The fertility of both men and women is not affected by MS and has no effect upon a woman's ability to become pregnant. However, when a woman decides to try to become pregnant, she should consult her doctor as most treatments must be terminated.
There is no reason why pregnancy should have a negative influence on the long-term course of MS; on the contrary, MS experts agree that the rate of episodic attacks during pregnancy is around 30 to 50% lower than in comparable non-pregnant women with MS.
On the other hand, in the first year after delivery, the risk of relapse is two to three times higher than in women with MS who have not given birth. Following the birth, women may also experience extra psychological and physical strain, a normal reaction due to the hormonal changes experienced during pregnancy and to the additional effort required to care for and/or breastfeed a small child.
Planning a pregnancy
Apart from the personal decision, a pregnancy should only be planned during a period when MS is stable.
If you are a woman on treatment, who is planning to get pregnant, consult your neurologist or gynaecologist prior to becoming pregnant. It is possible that the treatment timetable will have to be temporarily stopped or delayed, in what’s often referred to as a ‘treatment holiday’. This will give you a period of time to become pregnant, and then return to treatment after the birth of the child. If a particular treatment regime is at a critical point, however, it may be necessary to finish the treatment, and postpone an attempt to become pregnant until a more suitable time.
Giving birth
The medication or analgesics required when giving birth will not adversely affect an individual with MS. Even an epidural has no harmful effect.
MS does not create any real problems during birth, with the possible exception of an increase in spasticity of the muscles and greater fatigue due to MS, than would be experienced by a woman, without MS, giving birth.
Breastfeeding
There is no reason why mothers with MS cannot breastfeed their newborn child, unless they are on medication, as certain drugs can affect the baby.
If fatigue due to MS is a problem, then planning practical ways of coping with feeding the baby at night is advised. It is possible to manage night-time feeds by storing milk, both natural and powder-based, which a partner or carer to feed the baby during the night. This allows the mother with MS to get a good night’s sleep.
Once again, it is best to consult your gynaecologist or neurologist.
