Can Fibromyalgia Affect Pregnancy?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep, mood, and memory problems. Pregnancy involves weight gain and extreme hormone fluctuations and these can put strain on the body systems, making fibromyalgia worse.
Many women often experience pain, discomfort, brain fog, and other symptoms that are very similar to fibromyalgia during pregnancy. A pregnant woman who has fibromyalgia may find that the physical and emotional stress can intensify the symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Pregnant women with fibromyalgia may experience significant pain, fatigue, and stress, particularly during the first and last trimesters of pregnancy.
Pregnancy and fibromyalgia treatment
Very little research has been carried out on pregnancy and fibromyalgia and the information is limited. However, treatment and management of fibromyalgia often involves both medical and lifestyle changes.
The drug treatments for fibromyalgia include:
•Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen, naproxen, and ibuprofen
•Prescription pain relievers
•Some antidepressants
•Antiseizure medications
Acetaminophen is often recommended for pregnant women to relieve pain, but a woman should not take any medications for fibromyalgia during pregnancy without first consulting a doctor.
On the other hand, a pregnant woman who is already receiving treatment for fibromyalgia should not stop her medications without first consulting her doctor to determine the best course of action.
Some lifestyle management for fibromyalgia treatment is still recommended during pregnancy.
Lifestyle measures include:
•Continuing any therapy for depression-related symptoms
•Eating a healthy diet
•Resting more often and as needed
•Exercising as recommended by a healthcare professional
A pregnant woman with fibromyalgia should be careful when using heat therapy to relieve symptoms, especially during the first trimester.
How does fibromyalgia affect the baby?
Despite there being very little data on fibromyalgia and pregnancy available, there is some evidence of a possible link between fibromyalgia and the following:
•Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), a condition where the baby’s growth is restricted in the womb, causing the baby to be smaller in size.
•Recurrent miscarriages.
•Polyhydramnios, a condition where the mother has too much amniotic fluid. This condition is linked to preterm delivery, birth defects, excessive growth of the baby, and stillbirth.
In spite of this, most pregnant women with fibromyalgia give birth to a healthy, full-term infant. A woman with fibromyalgia is also less likely to experience preterm labour.