RA AFTER HAVING KIDS??

[fizzy]

sorry, just thought of another little query....why does it seem like so many women develop RA straight after they have had kids?? is it something to do with hormones, or something?? does anyone know??

[Beth58]

No idea Fizzy, but my best guess would be; It's already there but sleeping and childbirth which is traumatic on the body or another event such anemia, change in hormone levels or infection triggers it.

The reality is they just don't know why the body turns on itself, but there is lots of research going on.

Beth x

[Hidden]

that makes sense Beth, I was aware of something not being quite right for months before I became pregnant then 5 weeks after birth, within 48 hours of stopping breast feeding I was hit badly.

[cathie]

Mine was coming for a while but coincided with menopause. Not very nice, but I think stress, hormones and genetic predisposition might be factors

Xc

[bpeal1]

Hello

I developed RA about 10 months after giving birth (when breastfeeding was naturally cutting back) and it became even worse after I stopped completely. However it took until my baby was 18 months to get a diagnosis.

Looking back I think I had it hanging around for 10 to 15 years before that. I had several inflamed joints that nobody could explain and a 2 week course of anti-imflamatories used to sort it. Nobody (including me) ever put all these things together.

I aasume it is hormaones and the stress of being pregnant that brings it on.

When I had my second child they gave me intravenous steroids 5 weeks after the birth as they said it was common to flare badly at around this time and they wanted to avoid that.

Becky

[Victoria-NRAS Partner Moderator NRAS]

Hi Fizzy

This is a really good question, and the short answer is that we don't know! As you and others have indicated, hormones seem a likely indicator, especially as we know that RA effects more women than men, but having said that, it DOES effect men, and for some women it might be their second child that triggered the RA, so you have to wonder why the first child didn't trigger it!

Anecdotally RA also does seem to come on after periods of stress/trauma, whether physical (eg illness, operation, car crash, childbirth) or mental (bereavement, divorce etc). We know that genetics and some lifestyle issues (such as drinking/smoking) can have some impact, but it's never one thing on its own.

You can read more about genetic and non-genetic factors here:

nras.org.uk/about_rheumatoi...

Hope this helps

Victoria

Helpline & Information Coordinator