Pregnancy with CF

[angelicalex]

Hey guys,
So my husband and I have been talking lately about having kids (in the future!!!) and he has been researching some things online. Everything he can find says people with CF cannot (and should not) have kids. I was just wondering if there was any of you out there who have had successful pregancies and what (if any) complications came along with it.
I would appreciate any responses, this is really tearing me up inside.

 

[anonymous]

There have been many many posts on here about this subject in various forms - and there are quite a few happy and healthy moms here - and other moms not quite as healthy but still happy. I have a son who is 6 and we are trying on baby number two, so I can say from experiences, as a person with mild Cf that having a baby had no ill effects on my health and is one of the greatest things I have ever done.
wanderlost 28 w/CF

 

[JazzysMom]

You can not go by what you would find on pregnancy since most of that is based on generic version of CF. Each CFer is different. There are Moms who had no or minimal problems & those that had more severe. I think a lot of the problem with things in print is that the "newness" of CFers living to child bearing age is far ahead of the medical profession & what to expect in the long term. The CF doctor caring for the CFer in question as well as the CFer & their spouse are the best ones to decide if a pregnancy is a good idea. There are many things that are different for each or our CF cases. I personally think that the hardest part is the "unknown" of parenting & the future in general, not the pregnancy. I suggest you click on the search option & put in pregnancy to find all the posts from the past that will give lots of stories & info to you. If you still have ???, please ask!

 

[julie]

Great site to check out about CF and pregnancy <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.geocities.com/murrensnaturemama/index.html">http://www.geocities.com/murrensnaturemama/index.html</a>

 

[JazzysMom]

I forgot about HollyCatheryns site... Thanks Julie!

 

[HollyCatheryn]

It really isn't true that women with CF having kids is a new thing. What IS new is that our docs aren't always discouraging it and there is some good research being done. In many of the studies and literature I've looked at, they state that the earliest account of a CFer bearing a child was in the 1970s (I think), but that isn't true either. Katherine Lassiter Shores had a biological child in the 1950s. There are other accounts of women not kowing they had CF until they were older and they had had children. For the most part, if your body is healthy enough to get pregnant without intervention, then you are healthy enough to be pregnant and give birth. There are always exceptions to the rule, but a large body of RESEARCH has shown that pregnancy does not affect the course of CF.Also, it is helpful to keep in mind that there are lots of choices to make during pregnancy, birth, and parenting. The choices you make can have a profound impact on your health. Some choices hinder, impeed or deplete your health, while others can promote, enhance or facilitate your health.

 

[HollyCatheryn]

PS - I had trouble conceiving, but my pregnancy was very normal (actually healthier than my norm). I had a homebirth with a midwife that was fabulous. Only 11 hours start to finish, no interventions, no complications. I healed up well. I breastfed exclusively for 13 months and my daughter thrived. I had to pay really close attention to my nutrition, but I was able to breastfeed through 3 hospital stays (over 2.5 years) and while on antibiotics (oral and IV). My health was basically the same after pregnancy as before, which is what research shows (your current CF trend is maintained without regard to pregnancy). My daughter is now 3.5 and amazing! I hope you get a chance to look at <A href="http://www.geocities.com/MurrensNatureMama">www.geocities.com/MurrensNatureMama</A>. I spent quite literally thousands of hours reading through and compiling all of that research, as well as writing the articles. You can read more about my experience and the experiences of others there, in addition to the research. I highly recommend educating yourself about your options and getting creative, if you do become pregnant.

 

[Dea]

I am 32 with CF and have a 7 yr old healthy daughter. I did have trouble conceiving, but I had a great pregnancy. It was the healthiest I had ever been. I would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have. Each woman is different when it comes to whether or not she should have a child. Talk to your doctor. They know what is best. Good luck!
Dea

 

[1princess]

My cousin who is 24 has CF and just had twin boys in August. She did have to go through invitro to get pregnant and had the babies almost 2 months early, but I think she had a very normal pregnancy and is doing good now. I know she did just spend a weekend in the hospital a few weeks ago because she got pretty run down, but she is already back to work full time and the babies are doing great.

Good luck to you.

 

[angelicalex]

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.

