rheumatology- Sakra World Hospital, Bengaluru, tells us how rheumatoid arthritis could affect pregnancy and what women can do to manage their condition, which will enable them a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

It has been observed that most pregnant women with RA have low disease activity during pregnancy and may get remission by the third trimester. However, among few women with severe disease activity, the condition can lead to several complications like preterm birth, raised blood pressure or preeclampsia, low birth weight babies and increased possibility of C-section delivery. Thus, those with controlled RA certainly have healthier pregnancies and babies than those with worse disease activity.

Rheumatoid arthritis may cause low birth weight babies. Also, about 3 per cent to 5 per cent of newborns to mothers with acute RA may have birth defects. This happens due to certain antirheumatic drugs that may mess up with the foetal formation. This is why a woman with RA must essentially consult a doctor before planning a pregnancy.

Things a pregnant mom with RA must keep in mind:

A majority of pregnant women, as much as 60 per cent, experience improvement in their symptoms due to a number of reasons, such as:

Managing rheumatoid arthritis is extremely essential for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Heres what women can do to manage RA effectively:

Also, stay away from foods that may cause a flare-up: Identify the foods that may worsen the condition and avoid them to prevent a flare-up.

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a professional healthcare provider if you have any specific questions about any medical matter.

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Rheumatoid arthritis and pregnancy: Heres what women with RA need to know - Times Now

This entry was posted on January 19, 2021 at 12:48 pm and is filed under Arthritis. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |