Hi I was just wondering if there is anyone out there who has relatively low pft's but still has had a child. I have low pft's, due to health (obviously) and also the fact that i had a partial lobectomy. I do IV meds 2-3 times a year, but feel relatively good all the time. My pft's dont really reflect how i feel....i dont get short of breath really, etc....i try to exercise. But anyway, was just curious if anyone out there had had children in this type of situation. I am not ready to have kids yet but maybe in 2-3 years, and I am getting nervous, and a little sad, wondering for the first time if maybe it wouldnt be the best idea...thanks
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pregnancy and FEV1
- Thread starter anonymous
- Start date
Ultimately you have to make your own decision, but there probably isn't a mother out there w/ CF that doesn't hate the feeling of one day possibly leaving her child motherless because of health reasons. I never planned to have a child because I didn't think it was fair to that child, but God had other plans for me, & I'm glad to have a daughter (I had a tubal ligation shortly after her birth), but it's always in the back of my mind that someday I may leave her motherless, I just praise God that she has a wonderful, healthy daddy and I know that God is ultimatley in charge & has His perfect plan & I just depend on that.I guess I probably haven't really helped you w/ your question. If I were in your place, I would probably choose not to become pregnant, but if you already are, then just take the best care of yourself & lean on God to get you through and be strong.I hope this hasn't been a real downer, but you did ask<img src="i/expressions/sun.gif" border="0">
I am going to have to agree with the last person on this one. I have CF..and am a mother. It was one of the hardest choices that I have ever made in my life....because I also felt that someday I would leave her motherless. I love my daughter with everything I am....and would not change it for anything. But I was also in good health when I became pregnant and discussed it thoroughly with my docs beforehand. I had good lung function....I didnt have any other complications at the time...no sinus, no diabetes, etc. Since then things have changed. This is something that you must definitely decide for yourself....but if I was in your situation...I also would choose not to have a child. Just from experience...pregnancy can do alot of things to your body during...and after...as in my case. Take care...hope all goes well for you! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">Dea30 w/CF
Hi I gave birth to twins on January 7, 2004. I was really sick in my pregnancy. I wasn't due to deliver until April, but the fact that I had a lung infection, and the twins were growing and causing me much stress in that I could not breath and then could not eat because my stomach was getting squished. I was advised to terminate the pregnancy for my But I have a strong faith in God, and I felt he had a plan for all 3 of us. So I had a c-section, and came out of that without being intubated which was good because my FEV1 were in the 20's. I even had transplant drs. talking to me that is how bad my numbers were. All of this came as a surprize to me as I thought I had good health. But pregnancy causes many stresses to the body, even in the healthest of women.2 weeks after birth I wound up intubated (on a ventilator)for 2 weeks and then had to be trached. After that though my health seemed to improve and the pneumonia started to clear. I am home now, yet my babies, Paul and Sarah are still in ICU....holding their own one day at a time.Would I do it again? I guess like everything else yes and no...YES when I see my beautiful babies looking at me and smiling and it is a dream come true. NO when I get scared I might leave them motherless at a young age. I guess I just take each day as it comes. I guess I have seen the healthest of mothers die young of something unexpected in their life...like cancer or an accident.Feel free to contact me.Kathi 32 with CF Mother of twins Cf freeKathibella@aol.com
Hi! Just to answer your question, I have low PFT's due to a lobectomy as well and I am pregnant now. I am 25 and I am usually pretty healthy. I go and get IV's about once a year if needed. Anything is possible and if it is God's will then you will have a baby! Just keep excercising and doing what the doctor says and you should be fine. AE
Hi!