 

[anonymous]

As a huband of a wife with cf and a father of a healthy 5 year old,i have to say it was tough.There was a close watch on my wife(who is 32) and she did fantastic.Shes living proo you can have children at a late age with cf.

 

[JazzysMom]

If you wife is considered a late age when she had your daughter at 27 (?) then I must have been a dinasaur since I was 30 when I had my daughter. LOL True? LOL

 

[anonymous]

Hi I am 29 weeks pregnant and I was doing so well and feeling great until about 2 weeks ago I got a cold which still doesn't want to go away and is making me more congested I think it may be turning into a lung infection. I took zithromax z pak and have been done with that over a week now and I'm still feeling bad. My dr just prescribed me Cipro which I have never used b4 and my ob tells me its not the recommended choise while pregnant for antibiotic but he says if that's what my cf dr prescribed then its what I need and that me getting sick or worse would be a lot worse for the baby. I bought the prescription last night and haven't taken it yet I am so stressed and I don't know if I should start it I even did research online and couldn't find anything saying it was okay, everything says not reccommend due to not enough studies done... My baby is doing so well and has been no problems with her and now I don't know what to do, I feel so crappy I have no energy now I'm coughing during the night and in the morning and I'm more short of breath which I wasn't just a few weeks ago and I just want to get better to enjoy the rest of my pregnancy but I'm so afraid of harming my baby now that I've got this far...I just wish it was at least another month or so from now so I could just have my c section and have her safely and then take care of me... I want to have her at like 36 weeks the soonest her lungs will be developed enough to get the stress off my body but 29 weeks is just way too early... has anyone tkaen cipro while pregnant or are there any other antibiotics I can take orally for the Pseudomonas??

 

[supermanfan]

<blockquote>Quote<br><hr><i>Originally posted by: <b>JazzysMom</b></i><br>If you wife is considered a late age when she had your daughter at 27 (?) then I must have been a dinasaur since I was 30 when I had my daughter. LOL True? LOL<hr></blockquote>

and my sister is going on 39 and pregnant for the first time. These days people are waiting... my sister had her career first, now she is retired at age 38 <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif" border="0"> and starting a family

 

[anonymous]

Read this: it explains basically that tests were done, mostly within the FIRST trimester (which you are beyond now) and that the results even then were minor. I would take the cipro, just make sure you eat really really really well and stay really really really hydtrated. EAT HEALTHY!

<<A controlled prospective observational study followed 200 women exposed to fluoroquinolones (52.5% exposed to ciprofloxacin and 68% first trimester exposures) during gestation.8 In utero exposure to fluoroquinolones during embryogenesis was not associated with increased risk of major malformations. The reported rates of major congenital malformations were 2.2% for the fluoroquinolone group and 2.6% for the control group (background incidence of major malformations is 1-5%). Rates of spontaneous abortions, prematurity and low birth weight did not differ between the groups and there were no clinically significant musculoskeletal dysfunctions up to one year of age in the ciprofloxacin exposed children.

Another prospective follow-up study reported on 549 pregnancies with fluoroquinolone exposure (93% first trimester exposures).9 <<<There were 70 ciprofloxacin exposures, all within the first trimester. The malformation rates among live-born babies exposed to ciprofloxacin and to fluoroquinolones overall were both within background incidence ranges. No specific patterns of congenital abnormalities were found.>>> The study did not reveal any clear adverse reactions due to in utero exposure to ciprofloxacin.

No differences in the rates of prematurity, spontaneous abortions, or birth weight were seen in women exposed to ciprofloxacin during pregnancy.7,8 However, these small postmarketing epidemiology studies, of which most experience is from short term, first trimester exposure, are insufficient to evaluate the risk for less common defects or to permit reliable and definitive conclusions regarding the safety of ciprofloxacin in pregnant women and their developing fetuses. Ciprofloxacin should not be used during pregnancy unless the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to both fetus and mother.>>

 

[anonymous]

Read this: it explains basically that tests were done, mostly within the FIRST trimester (which you are beyond now) and that the results even then were minor. I would take the cipro, just make sure you eat really really really well and stay really really really hydtrated. EAT HEALTHY!

