Pregnancy and Fibro

Congratulations Bettie Boop!!! This is so cool!!!

Take it one day at a time. I was in my 40's when I got fibromyalgia, so there were no kids in my future. There will be many I am sure with some information for you. Try not to anticipate more pain, it may not happen. Sorry you are throwing up though. Is this your first? Or do you have children? I wish you the very best...

Hugs, Karen...

Hi BB,

Congratulations! Such exciting news! I have a lot to offer because I just went through it. My daughter is 11 months old and the pregnancy is still very fresh in my mind. Like you I was searching for information regarding Fibro and pregnancy, so I hope I can be of help to you.

Prior to getting pregnant I wasn't on any meds, so our situations are a little different. I read and heard from everyone that during pregnancy your Fibro will either get worse, stay the same or get better to the point of remission. Mine stayed the same. At first I was bummed because the prospect of no pain sounded WONDERFUL but then I thought it would be so depressing and too much to handle for the pain to come back while handling a newborn. So in the end I was thankful it just stayed the same.

Certain pregnancy pains were A LOT worse for me though. When my hips loosened it was terribly painful. I was constantly popping and had trouble walking pretty early in the pregnancy. I wore a support belt which provided some relief. Towards the end of the pregnancy when my feet got very swollen it became painful for me because my muscles stiffened as well. Overall though I had a rather normal pregnancy in regards to pain.

I was very aware of things though. I felt UTIs before the tests detected them. I knew I had dilated already by 36 weeks. Since I am so aware of my body I knew what was happening before the Dr did half the time :) I went into early labor at 37 weeks and was in early labor for 1 week exactly. At 38 weeks on the button I went into labor. The Dr did not believe I was in full blown labor at first because I was handling the pain so well. My labor went quickly and I only had to push for 30 minutes.

I had an unmedicated delivery. As a result of having a blood disorder an epidural was not an option. I had prepared by taking multiple natural childbirth classes and a hypnobirthing class. At the end of the day, I used very little skills I learned from the classes. I beleive that our bodies are so used to being in pain that natural childbirth really was not that bad. Don't get me wrong, I screamed and yelled and couldn't wait for it to be over, but I have had pain during flares that was worse than childbirth. After delivery I only needed regular strength tylenol for a few days after.

I was super nervous that I was going to have a GIANT flare after delivery. Thankfully I did not. I don't know how I would have managed. I had a very limited supply of breastmilk though and no one knows if it was because I have Fibro or as a result of needed plasma after delivery or just because some women have trouble producing. Regardless, that was a "complication" I was not prepared for. I was able to breastfeed for 7 months with supplementing as well.

I think it is great that you are taking such great care of yourself - yoga and walking are great choices. I would encourage you to make sure you are always hydrated as well. I found I always needed way more fluid than any other pregnant women I knew. I also found I needed to rest a lot more too. Just make sure to listen to your body and not push yourself too hard. I would also encourage you to practice relaxation if you don't do so already. It will definitely help with braxton hicks contractions and early labor (even the whole labor if you are doing it unmedicated). Deep breathing/relaxation also helps towards the end of the pregnancy when your lung capacity begins to diminish because there is no more room for everything inside :)

Let me know if you have any specific questions about pregnancy, labor or after. I definitely felt daily aches, pains and tightness from nursing, but all women do. The biggest challenge I am facing is now, with a moving almost Toddler it is not only exhausting but painful. My little monkey loves to climb on me and that leaves me in bad shape at the end of every night. But it is sooooooooooooooooo worth it!

Hi BB,

Sorry it took me a while to get back to you.  I wasn't near a computer for a few days (I know, it sounds crazy!)  Anyway, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions you have.  You can do it on here or you can click the little envelope icon under my name to email me.

Hope you are feeling well!

HI,
this is my second pregnancy with fibromyalgia. the fist one was easier, but i honestly think it was because i was younger..
after that first one, i got better from my fibromyalgia, i cannot say it was in remission, but it was much more easy to deal with and since then i have never had a "stop walking" crisis.
now, this one is getting much more difficult, i only do paracetamol and hot water bags, not in the belly, of course.
i'm managing it.
the first one was a c-section, due to baby distress, and the 6 hours of labor i had were really hard, i do not remember most of it, honestly, my mother says i looked like and iron bar...
now, i'm more mature, and if this baby holds up, i'll try a vaginal birth. my main thought is that whatever pain i may feel by then, it will have an end, a happy one. so, i have to make it...
until then, the best thing you can do for your self is respect your body, your energy and the moments it lacks and you really need to rest. you will need that, even without fibromyalgia, after your baby is born, then, you will need to be up and ready and needed.
learn to manage yourself. always, pregnant or non pregnant. and don't mind what others may think.
all the best for you!