I have read, several times over the last few days, the article here on how women with RA seem to have a higher rate of pregnancy complications. My rheumy told me that miscarriages can be connected to RA, and this article explains that low birth weight.
It makes me go… hmmm
It might help explain both kids being several weeks early and both kids being light for gestational age… not sure if it really could, since I had kids 18 years ago and 15 years ago… and RA was diagnosed 4 months ago (wow.. been an eventful 4 months)… but it makes me wonder.
A Figment Of Fitness 
Treating rhuematoid arthritis during pregnancy is often made more challenging by the limited data available for evaluating the potential impact of various treatments on the developing baby. Since 2005, the Autoimmune Diseases in Pregnancy Research Study has been looking for answers. The purpose of the research study is to find out more information about any risks to the developing baby from psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and the medications used to treat these diseases during pregnancy. Pregnant women with RA with or without medication use can participate.
I wanted to let everyone know that there are experts available to answer your questions prior to or during pregnancy about the safety of RA medications during pregnancy by calling OTIS at 877-311-8972 (toll free in the US and Canada). You will speak with a phone counselor who is a trained in teratology (the study of birth defects caused by exposures during pregnancy). This service is free and confidential. OTIS counselors have a variety of backgrounds in the health care field and include doctors, genetic counselors, nurses, and researchers. You can also check out their website at http://www.otispregnancy.org . Under resources you will find information on RA disease in pregnancy and even fact sheets in English and Spanish on a variety of common pregnancy questions like topical acne creams, caffeine, nausea and vomiting, and depression, as well as some prescription and non-prescription medications.
In addition to providing updated and accurate information on medicines during pregnancy, OTIS conducts telephone interviews with willing participants to learn more about health conditions and medicines during pregnancy. This increased knowledge should benefit women and their doctors in the future by aiding in the treatment decisions and ideally providing reassurance. One project, the OTIS Autoimmune Diseases Pregnancy Project is researching the effects of autoimmune diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and psoriasis, as well as the medications used to treat these conditions during pregnancy. Participants will not be asked to take or stop taking any medication as part of this study. We are also enrolling a comparison group for this study (women who do not have an autoimmune disease, but who are pregnant). If you are interested in learning more about this study, please call 1-877-311-8972 (toll free in US and Canada), email raandpregnancy@ucsd.edu or check out the website at http://www.otispregnancy.org.
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