Lupus – How it impacts Pregnancy?

Lupus is often noted to affect females in their reproductive years. Those women detected with lupus are medically advised on avoiding pregnancy as lupus signs could exacerbate or pregnancy might end in miscarriage.

In case a pregnant woman develops lupus then it could have an effect on her kidneys and a greater risk to the foetus.

Fertility or conception chances would be diminished during the flare-up phases of this disease due to hormonal fluctuations occurring as a result of lupus or side-effects associated with drug intake for treating the condition.

Impact of Lupus on Materno-fetal Health

Expectant mothers with lupus might start developing signs analogous to pre-eclampsia like swollenness, proteinuria – a kidney condition leading to anomalously elevated protein levels in urine, hypertension and slow foetal development.

Pregnant women having lupus could experience preterm delivery, transitory rash appearance on the baby’s head, harm inflicted on the electrical conducting system in the foetal heart leading to anomalous cardiac rhythms. A baby born to a mother having lupus would often develop neonatal lupus – a form of lupus comprising of momentary rashes and irregular blood count. The infant could develop swollenness called as hydrops which signals that the infant has congestive cardiac failure condition and would need medical surveillance following hospitalization.

Anomalous antibodies found in the bloodstream of women having lupus could be contributory to miscarriages. Antiphospholipid antibody types present among women having lupus could lead to blood clot formations that could impede appropriate placental functioning, often noted to develop in the final three months of pregnancy.

The afflicted placenta is incapable of supplying ample food and nutrition to the foetus, hence slackening its development. Consequently, such pregnancies are unable to last till complete term.

Women with lupus have greater likelihood of developing hypertension, headache, swollenness and seizure attacks. During the flare-up phases often observed to surface till the sixth month of gestation or in the initial couple of months subsequent to child birth. Majority of the flare-ups are mild-ranging and could be cured with miniscule corticosteroid dosages.

Crucial Pointers

All those women attempting conception must not be having any lupus signs and not consumed lupus medicines for at least 6 months prior to conceiving. Appropriate care is crucial prior to conceiving to avert any risks. Timely foetal monitoring is also imperative to ensure it proper development.

The services of a skilled gynaecologist and hospital replete with facilities to tend to high-risk pregnancies and special requirements of newly born babies must be sought in case lupus has been detected during pregnancy.

Antenatal care is vital including ultrasound scans in the initial trimester of pregnancy for determining fetal growth.

Non-stress tests would be performed that closely monitor fetal heart rate and motion. Blood tests are conducted following delivery for ascertaining the presence of neonatal lupus in the baby. Grave crisis in neonatal lupus is development of congenital heart blockage in the baby.

Frequent doctor visits and laboratory tests would also become necessary for such pregnant women to avert any lupus-related complications.

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