Can lupus affect pregnancy?

The people most at risk of getting lupus are women of child bearing age. So how does lupus affect pregnancy?

If you have lupus and are considering getting pregnant, you will need very close supervision during your pregnancy, during the delivery and the postpartum time.Women with lupus seem to have a higher risk of miscarriage and flare-up.

Due to the nature of the disease there is an increased risk of blood clots. Your physician might prescribe blood-thinning medication through and for up to 6 to 12 weeks after the pregnancy.

Lupus antibodies can be transferred from mother to baby, the newborn baby could have the disease – neonatal lupus.

What does this mean?

It could mean low red blood cells, or white blood cells, or platelets

Skin rash

Problems developing electrical system in the heart – the risk of heart block is 2%

Generally at the age of 6 months lupus clears as the baby has metabolized their mother’s anti-bodies.