Pregnancy with CF

[supermanfan]

<blockquote>Quote
<hr><i>Originally posted by: <b>angelicalex</b></i>
Hey guys!

Thanks for everyone who has responded, it made me feel a lot better to see that people can have successful pregancies. I know there's other options out there in case I was unable to conceive but I just hated the thought of never having a child. I did check out that website and it helped a lot, so thank you for that!!!!

I really need to get a new doctor, mine won't help me through anything and treats me very condescendingly.<hr></blockquote>

You would be very wise to switch doctors. I have found that if a doctor isn't willing to help you through things he/she isn't really out for your best interest. That kind of doctor is not to be respected.


And I wanted to add, after reading through many of these posts I am glad to hear so many of you didn't have any hard times. I will say though after I first got married my husband and I were trying, but my body wasn't all that healthy... I mean I worked and went to schoool, but I was underweight, and my breathing functions could have been better. One of the things my doctor told me was that pregnancy could cause more breathing problems because the baby would be pushing up on the diaphram, which would push up on the lungs, and with diminished breathing to begin with it could be worse.

Anyways, I was also starting to loose lung function even more, and I believe my body simply wouldn't allow me to become pregnant at that stage; probably a wise thing because a year into my marriage we started evaluating for the transplant list. Now that I'm post transplant, and have had no issues what-so-ever with my transplant we have begun to talk about pregnancy again. Of course with this comes a whole new theory on what doctors say, and even though I have, what I believe to be, one of the best doctors, and one of the best 'high risk pregnancies and medications' doctor (did that come our right?), there is still always a risk for me. There simply hasn't been many studies on pregnancy and post lung transplant patients. If any of you have personal experiences with pregnancy after transplant I would love to talk to you.

 

[HollyCatheryn]

I don't have any personal axperience with pregnancy post-transplant. There isn't much information out there, because it just hasn't been done much. I have some of the information on <A href="http://www.geocities.com/MurrensNatureMama/specific_concerns_of_pregnancy">www.geocities.com/MurrensNatureMama/specific_concerns_of_pregnancy</A>. I would encourage you to not only truly scrutinize your own health, but to educate yourself on ALL of your options in pregnancy and birth. Because of being post-transplant I don't know if an out-of-hospital birth (like a birth center or home) would be open to you - it really depends on the legislation in your area (calling midwives and just asking them to look it up, or where you can look it us is the best way to get that information in my personal experience). But, it would be wise to consider being seen by a midwife as well as your high-risk ob/gyn. The reason for this is because, though midwives have a bit fewer recourses in case of complications, they are hgihly trained to facilitate healthy pregnancy and birth. They often know of a myriad of tricks that ob/gyns do not (by virtue of their different areas of training and expertise).One of the potential problems with being post-transplant is the issue of drug interactions. Midwives can work with your ob/gyn to find out medicines or non-drug treatments that might help whatever situations arise. The other thing to consider is that in having a midwife attend your pregnancy and birth (with your high-risk ob/gyn backing up) you are at significantly lower risk for needing interventions of every kind and for numerous complications (see <A href="http://www.geocities.com/MurrensNatureMama/childbirth">www.geocities.com/MurrensNatureMama/childbirth</A>) even though you might be considered high-risk. You would be surprised at the difference between what ob/gyns will label and treat as high-risk and what is legally and practically considered hgih-risk. A nurse-midwife has a few more options for treating complications and can handle a few more of them herself (legally and practically) than a direct-entry midwife. It is good to interview them because some nurse-midwives are awesome and others are so medically-minded that there isn't much midwife in them. I was considered high-risk by all of the ob/gyns at all three of the clinics (two major teaching hospitals included) I saw. I reviewed the legislations and indications in the medical literature and found that I had none of the diagnoses or symptoms that required a high-risk label and treatment. I ended up having a fabulously healthy birth at home with a midwife. As far as I know, I am the only one to have done this. But, I will also say that I am the only one with CF I know of who had no pregnancy OR birth complications or interventions. I wasn't incredibly healthy before I got pregnant and most of my pregnancy was average. I didn't start seeing the midwife until I was 7 months. You can read my pregnancy and birth stories at <A href="http://www.geocities.com/MurrensNatureMama">www.geocities.com/MurrensNatureMama</A>. They are by no means a prescription and only you can determine what is the healthiest thing for you, but I do encourage you to become highly educated. Having CF typically scares the docs and they start taking away options right away, when what you really need is more skill, more options and more information. If you do choose to become pregnant, I would love for you to share your experiences (whatever course you take in your care) on my website. Your experiences could really help to educate and encourage others who are post-transplant and want to have a family. Especially since there is such a lack of research and literature on the subject, your story could really help fill a gap. If I can help you find the information you need, please feel free to email me at <A href="mailto:jaloughlin3@sbcglobal.net">jaloughlin3@sbcglobal.net</A> or through the mainpage of the website.

 

[anonymous]

Hi. I am 31 years-old and just delivered my 1st child about 2 weeks ago. I had no trouble getting pregnant or getting through labor, but had an uncomfortable 9 months of pregnancy (lost weight, had to go on IVs 3 times). Despite everything, I am so happy that I experienced it all and now have an amazing son.
My advice would be to find a CF doc and an OBGYN who share your goals and will work with you. I would meet with a nurtionalist early on so that you know what to eat to gain weight and not lose it, as the baby (and any infections) will take everything from you!!
Best of luck...it's well worth it.