Having children when you have ms?

[donnainct]

Hi everyone,
I was diagnosed in 06 and have 1 son who is 7. I had my first attack 1 year after he was born. I really am thinking I want another baby, my son is an only child. I am jusst reallly scared of another relapse.

Is it fairly common to have problems after you give birth? Also im on copaxone would i have to come off? Im 34 and i hate that MS controls even my decision to have another child! As of right now im fairly stable i can walk unassisted and take provigil for fatigue. Thanks in advance
Donna

[kriscake]

I'm not sure about how long you would need copaxone out of your system before trying to have a baby. I certainly would read up on that if I were you.

I have an 8yr old and a 2yr old. I had no idea I was showing signs of ms when I was getting pregnant. I was still just trying to figure it all out really. My foot drop showed up when I was pregnant but only slightly. I don't know if I got worse because of the pregnancy or I am just prone to having a flare every year or so.

I do know that with my current mild in comparison to some condition, I think that I am done having kids. I am fearful of the future. I am concerned that something severe will happen and my dh will be handling both me and our kids.

BUT that is just me. I am not sure what the right answer there is. I think I would start with the copaxone research first.

My dh and I agreed that if we did decide to become parents again, it would be through adoption. I am thinking that I am gimpy enough as it is and falling flat on my pregnant face wouldn't be a good thing

[Sequoia]

I have the impression that it's fairly common to have an exacerbation after delivery, but not during pregnancy. Some doctors even automatically prescribe IVSM right after delivery in the hope of heading off an exacerbation.

On the other hand, I had three babies after my first symptoms of MS showed up, no diagnosis yet, no DMD, no exacerbation. So what I didn't know didn't hurt me.

[bops_mama]

From my understanding, pregnancy tends to mask symptoms and your body protects from the MS (thats what my neuro said at least)

We told him we were wanting more kids and he said that Copaxone was the safest drug out there since its a class 3?? And wanted me to stick with C until i was done with kids....so from what i got out of what he was saying: it is safe to take up until you are ready to actively start trying...Id check with YOUR neuro first though good luck

[Thinkimjob]

My friend, newly diagnosed, and only 25, was told by her ms specialist to go on Tysabri for 2 years, then have as many children as she can.
She's only just got married, and she lives in a city, so she's on Tysabri as we speak.
I was slightly bemused, since I didn't think Tysabri was being used as a 'first response'.
I knew pregnancy was good for MS. I hope it all works out for her.