cf moms and wannabe moms

[irishgirl]

Here is my question for the moms with cf:
What was your health like before you got pregnant? Pft's, work load, etc.. Have you noticed a gradual decline from pregnancy and cf or just the cf in general. I am pretty healthy. I don't have cfrd (yet), my pft's are in in the mid to upper 60's. They have stayed at this number for 10 years now. I work full time as a school teacher, and I have 2 part time jobs (teaching in my state doesn't pay that much <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0"> ) I can easily pull a >50 hour work week without batting an eye. So, I am wondering if I should just go ahead and get pregnant. I work so hard to keep in good health ( I workout everyday, eat right-- basically do the same things everybody else on this site does), and I don't want to damage that. But, at the same time, I know cf is progressive. So, in 6 years I could be really run down whether I have a baby or not. Right?? I have also started thinking that if I should get pregnant, then I should do it <i>now</i>. maybe have invitro?? I'm thinking that because, if I got pregnant now, I would have the July off ( I will quit my other two jobs when I am pregnant), and I would be due in Decemberish. Jan.-April is cold and allergy season for me.

What I want is some magic fairy to wave a wand and say: "Your pft's will stay up, your baby will be healthy, and you will become a grandparent" Wishful thinking I know <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> I know it is different with every person. I was dead set against getting pregnant, but we are being turned down by adoption agencies left and right when I disclose my medical history. I would love to do surrogacy, but nobody is just going to help me, and I don't have that kind of money ( 3 jobs remember <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0"> )

Any advice??

 

[JazzysMom]

When I got pregnant (which was not expected or planned) my PFTs were high 80's to low 90's & I worked 40 hour week. My pregnancy was fantastic minus a bit of hemoptysis at the end, but I am prone to that. My pregnancy did no harm to my CF status except give me gestational diabetes which I controller with insulin & my sugars returned to normal after delivering my daughter ....HOWEVER; caring for the baby is when things got tough. I worked for 1 1/2 after she was born & finally had to stop. It wasnt just her care & working tho. My husband had taken a job quite a distance from home & was never around or when he was he was sleeping so everything fell onto me. My daughter wasnt an overly sick baby & was a good tempered child. SO I lucked out, but its still tough depending on where you put your priorities. Good Luck in what you decide!

 

[thelizardqueen]

I know that if you're trying naturally, it may take a while, or you could very well have to get pregnant via artificial insemmination. Before this is all said and done, you would have to go through tests to see if you are even fertile. My bf and I are going for genetic testing in May to see if he is a carrier, and once that's said and done, I'm going to be heading over to a fertility doctor to see if I'm even fertile, and what my options are. My pfts are in the high 80s, low 90s - so I know CF wise (this according to myself and my doctor) I'm healthy enough to carry a baby. I also have CFRD, and while sometimes I have problems with my sugars, I'm still healthy enough in that area too. Having a baby is hard and time consuming. If I were you I would definitly quit the 2 parttime jobs. Myself I'm not working at the moment, but my guy makes enough so that we are both comfortable without me having to work, or at the very least casual or parttime if I so choose.

That being said, if you got pregnant this month, you wouldn't have the baby till January, and who's to say that you would be able to get pregnant right away?

Good luck though is whatever decision you decide to make!

 

[Diana]

I do not have CF, both of my daughters do, BUT I do get news alerts and found this one of interest the other week regarding a study of CFers health during pregnancy. It's only short and you might like to have a read.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3181240&fSectionId=492&fSetId=505">Moms with cystic fibrosis healthy too</a>

 

[thelizardqueen]

Read the article - definitly good to know. I suppose this study was done with women who were somewhat healthy to begin with before getting pregnant. I doubt its healthy for someone with pfts in the 40s maybe 50s to get pregnant?

 

[Scarlett81]

Hey hon,

I'm kinda in the same boat as you right now. Don't even get me started on the 'baby' topic-everyone here knows!

My baseline PFT is about 65. We went in and talked to the doctor about pregnancy/adoption. So-off the bat she said that she can only reccomend, and especially with pregnancy there's a window of doubt-no one knows.

