Pregnancy

[Queenpink]

So my partner has been wanting a baby for a while however I’m not so keen. I’m unsure how my body will cope with pregnancy and the extra weight. Has anyone been pregnant while having fibromyalgia? How did you manage?

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee]

This may help fmauk.org/information-packs...

[160622]

Hi

Had a son , I actually felt better during the prrgnancy was still working as well, still had the aches and pains but not severe. I coped as well after the birth as I had a gorgeous baby boy to look after. Sometimes it was hard , I used to support him with pillows on my lap as couldn’t hold him for long, I got out more which helped with the depression and I took him swimming in a warm pool which helped me as well.

I know everybody is different but I’d say have another, don’t let Fibro win, as long as you have help and support you will cope. My son actually understands me the most as well , he’s seen me good and bad but I was determined to do things myself which he now tells me off for 😀 he’s 23 next week and moving into his own house in April but we’ll always have a close bond and I’m sure he’ll be visiting often but he has his own life to live , he made my Fibro life more bearable .

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee in reply to 160622]

symptom relief during pregnancy is not unheard of but there are no stats on it.

[160622 in reply to desquinn]

There won’t be , Fibromyalgia has been ignored for years, took me 10yr to get a diagnosis was forgotten about by doctors and only my constant recurring visits to doctors got me a diagnosis in the end .

[Debbs73 in reply to 160622]

That was me. I was made to feel like it was all in my head. Constant trips to my gp finally got me my diagnoses, it was almost a relief to finally get a diagnoses after all those years.

[Queenpink in reply to 160622]

Sounds like you’ve done amazing! when I was pregnant with my first born I got thrown off a horse.. I hadn’t known I was pregnant until I got checked over and they told me at the hospital 😣 because of that my body didn’t really heal itself, when I had him all the pains etc just seemed to get worse and have spread all over. I’m so worried I won’t be able to walk etc. I suffer with my hips terribly and they lock in the most awkward way possible to a point I cannot stand. I’m on my last legs with work now. My son is 7 and I’m 25... my Partner is 26 and doesn’t have his own child... just seems like time is running out, however my other issue is I’m not broody at all it’s not interesting me at the moment due to everything on my mind :/ x

[160622 in reply to Queenpink]

You definitely have a lot of other issues to think about as well as Fibro I can only give you my experience with Fibro had it 30yrs. I hope you make the right decision for you as it’s your body that will have to cope xx

[Queenpink in reply to 160622]

Thank you x

[Lizzy-m in reply to Queenpink]

Please don't allow yourself to be pressured into having another child. Time is not running out you have years left yet. Put your needs first. It's not selfish. It's a necessity! For your sake and for the sake of those closest to you. Use this time to enjoy the little boy you already have. If your partner loves you then he will support you on this. You have enough to deal with at this time. You may change your mind in a couple of years, you may not. It's your body sweetheart. Look after it. Sending love xxx

[jackie4ball]

I have 4 children 3 of which I had after being diagnosed with fibro. It wasn’t easy as for 3 of them I was sick with morning noon and night sickness but then that was from being pregnant my daughter was my last but I somehow muddled through they are all grown up now but my daughter has fibro and a labral year in her hip and was terrified of getting pregnant because she was also taking tramadol. (When I think back I would have been on a number of drugs but nothing was ever said) she had to lower the pills as much as possible and she was monitored all the way through her pregnancy they didn’t want her going full term because of her hip so went in at 38 weeks. She felt better when she was pregnant now 11 months later I have a gorgeous grandson. My daughter was so afraid of getting pregnant she left her husband a couple of months after they got married saying she had made a mistake and didn’t love him which just didn’t add up. But it turned out she knew he wanted children and didn’t think she would be able to give him any eventually they talked and it all came out and obviously things were sorted. If you know you want children don’t put it off speak with your dr about your concerns and worries if you have a dr that will listen then they will advise you on anything you are worried about.

Good luck

Jackie

[valleylaydee]

I was diagnosed with fibro after my second child and I've had another one since... The signs were there during the first two pregnancies as even fully healthy mothers can suffer joint problems during pregnancy. On my second pregnancy I needed crutches to walk and could barely move my wrists... This went away soon after giving birth and it was back to the normal level of daily pain... My doctor thinks this difficult pregnancy is actually what triggered my fibro but who knows as I started having symptoms years before I ever got pregnant. My youngest daughter is 18 months now and is be lying if I said it was an easy pregnancy but I'd take all the pain and more for my little girl ♥. I obviously couldn't rely on my trusty cortisone injections and I had to take weaker pain killers but there are a lot of other things you can do to reduce pain. I took lots of warm baths which helped massively. Funnily enough, my hips weren't as bad in my third pregnancy so I didn't need crutches that time. Every pregnancy is different so it's hard to predict but I'd never let that trepidation stop you from having a child if it's what you want.

As for labour, I'd advise you to opt for an epidural as a precautionary measure. We are more prone to pain with fibro and even though I tried to 'rough it out' on my third as I had with my first two labours, I eventually had an epidural which was the best decision I could have made.

I don't think the pregnancies had any lasting effects on my fibro and in fact, a lot of women report that their symptoms improve during pregnancy.

I'd never advise someone to feel pressured into having a child if a child is not what they want, but if it is, don't let the fibro win. Get a good support network around you and all the medical help and advice you need. In my experience, midwives and antenatal consultants are true heroes of the NHS.

[Hidden]

I had both my children during Ankylosing spondilitis which are chronic inflamed Hip joints (bit like our Andy Murray is going through) to be honest fibro came AFTER my kids started school and AFTER my father died suddenly, it is said a trauma can set it off,, my A.S went into remission but I would rather have that than fibro, at least I could control the pain, have no fatigue and good sleeps .You really nee to discuss your fears with an Obsterician, try to make an appointment, there are facilities to help you thru pregnancy now like hydrotherapy, warm birthing pool deliveries or elective caesarian sections which is what I was doing before I retired early with fibro.. (elective sections are for ladies who would be left in a bad way after normal birthing) If you want to know more about this PM me and I,ll let you know about it, its not done under G.A