I too am considering pregnancy. My FEV levels are the lowest they recommend for pregnancy, but my doctors think I'd do just fine. I am perplexed what I should do. My husband and I really want a baby of our own and he's been tested for the gene and is 99% clear, so we really wanted to try. However, I am really worried I will loose alot of ground and all the hard work I've put into keeping myself healthy will go down the drain. I would be much more content knowing after the pregnancy I would be at this health level, as I feel I could at least live many of my baby's first years with him/her. However, if I loose ground, I too worry I would not be around to watch my child grow up and I feel that would be unfair to him/her. Any suggestions? When you talk about high/low FEV 1s, what would you consider good versus bad? I try to get an idea of how I am compared to others at the CF center who have had babies, but they don't really give me an answer. Thanks for any info. you can give. <img src="i/expressions/sun.gif" border="0">
I too am considering pregnancy. My FEV levels are the lowest they recommend for pregnancy, but my doctors think I'd do just fine. I am perplexed what I should do. My husband and I really want a baby of our own and he's been tested for the gene and is 99% clear, so we really wanted to try. However, I am really worried I will loose alot of ground and all the hard work I've put into keeping myself healthy will go down the drain. I would be much more content knowing after the pregnancy I would be at this health level, as I feel I could at least live many of my baby's first years with him/her. However, if I loose ground, I too worry I would not be around to watch my child grow up and I feel that would be unfair to him/her. Any suggestions? When you talk about high/low FEV 1s, what would you consider good versus bad? I try to get an idea of how I am compared to others at the CF center who have had babies, but they don't really give me an answer. Thanks for any info. you can give. <img src="i/expressions/sun.gif" border="0">
AbsintheSorrow
New member
Hey if you think you can do it, power to you! I've said a million times if I still had the parts, almost no matter where my health stood, I'd have my own kids someday. Make sure you keep in close touch with your doctor, and go for it.
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the quoted advisory FEV1 i have heard is 60% minimum in order to carry children. baring in mind that is advisory, i dont think anyone can stop you having children!
on a personal note, i have decided not to have children. its just i know i would love my child so much i couldnt inflict that suffering of me dying early on them. and i am fairly confident this would be the case as my FEV1 is currently 35%!
i know several CF women who have had children, many of whom i respect (very healthy etc, so why should the label of CF stop you from having a family) and some of whom i disagree with their decision. the thing is, it is the child that matters, not the adult. i want children more than anything, i always have done. and when i was little and asked "what will you be when you are grown up" i always answered "a mummy". but i couldnt knowingly inflict that on my child. the risk is too great (for me!)
that is just my opinion, and i hope i have not offended anyone. there is no right or wrong, just considerations <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
Angel<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
on a personal note, i have decided not to have children. its just i know i would love my child so much i couldnt inflict that suffering of me dying early on them. and i am fairly confident this would be the case as my FEV1 is currently 35%!
i know several CF women who have had children, many of whom i respect (very healthy etc, so why should the label of CF stop you from having a family) and some of whom i disagree with their decision. the thing is, it is the child that matters, not the adult. i want children more than anything, i always have done. and when i was little and asked "what will you be when you are grown up" i always answered "a mummy". but i couldnt knowingly inflict that on my child. the risk is too great (for me!)
that is just my opinion, and i hope i have not offended anyone. there is no right or wrong, just considerations <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
Angel<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
Thanks. I'm a bit over a liter. I don't know. I'm thinking of adopting because the more people I chat with, the more they tell me that pregnancy is very hard on an already hard-working body (especially if I'm just at the cusp of the required levels) and I've always sort of thought I'd adopt anyway. Thanks for your advice on my FEV1 and lung volumes. I have heard that looking at the liters is more important anyway, cause eveyone's predicted can vary even if you're on a different machine. For example, I've been 56 % on one machine and tested a week later on a different machine that had me at 59%. Consistancy is key to following percentages. Thanks again. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
sorry to get off topic but sonia brought up a good point about different machines. also standing up or sitting down makes a difference. with me there is a 6% difference in fev1 when sitting down on the portable machine and standing up on another one. apparently its suppose to be taken sitting down. so now i know to take of 6% or .15 off my result if i do it standing up on the other machine.
Shaylaandrews
New member
This is my first time on this web site but I thought I would just say a little bit on the subject of having kids. I think it is a great thing even when you are afraid of leaving them behind. I have a sister that died at the age of 23. At that time her son was 2 years old. He was the greatest joy in her life, and even though having him was hard on her body, I truly believe that he was her only reason for sticking around as long as she did. He is now 5, and lives with my parents. You should see his face light up when you talk about his mom. He has a video that she made for him before she died, and he watches it all the time. I also have a brother with CF that died at the age of 29. His wife would have given anything to have been able to have a child with him. Even knowing that he would leave, to have that reminder and always be able to feel that closeness. I too have CF, I'm 25 and have been married for 3 years, we have been unable to have kids, but we still have hope that someday we will be able to.