Well I was diagnosed while pregnant, they put me on steroids because my feet was extremely numb (flare). That was in 09, I started treatment in sept 10

Congratulations!

I got pregnant while on Betaceron. Not recommended, too many uncertianties (sp?).

I thought I may have gotten preg, so I took a text at the crisis preg center I was voulenteering at at the time. It was neg. Then I had a flare, went to my nero and he ordered an MRI.

The first question they ask is, are you pregnant? I laughed and said "no". But since the test I took was early, I said I'd check again.

I never got that MRI.

After this brief flare, I felt wonderful, awesome and powerful! Could move a car with one arm! Slight exageration... but I was feeling fabulous.

Not much went wrong after I had her... but then again my MS was pretty mild, and mild for years. Not anymore, my daughter is going to be 16. I guess it was "mild" for about 9 years after my delivery.

This disese is so unpredictable. Just follow your doctor's instructions and don't give in to anxiety. Or try not to give in to it!

Good luck, and God bless!
Amy
PS, let us know how it is going!

God bless and again congratulations!
LvAmy

I forgot to mention, Betaceron was just newly approved in 1994. Still in it infancy it's self!

Darn that cut and paste... lol!

I myself dont have MS but my best friend does. Whenn she got pregnant she felt great no flares or anything. But after delivery she got real bad in a short kind of time and so far it has not stopt. They dont know if it was due to delivery or if it is a very aggressic type of MS. She was dx about 3 or 4 years ago and about 1 year ago they said its the progressiv type that does not stop somehow. I dont know on what meds she is on right now. So sorry that I cant be of anymore help.
God bless
windingbrook

Hi and congrats. I have had 3 pg's two after I was dx with MS. I actually had it with my first but no flare until after I gave birth and 11 months later had the flare up and went to doctor and got dx with MS. Second pg was a breeze and had flare ups after 3 months delivering second child and third child pg was great and went back on meds after nursing. what I would say to you is why they put you on steroids during a pregnancy? Second, research the heck out of the disease. If I hadn't I wouldn't have had the knowledge to second guess a few docs who ultimately could have caused my demise by their "recommended" treatment. I never got a spinal tap. Flat out refused and told them if they can't figure it out with the brain info then they were out of luck. One thing you will find is that MS makes you stronger, smarter and more demanding at least it did in my case because of the difficulties I have experienced and know that can happen with multi ethnic backgrounds and vice versa. It's all in a matter of taking care of yourself and the baby now. Pregnancy tends to be a buffer from any reactions because of a hormone. Good luck and inbox me if you have more questions.

First congratulations that is wonderful news! I had my first child in March of 2009. I couldn't believe how amazing I felt during my pregnancy. I made all my friends jealous. I nursed my son for 11 months after he was born. It wasn't until he was 18 months old that I started having any problems. I got my dx in November of 2010. I plan to have at least one more baby but I am not sure when. We wanted to get pregnant this summer but we haven't found a medicine that works for me yet. I want to be on something for at least a year before I go off it. I do plan to nurse my second little one if I can but who knows what will happen. All I can say is enjoy your pregnancy and try not to worry about having a flare after. Everyone is different so you might be one of the lucky ones.

Good Luck!

Congratulations! I understand your concerns. I have had 3 pregnancies. I felt relatively well during all of them. After the first 2, had my worst flare-ups about 3 months post-partum. So......when I was pregnant with my 3rd, I was determined to be smarter about preparation. I found a neuro I felt comfortable with if I needed steroids post-partum (turned out I didn't). I hired a post-partum doula, so I could get help and extra sleep. (She was relatively inexpensive since she was new and wanted experience) This was important since I didn't have a lot of family help. A friend set up meal deliveries for me from friends for a time. I have a special diet, so I gave them simple recipes too. I froze some food ahead as well.
I visited my upper cervical chiro. to check in, although, I didn't need adjustment during my pregancy....but did afterwards. She always encouraged me that since my nervous system wasn't under so much stress from misalignment, I may do better. I also took good care of my self during my pregnancy. It seemed all my mental and physical preparation at least contributed to avoiding a flare-up. Don't stress yourself out, but prepare as much as possible and then let yourself rest as much as you can post-partum! Interestingly, I took Copaxone before and after both of my first two pregnancies......With my 3rd, I hadn't been on any meds for about 6 years, but had made life-style/diet changes. It is true that everyone is different. I wish the best for you and your baby!

