I've been waiting for days to reply to this because I really wanted to think about it.
First off, I've been in your shoes as have many women w cf here. The baby road...its hard, its long and its a huge decision.
Something for you to think seriously about is the guidelines for women w cf and pregnancy. You should have a fev1 of 70%+ for a stable year before pregnancy. That means having those numbers but not needing major medical intervention for at least a year. Most healthy cf pregnancies take 1 1/2 years minimum to plan. And about preg affecting pfts well thats the great question mark. Thats why docs get so worried. You just don't know. Thats why the longer you can go without needing iv treatment bc you are carrying high pfts and stayign healthy-the better. They can tell if you'll turn out ok with the preg.
It looks like your numbers are getting there so thats great. You have made a major realization in your life about compliance, and thats a huge accomplishment. However, you have just begun on the road of cf compliance.
Every doc and every successful mom with Cf (meaning a mom that is staying healthy and is living into her 30s and beyond) I've ever talked to-has said the #1 factor in determining success in pregnancy and child rearing is compliance and scheduling. If you are not compliant during and after you have a baby, I'm not going to sugar coat it-its a death sentence.
You need to take a few years living the life of a compliant cfer before you take on this task of pregnancy and child raising. Traveling, depression, living with husband, work stress-these are all things that test the limits of your cf compliance routine and your body.
Let me tell you, when you are 9 months preg and sweating and have a painful back ache, or are strapping a fussy 2 yr old in and out of a car seat all day-and you come home at the end of a day-it is VERY hard to force yourself to sit down and do a therapy.
But, years of living with my husband and becoming a team after growing together plus growing myself and experiencing life have given me the maturity and 'will' to do just do it.
Its not about 'oh you're too young or not married'...I don't believe that cfers should limit themselves in any way.
But its to have time for you, sweetie, and your fiance. You deserve to grow together, to pursue self satisfying careers together, to travel together. After you have a child-it is not about YOU anymore. Take the time for you right now. Its your time.
You aren't dying!-You have plenty of time to have a child. Yo don't have to choose.
Something else that is hard to talk about but has to be talked about is your view of your life with cf. Are you able to look your doctor in the eye and ask-Am I going to live long enough to have a child? Can you look at your partner and say-If I die and we have a 10 year old child, are you willing to be a single parent? I know-it hurts. You don't want to think about that. And it doesn't mean that you should write off having a child bc you have cf. I have a beautiful 2 yr old who is my reason for living. Come what may, I am her mommy.
But being a mommmy means being responsible for someone else.
It also worries me that you fear death before having a child-at 18 you shouldn't be fearing death so to me that says you have some issues with that that need adressing, and even more that your view of having a child isn't clear yet.
A mothers goal is to be there for her child-not give birth and say, wow, I did it that was amazing...its caring for that person their whole life.
Lastly let me tell you from the bottom of my heart-a deep fear I had to conquer before deciding to have a baby was thinking-if I have a baby, maybe then I won't die of Cf. Somehow subconsciously I thought that having a child to be responsible for would keep me from dying of cf. I had to come to terms with my illness before committing to the decision of child rearing.
You don't want to rush into this-the biggest decision of your life. This is your time, take it for you and your husband. You have time.
Talk openly and honestly with your doctor, or a nurse someone you feel comfortable with to get all the facts. Don't be scared.
I think that one day you will make a WONDERFUL mother! You are already showing those signs and being responsible. Why not focus for now on being a wonderful future wife and a wonderful person. The rest will follow and the future is exciting!
