I want to hear from women who have had babies after diagnosis
Hello all. I am interested in hearing about the experiences of women who have had babies after diagnosis. Everything! (Well, everything you're willing to share.) Was it planned or a happy accident? What advice did you receive from your doctor's? How was your MS affected during pregnancy/post-natal? Did you already have children? How was caring for an infant with your MS? How do you deal with the uncertainty of not knowing how your condition might affect your child in the future?
Look, there are a hundred reasons why it's probably not a good idea for me to have a baby and MS is just one of them. Some others being my age (mid to late 30s) martial status (single. Very single) and bank balance (not enough) But I haven't been able to get it off my mind for over a year (since my cousin had her little boy a month before her 40th birthday, and a friend went through IVF alone using a donor and ended up with twins!)
I'm just looking for preliminary insights really. I'd love to hear from you if you have the experience of having a child after an MS diagnosis. I don't even know if I have it in me, but I'm the kind of person that won't do anything without first thinking of every possible obstacle first.
Thank you x
I can't offer insight from experience but can understand what you're going through and your thought process as its also a concern of mine thinking about having children since my diagnosis... asking myself will it trigger a relapse? What if I can't look after a baby? Can I do it? I have a husband so wouldn't be doing it alone but I am very much the same and like to think about every possible obstacle. Someone pointed out to me that maybe it's not helpful to think of all the possible obstacles...we can never know the what ifs and plan for the unknowns so im working on this and seeing if it helps me live in the now and not let my diagnosis stop me from trying. Saying that... I'm still undecided on how I feel about having a baby...!
Hi, I’ve had two children now in their mid 20’s and during and after post parting was the healthiest I’d ever felt. No symptoms at all. After both children I had a small relapse about 6 months to a year after. I had a baby to care for so caring for them through a relapse felt very different and I dare say helped me recover faster I feel. As my children have grown up with my MS they have become most caring and empathetic people. My daughter is now a psychologist who has also helped with MS research to do with mental health support. They are and have always been helpful and independent understanding how to help themselves and through Uni we’re always the ‘organisers’ being able to cook and clean. Recently they thanked me for making them so independent. In terms of my MS I managed my pain, Mobility etc with the support of caring children (they were not carers) as I’ve always worked full time. My first child was a wonderful accident and my second very much planned. There is never a right time or perfect time to bring a child into the world but I am so glad that I did not take my neurologists advice not to have children because of the severity of my first relapse. 💗