The Challenge of Fibromyalgia and Pregnancy

It is hard enough to be suffering from this uncomfortable and oftentimes debilitating syndrome . However, as a woman experiences both fibromyalgia and pregnancy, the physical challenge can be sometimes overwhelming.

Several women have reported that their symptoms of fibromyalgia actually intensify in their pre-menstrual stage and then alleviates once their menstrual period passes. This burst of symptoms is believed to be the result of fluctuating hormones. Some doctors think that this phenomenon answers for the virtually 50 to 1 ratio of fibromyalgia among men and women. Therefore, fibromyalgia and pregnancy is not going to be comfortable for the next nine months of a woman's life.

There are even a few obstetricians that regard fibromyalgia and pregnancy as a "high risk" category merely for the reason that many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia will aggravate the state of pregnancy. While performing a initial screen with a new patient, some doctors inquire about potential fibromyalgia symptoms along with pregnancy. If the expectant mother suffers from some of the symptoms such as response to trigger point pain, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, increased pain during stress, oral thrush or sleep disturbances, an obstetrician may diagnose both fibromyalgia and pregnancy.

Special Concerns With Fibromyalgia And Pregnancy

Doctors who are experts in this condition and who treat pregnant women compare fibromyalgia and pregnancy as being in a never-ending state of pre-menstrual syndrome. The usual conditions of pregnancy are frequently complicated by the presence of pre-existing fibromyalgia.

Obstetricians and rheumatologists supervise their pregnant patients by recording their fibromyalgia symptoms to make sure that they are sleeping and eating well, with stressing the importance on using a pre-natal magnesium supplement to relieve the symptoms of fibromyalgia during pregnancy. The precise effects of fibromyalgia on pregnancy are still not clear; so obstetricians are restricted at this point to treating the symptoms without fully understanding them.

Special diets that are high in serotonin-producing levels are highly recommended throughout pregnancy because the anti-depressants frequently used as a treatment for fibromyalgia are not safe for use during pregnancy. Likewise, expectant mothers are not able to use sleep medications and anti anxiety drugs like Klonopin during their pregnancy.

The obstetrician may make particular recommendations for appropriate sleep hygiene and stress release for women confronting both fibromyalgia and pregnancy. Because all of the drugs normally prescribed for fibromyalgia can cross into the breast milk, these drugs are contraindicated for breast feeding mothers. For expectant mothers, the physical challenges of both pregnancy and fibromyalgia are an immense challenge.

However, with suitable medical care by a qualified obstetrician who understands this complex syndrome, pregnant women can experience relief from their symptoms and give birth to a healthy baby as well.