Hi
I am a 30yr old and was diagnosed with MS in April 2007. I have gone off my Copaxone just over a month ago now so that i can try and get pregnant. I was just wondering if there are any other mums out there with MS who could share their stories with me. I am scared and worried as to how i will cope etc. I want to be a mum more than anything. The pain has been worse since stopping the Copaxone. I have also heard that being pregnant can cause MS to go into complete remission. I'd also like to hear how you cope with you MS being a mum aswell. In a way i feel as though i am being selfish.
I don't have MS, but do have a neuro condition and faced many of your concerns when i got pregnant. I did a search on old posts and found these that may be helpful to you.
I did have some symptoms that got better or went into remission during pregnancy, and others that hung around. I had researched my medications etc and the potential effects of pregnancy but wasn't actually trying to conceive when i got pregnant. Therefore, i had to change some meds quickly, but didn't have to prior to getting pregnant- i think having to stop meds first would be more difficult and increase the pressure in TTC, and i will be hoping that it isn't too rough for you.
I also don't have MS but have polyneuropathy caused by having gullian barre syndrome 20years ago which causes demylenation of the nerve coverings. I have permenant damage same as you see in MS except mine repairs itself to some degree when I am in remission. The worse for me in the pain and pins and neddles and dead legs and arms followed by the pain related to that.
In my two pregnancies I have had so much relief from the polyneuropathy during pregnancy (and look forward to that part again if I ever get pregnant again) The birth's has been normal however I can't have an epidural (due to the past guillian barre not polyneuropathy)
With my last baby I was close to bedriden a few hours after her birth for the first few days. I guess it was all that work in labour catching up and sent my nerves into sometype of fizz but I was in tremendous pain. Then I hadn't been diagnosed correctly so they thought it was from post-polio syndrome or arthritis (I've never had polio either) but it did get better with NSAIDS. I didn't start getting problems with my nerves until my baby was 14months old and then it was worse then it was before pregnancy.
I haven't been on medication since trying to fall pregnant (now I have secondary infertility and its been almost 2yrs) as some of the medication has unknown effects on a developing baby.
I also work as a midwife and as of yet haven't come across a woman birthing with MS although we did cover it in our training. Having MS doesn't mean you need a caesarian although somewhere in my training I think I learnt you may feel contractions differently (or not at all depending on your level of deficet if any at all) In most cases I think pregnancy does improve the symptoms of MS. And I know there is a book about MS in pregnancy which might help.
msgirl your not been selfish having a baby. You have every right to have a family and having MS shouldn't stop that.
Oh and my Aunty's friend has MS. She had one child (I think she wanted more but decided on just the one) her daughter is now 10 (not sure when she was diagnosed with MS but it was before she had her daughter) I don't know her personally except our daughters have been to the same parties etc.
So been a mum (again I know its different) but one of my biggest challenges was BF (which I did for 2yrs) as holding my baby within minutes with my arm supporting her sent my arm dead and then I'd get the very painful pins and needles where I would have to stop feeding until it passed. I found it easier to lie down and feed her with my arm around her or above so her weight was not on my arms. It was the same when I nursed her but a soft pillow helps to take her weight of me. And then carrying her wasn't easier either. Its ok now she can hold onto me but I felt very weak and couldn't support her weight for more then a few minutes so with shopping etc I'd take a pram or my husband would carry her predominately.
Hi and welcome to bb. I am sorry to hear of your dx. I too have ms and have just had my second baby. I am happy to chat to you but am on my phone now so will come back soon and write more.
Thankyou so much to those of you who have replied. Kate thankyou for going to so much trouble getting those other links for me. Mildez thankyou, it would be nice when the time comes around if i didn't feel the contractions very much. Rufalina i look forward to hearing from you. I am excited and scared all at the same time. I can't start trying to fall pregnant until about August. I have remitting relapsing MS so i am kind of lucky in that way. It does impact my life a great deal though. I just can't wait to be a mum.
Mum with Multiple Sclerosis
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