Pregnancy is a wonderful time of change and growth; however, getting pregnant can be challenging if you’re experiencing a chronic illness. If you’ve been recently diagnosed a condition, such as ulcerative colitis or rheumatoid arthritis, and want to have a family, accessing the right information from a fertility clinic is crucial for both you and your child.

Make Sure Your Chronic Illness Is Properly Controlled

Having a chronic illness doesn’t mean you can’t have children. While in some cases, a fertility clinic may suggest adoption or surrogacy, it’s still possible to give birth to a healthy baby while managing chronic illness. To prevent complications, wait until your condition is controlled before trying to conceive.

Talk With Your Doctor About Medications

Some medications used to control symptoms may affect your child during pregnancy. For instance, taking opiates has a negative impact on your developing baby, and may even cause withdrawal effects after your child is born. Work with your doctor to find safe or holistic solutions that won’t affect your pregnancy. For example, cumin and tumeric capsules are natural alternatives that reduce join pain and swelling in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis patients. Also, be cautious about taking over-the-counter NSAIDs as these drugs increase the risk of miscarriage during the first eight weeks of pregnancy.

Plan Ahead for the Post-Delivery Period

Some chronic illnesses go into remission during pregnancy. Get extra assistance after birth from a spouse or family member so you have time to rest, manage reappearing symptoms, and care for your newborn.

Additionally, equip yourself with supplies that’ll ease the transition into experiencing motherhood with a chronic illness. Look for products like chest harnesses to carry your baby, or side-opening cribs so you don’t have to lift your child for to feed and change them. These devices alleviates joint strains and makes maneuvering more ergonomic. Most importantly, make sure you take care of yourself so you can be the best mom possible to your child.

If you’d like more information about how you can manage a chronic illness while carrying, contact the skilled team at IVF Hawaii in Honolulu, HI. The fertility clinic is led by Dr. Benton Chun, and these professionals are dedicated to helping women navigate challenging conception processes. They use cutting-edge technology to provide compassionate guidance to couples trying to conceive, and they also have the highest success rate in the state. Contact this fertility clinic by calling (808) 538-6655, or visit the website for more information about patient consultations.