Living with ms: family planning
Family Planning
Although MS itself does not affect the course of pregnancy, labor, or delivery, there are many other factors to consider. First, the issue of physically caring for a child in the face of a mounting disability must be considered. This doesn't preclude men and women with MS from having a family, but it does suggest certain support systems must be in place to help with the everyday emotional and physical challenges of parenting.
The second factor to consider is medicinal treatment during pregnancy. The safety of some of the medications used to treat symptoms of MS, and those that change the course of the disease, have not been established in pregnancy. MS medications may increase the chance of miscarriage. Prior to conception, women considering pregnancy must have a careful review of all prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as supplements.
Pregnancy is a common concern among women with MS. There are still many unanswered questions when it comes to the effects that pregnancy, labor, and delivery have on the course of MS. Many studies have shown that symptoms of MS lessen during pregnancy. However, these remissions may be short-lived, and exacerbations may become more frequent within a few months following delivery. Temporary improvement in MS disease activity may be partially explained by the natural quieting of the immune system during pregnancy. To prevent the mother's immune cells from seeing the fetus as foreign and mounting an attack, the body temporarily dampens the immune system. The immune system then slowly returns to its normal mode after delivery.
Until there is evidence to suggest that immune therapies are safe for the fetus, these therapies are not recommended during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Immune therapy can be stopped during pregnancy and resumed after breast-feeding is completed.
