Some lupus medicines, such as methotrexate, may cause birth defects or other problems during pregnancy. Your medicines may also need to be changed. Having your lupus under control can help prevent many health problems.īecause you may have a higher risk for pregnancy loss with lupus, you may need more frequent prenatal visits. Women who have had no flares in the 6 months before conception tend to have the best chance of a good pregnancy outcome. If you are planning on becoming pregnant, it’s best to see your healthcare provider 3 to 6 months beforehand. A child with neonatal lupus is not usually at risk for lupus as an adult. All of these symptoms usually go away in the first year. Neonatal lupus can also cause blood abnormalities and skin rashes on a baby’s face, scalp, chest, and upper back. That’s when the heart beats slower than normal. This condition can cause a congenital heart block. Researchers also think that kidney disease with lupus may play a role in miscarriage.Ī rare, temporary condition called neonatal lupus may affect babies of mothers with lupus. These antibodies cause abnormal blood clotting. Women with high levels of antiphospholipid antibodies may be at higher risk, too. Or it might happen if lupus begins during pregnancy. Pregnancy loss may be linked to how severe your lupus was when your baby was conceived. Poor growth of the fetus (intrauterine growth restriction) High blood pressure during pregnancy (preeclampsia) Preterm delivery, especially with a lupus flareĮarly breaking of the amniotic sac (premature rupture of membranes) Pregnant women with lupus, especially those having a flare, are at higher risk for complications. But flares most often occur in the first trimester. Plus lupus can make other health problems more likely to happen during pregnancy. During a flare, your body is more vulnerable to damage from the disease. Flares may occur at any time in pregnancy or after you have the baby. Pregnancy may or may not increase the symptoms of, or change the course of, lupus. These include kidney disease, nerve problems, and weight loss. The disease can also lead to more serious symptoms. These flares can cause fever, rashes, inflammation of the joints, hair loss, and mouth ulcers. It most often affects the heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain. Lupus can result in widespread damage to your joints, tendons, and organs. Such diseases cause the immune system to attack the body. The key to a successful pregnancy is knowing how lupus affects the body and keeping the disease under control. In fact, many women with this disease give birth to healthy children. Having lupus doesn’t mean you can’t have a baby.

Lupus flare up