Birth and delivery outcomes among women with MS
28 Feb 2003
August 2002
It is known that MS is more common in women, and first symptoms typically appear between the ages of 20 and 40 years, a time when many individuals are planning pregnancies.
In the past, many health care professionals recommended that women with MS should avoid pregnancy, due to the limited success of a limited number of treatments, and some evidence of pregnancy-related relapse or worsening of symptoms. In recent years, due to advances in therapy and symptom management, women who are considering pregnancy are now encouraged do to so, as long as their level of disability has been assessed, and a course of therapy is established which can be initiated after pregnancy.
Some recent studies have looked at the effects of pregnancy on MS but have not focussed on the measurement of adverse effects during and after birth. The aim of this study was to determine whether women with MS who deliver are more likely to have pregnancy or delivery complications, have a premature birth, have babies of low birth weight, or have babies with irregularities, than women without MS. The need for rehospitalisation was also looked at during the two years following delivery.
Women who had given birth during the period 1987-1996 were included in the study. 198 women with MS participated, and a comparison group of 1584 women without MS were also included. The course of pregnancy, birth outcomes, and the need for rehospitalisation within 2 years of the birth were compared in the two groups.
The results from this paper suggest that women with MS are no more likely to have pregnancy or delivery complications than women without MS. One possible exception is maternal anaemia (iron deficiency during pregnancy, delivery and post-delivery), which women with MS were more likely to have. Additionally, neither were babies of women with MS more likely to be low birth weight or premature, or have abnormalities. However, women with MS were twice as likely to be rehospitalised during the first 3 months after delivery, compared with women without MS.
The overriding message from this research paper is that some reassurance is provided for women with MS who want children, that their babies are not at increased risk of abnormalities, premature birth, low birth weight, or infant death. The authors conclude that the increased risk of rehospitalisation emphasises a need for strong support systems and close monitoring during the three months after delivery. This information may be helpful to people affected by MS and their families, and to health care professionals involved in providing medical care to women with MS.
These results were published in American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, March 2002, vol 186, pages 446-452.
Some recent studies have looked at the effects of pregnancy on MS but have not focussed on the measurement of adverse effects during and after birth. The aim of this study was to determine whether women with MS who deliver are more likely to have pregnancy or delivery complications, have a premature birth, have babies of low birth weight, or have babies with irregularities, than women without MS. The need for rehospitalisation was also looked at during the two years following delivery.
Women who had given birth during the period 1987-1996 were included in the study. 198 women with MS participated, and a comparison group of 1584 women without MS were also included. The course of pregnancy, birth outcomes, and the need for rehospitalisation within 2 years of the birth were compared in the two groups.
The results from this paper suggest that women with MS are no more likely to have pregnancy or delivery complications than women without MS. One possible exception is maternal anaemia (iron deficiency during pregnancy, delivery and post-delivery), which women with MS were more likely to have. Additionally, neither were babies of women with MS more likely to be low birth weight or premature, or have abnormalities. However, women with MS were twice as likely to be rehospitalised during the first 3 months after delivery, compared with women without MS.
The overriding message from this research paper is that some reassurance is provided for women with MS who want children, that their babies are not at increased risk of abnormalities, premature birth, low birth weight, or infant death. The authors conclude that the increased risk of rehospitalisation emphasises a need for strong support systems and close monitoring during the three months after delivery. This information may be helpful to people affected by MS and their families, and to health care professionals involved in providing medical care to women with MS.
These results were published in American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, March 2002, vol 186, pages 446-452.
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