However-she said that the most sucess she's seen -on average- has been if the patient has held a PFT consistently of 70 or more. I have hit 70 many times, but definately not consistently, so she said that to a degree of certainty, pregnancy would be a higher risk for me.

That being said, she also said that the patient should focus more on after you have a child (biological or adopted)-how healthy will you be? It can be hard to care for ourselves now-and then throw a baby in the mix. So she basically said that healthy and strict is better before you have the baby-so as to stay there for the child as long as possible.

I've seen CF women that had a tiring pregnancy and then after all that, after the intensity of labor-they were even more exhausted by just taking care of a newborn day and night.
So from what I've seen it's good to have a plan. A backup care plan, and a strong support system. Someone to take care of the baby while you do you therapy, exercise-whatever. I also had that 'fantasy' that my doctor will say-sure go get pregnant-it will be fine-in fact your cf might just disappear! Probably a good idea to let go of all types of fantasies.

Successful pregnanices are definately happening. For me personally, my hubby and I decided that we will probably try for adoption first. It's a personal decision, and I totally understand why a woman would want to go through pregnancy and birth, it's only natural! But for me, I care more about raising a child and not so much about how I get my child. I also want to enjoy being a mom, and having an infant. It's also different for me b/c I was adopted. So, it's a little easier.

Also- I'm not sure if you really have your heart set on pregnancy or not, but I would contact a lawyer or some other professional about the adoption thing. They 'technically' can't discriminate against you. Sure-they can make it difficult as hell. But you should absolutely be able to adopt a child. My CF center actually has a lawyer and social worker on the team to help with adoptions. And they told me they've never lost at getting a patient a child. Beth Suffian's office is a good place to turn to also for adoptions. She knows them like the back of her hand.

Whatver you decide-I wish you the best-I know the sense of urgency you feel. I want to be a young mom, and that's something my doctor also said is a good idea. Be there-and be an active, fun mom-as long as possible. I understand how you feel-hang in there. You'll get your child. HUGS!!!

 

[anonymous]

Thanks for all your help. I read the article and it made me want a baby even more. BUT, I do want to be a mommy, not just have a baby. We are on the year waiting list at one adoption agency to get on the 2 year list, to get on the list where moms view our profile. I will be turning 29 shortly, so if this patterns continues I will be 32 before I am even looked at. We are not giving up hope. We are on the list at several agencies, and are on the list for international as well. When I tell them about my cf, they have pretty much told me that I would not be chosen. I am going to a new clinic in June, so I am going to talk to their lawer when I get there. I will also talk to them about getting pregnant. I too, can hit 70, but I am really working my but off to see if I can keep it there every time--I'm trying to impress my new docs <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">
Thanks again for your help. I won't write anymore baby questions, I know ya'll are tired of the same questions over and over again!
<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

 

[irishgirl]

Sorry, that was me.

 

[anonymous]

I too want to be a mother in the near future. I am getting married in 3 mos, and I hope that we will start trying about a year or so into marriage. Of course my health during pregnancy is a huge worry for me, I am mostly concerned with the fact that I know not all CF meds are safe to take during pregnancy. I am generally on IV meds 1 -2 times a year, and Tobra is a big no-no during pregnancy. I once heard that women with an FVC (the number that usually comes before the FEV1) of 50% or greater have better pregnancy outcomes. But the bottom line is, woman with CF haven't been having babies long enough for them to know!

 

[wanderlost]

My pregnancy was uneventful and undamaging to my health. Nor did I have any problems taking care of my baby once he came - but my health was good to begin with. I think if you are healthy now, most likely you will be healthy after. I personally didn't slow down my life at all - I have found keeping myself active and busy keeps me healthy (I am a school teacher too, by the way). That's just me - you sound like you're in a good place to begin trying. Talk with your doctor (I never saw my CF doc before getting pregnant the first time, but I have kept him posted on the progress of this one - though he doesn't know yet that I am pregnant, as I don't go back until June, but knew we were trying and fully endorsed the idea!)