It may come as a surprise that there is little risk associated with most cases of MS in pregnancy. Pregnancy is alright for many women with multiple sclerosis. In pregnancy, women experience all sorts of biochemical changes, many of which actually suppress the manifestation of their MS symptoms. It is safe to say that pregnancy extends a form of protection over female MS patients, shielding them from autoimmunity and facilitating the repair of their previously damaged nervous tissue. It is rather fitting that, in these cases, sustaining a new life essentially gives the women a new lease of life.
What Research Says about MS in Pregnancy
Some people are bound to be skeptical about the claim that pregnancy is not only safe, but also somewhat rejuvenates many women with multiple sclerosis. These people may be concerned about their own condition, and may worry that having MS in pregnancy will put them and their babies at special risk. For their sakes, various studies on pregnant women with MS should be highlighted. A study on women with MS and women without MS in British Columbia, Canada, between 1998 and 2009 showed that there was no significant difference in birth weight or delivery timing between the two groups of women. Also, both groups of women were equally likely to undergo cesarean sections or vaginal deliveries.
There was an observed difference between the two groups of women, but that difference was so slight as to be statistically insignificant: Among the women with MS, there was a higher prevalence of obesity. It happens to be the case that obesity increases a woman’s risk of experiencing negative outcomes during delivery. As noted above, the research showed this factor to be statistically insignificant. However, even if it had been shown to be statistically significant, obesity is secondary to MS. MS patients tend to develop obesity because MS-associated disability limits their mobility. Helping these patients to manage their obesity would help them to overcome the indirect threat posed by multiple sclerosis in pregnancy.
It does make sense to do more research on pregnancy and MS. This research could help to evaluate, to a greater extent, just what kind of indirect risks MS might pose to pregnant women. Obesity is one factor that could be highlighted. Additionally, research should look into the impact that certain MS medications might have on pregnancy. Some MS medications have already been determined to be harmful to the fetus. It would be helpful to identify similar medications that had fallen through the cracks.