<<A controlled prospective observational study followed 200 women exposed to fluoroquinolones (52.5% exposed to ciprofloxacin and 68% first trimester exposures) during gestation.8 In utero exposure to fluoroquinolones during embryogenesis was not associated with increased risk of major malformations. The reported rates of major congenital malformations were 2.2% for the fluoroquinolone group and 2.6% for the control group (background incidence of major malformations is 1-5%). Rates of spontaneous abortions, prematurity and low birth weight did not differ between the groups and there were no clinically significant musculoskeletal dysfunctions up to one year of age in the ciprofloxacin exposed children.

Another prospective follow-up study reported on 549 pregnancies with fluoroquinolone exposure (93% first trimester exposures).9 <<<There were 70 ciprofloxacin exposures, all within the first trimester. The malformation rates among live-born babies exposed to ciprofloxacin and to fluoroquinolones overall were both within background incidence ranges. No specific patterns of congenital abnormalities were found.>>> The study did not reveal any clear adverse reactions due to in utero exposure to ciprofloxacin.

No differences in the rates of prematurity, spontaneous abortions, or birth weight were seen in women exposed to ciprofloxacin during pregnancy.7,8 However, these small postmarketing epidemiology studies, of which most experience is from short term, first trimester exposure, are insufficient to evaluate the risk for less common defects or to permit reliable and definitive conclusions regarding the safety of ciprofloxacin in pregnant women and their developing fetuses. Ciprofloxacin should not be used during pregnancy unless the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to both fetus and mother.>>

 

[anonymous]

Thank you so much for a quick response! I'm going crazy searching the web for any kind of info, but I think I'm just going to take it I do believe the small risk definitely outweighs the risk, I want to feel better and don't want to be sick when my baby arrives

 

[anonymous]

to the woman who has to take Cipro...
when i talked to my doctor about taking medications (like Cipro, which i have been on for years) while being pregnant, he said that you take the drugs that do have a known bad effect on the baby- which doesn't mean that they don't affect the baby, but either not enough research is done or the research that has been done hasnt shown anything yet.
you know this im sure..to my point, he also told me that its better for the baby to keep the mother as healthy as possible, even if thats mean a hospital stay or taking new meds because you are sick. you have to keep yourself as healthy as possible, if you have concerns about taking the new med. i would definitly take it up with your doctor, he can explain things alot better than me.

 

[HollyCatheryn]

To the 29 weeks pregnant mom:You mentioned being sick and wanting to get to the stage where you can have a c-section. Why are you planning a c-section? I'm curious because c-sections are not recommended for CF patients - based on research. I would encourage you to consider if vaginal delivery is an option for you. Most women have trouble moving around after a c-section, this includes getting into positions for effective treatments, exercising to get and keep lungs clear, coughing, going to the bathroom, etc. The surgical incision (even if they do the low, small, bikini-area cut) can make it very difficult to care for yourself and for your baby in the early weeks. It also usually takes 2-3 times (or more, if there were complications) longer to heal and recover with a c-section than a vaginal birth. There is also usually a different protocol for mothers with c-sections as far as what they are allowed with their babies. A c-section can also complicate mothering because even if the baby was ready to be born, the epidural drugs and not having the trip through the birth canal can cause problems for the baby, which is why c-section babies normally stay in the ICU at least for observation. Even though you are having some health problems, hang in there. The website referenced also has some suggestions for staying healthy while pregnant. If, after researching, you find that a c-section is your best option, educate yourself on your options before, during and following your operation and how best to compensate. Find out how to set up support for after you return home (this is usually the hardest part for c-section moms). It may be the best decision to hire a doula (mother's helper) to assist you at the delivery and/or after you return home (post-partum doula). Please visit <A href="http://www.geocities.com/MurrensNatureMama/childbirth">www.geocities.com/MurrensNatureMama/childbirth</A> for information about c-sections and vaginal birth with CF and <A href="http://www.geocities.com/MurrensNatureMama/wellness">www.geocities.com/MurrensNatureMama/wellness</A> for information on getting and staying healthy during pregnancy and post-partum. The others are right. It is very hard to be a good mother if you are not well. So get as much rest as you can, stay active to get and keep your lungs clear, eat well and focus on yourself while you can. More than anything, your baby needs you!

 

[JazzysMom]

FYI I went with a c section because of my history of hemoptysis. They did not think it wise to go thru labor & possibly end up doing an emergency c-section.