Pregnancy
It is possible to have a baby whilst having lupus.
Whereas doctors used to advise against pregnancy in people with lupus, lupus is no longer a barrier to having a baby. Anyone with lupus planning a pregnancy should definitely discuss this with their doctor, as treatment will need to be adjusted.
From a medical point of view, there is no reason why a woman should not become pregnant provided that her disease activity has been low for at least 4–6 months prior to planned conception and there is no serious organ damage. If lupus is stable and dormant at the time of conception, the risks of disease flares and pregnancy complications are significantly lower than when disease activity is high.
Potential risks
Pregnancy in women with lupus is considered a high-risk pregnancy.
There are certain risks for both the mother and the baby. Pregnant women experience a higher than average number of flare-ups and episodes of lupus activity. Complications are also more common, such as cardiovascular problems (pre-eclampsia, high blood pressure, thrombosis, inflammation of the heart muscle or the pericardium). For the foetus and embryo, there is a higher risk of miscarriage, growth retardation and premature birth.
To minimise the risks, it is important to plan a pregnancy carefully and at an early stage. It is recommended that you attend a consultation at a specialist clinic as soon as you start thinking about having a baby.
During pregnancy
As a general rule, medical check-ups and antenatal care must be tailored to the individual risk profile of those affected by lupus.
As this is a high-risk pregnancy, women with lupus undergo more frequent antenatal check-ups than those without the condition. Lupus activity should be monitored every 4–6 weeks, particularly during the second half of the pregnancy.
It is often necessary to switch to pregnancy-safe medication before conception. However, it is by no means advisable to stop taking all medication before a planned pregnancy.
After pregnancy
It is important for people with lupus to be well informed and to be cared for by a multidisciplinary team of specialists.
Lupus activity often increases following pregnancy. For this reason, doctors usually monitor lupus patients more closely after the birth of their child.
Further information
Further information: You can find further details via the links to Inselspital Bern and Rheumatology & Immunology.
The Lupus Suisse magazine article on ‘The desire to have children among women with lupus’ is well worth a read!