I cannot offer any advice, but I wanted to congratulate you! That is wonderful news!!

Congratulations! Pregnancy is a DMD in itself. I had always heard of the dreaded postpartum relapse and wondered how it would be for me. I have had four pregnancies, all post diagnosis. I never had a post partum relapse. I did nurse each one until they were two, and I was pregnant again. Though I was diagnosed at 13, I never tried the MS drugs until after #3. Then I let the neuro convince me to start Copaxone. I felt ok with it because I could still breast feed, while on it. I stopped when I found out I was pregnant with #4. And resumed after he was born.
The neuro did suggest breast feeding may help prolong the protective pregnancy effect.

I have since put another baby on hold so I could try some of the other drugs. My MS is mild for being 19 yrs into it, but I thought if there is something that would work really for me, I would like to know. So far, no luck and I am down to Gilenya or Tysabri
I don't like the idea of either. Dr said a therapy that would mimic constant pregnancy would be great.

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

I just finished with being pregnant 6 months ago, and have a lovely baby boy. I did pretty well, until my last trimester, when, according to the PT I went to to help, 'my ms compromised my pregnancy'... or something like that. I've had hip/pelvis problems off and on since 'forever', but as my hips started to spread, my spacitity kicked in and fought them trying to keep them where they were. They still get painful from time to time (like today), but that was the only 'complication' during the pregnancy. Labor went well, I had an epidural and Cody was born only about 30 minutes after the petocin(?) kicked in. I flared about a month later and had to stop breast feeding so I could get my steroid Tx and go back on my meds (Tysabri). I use a power chair in the house to get chores done and move him around, and my husband helps out almost completely at night.

I wish you the best of luck!!

Congrats!

My MS did not act up at all while I was pregnant. The only problem I had was that they didn't want to give me the epidural during delivery.. Long story short, I had to basically sign my life away that if my MS acted up as a result of getting the epi then I wouldn't sue. It took over 4 hours after asking for the epi (which was already 24 hours into labor) to get them to do it. Because I guess the epi makes it more likely that you'll relapse afterward.

As a matter of fact, my MS was extremely quiet for a full year after delivery - probably thanks to breast feeding.

Definately the best 2 years of MS since my dx 6 years ago. I hope yours is the same!

Thank you all so much for the congratulations and for sharing your experiences with me. I feel a little less nervous now that I have read some personal experiences and not just facts from websites. I think I will prepare some meals and freeze them before I'm due to give myself some leeway in case I do hit any complications afterward. I'm glad to hear that everyone was able to get through their pregnancies and deliver without any causing any problems for the baby, that's very reassuring. Thanks so much for all the replies! :-)

HI!! Oh congrads! well me either- but i have seen alot of woman-on the web- when expecting- they are fine!! so why dont they fool our bodies into being pregnat?? im to old- i think - but i dont know maybe the extra estragen- hormones?

i got pregnant while on ldn, stopped taking all meds and had a normal pregnancy. Heartburn, trouble sleeping, etc etc but normal prego stuff. as far as the MS i felt fine, except for jumpiness, tremors in my legs that started at about 6 months and followed out luntil after I delivered. I had a c-section due to high blood pressure.. that went back to my normal 90/60 about 3 weeks after my son was born. He's fine, 4 mo now, but I'm having the worst flair up since I started my LDN about 1 1/2 before getting pregnant. the spasticity, jumpiness in my legs went away but now I can hardly walk and feel really weak. I was feeling the best I had felt since being diagnosed back in 2000 when I got pregnant, and felt great right after I had the baby, but the last two weeks have been rather hellish.

I'd still rather be here now with my son, than be feeling great without him though.