Autoimmune rheumatological conditions: postnatal advice

Controlling your autoimmune rheumatological condition

Autoimmune rheumatological conditions include rheumatoid arthritis, SLE and Sjogren's.

Flares of autoimmune rheumatological conditions can be more common after giving birth. Here are some steps to help reduce the risk.

• Continue taking your recommended medication(s)
• If you feel a flare is developing, inform your rheumatology specialist team immediately.

If you have a flare of your condition, the risk of developing a blood clot increases. We may need to prescribe blood thinning injections for you.

Medicines and your baby

Autoimmune medicines

Most of the medicines we prescribe for use during pregnancy are safe for breastfeeding.

Use these links for more information on rheumatoid arthritis and pregnancy:

Versus Arthritis on living with arthritis and pregnancy

National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society on RA and pregnancy

Speak to your rheumatology specialist team if you need more advice.

Biologic medicines

If you took biologic medicines later in your pregnancy, you may need to delay giving your baby the Rotavirus vaccine and BCG vaccine.

The length of delay will depend on the type of biologic medicine you took during pregnancy. We will have discussed this during the antenatal period and advised you accordingly.

It is safe to give your baby all other types of vaccines, as scheduled.

Plan your pregnancies

^{We advise you to use reliable contraception so that you can plan your pregnancy for a time when your autoimmune condition is under control.}

^{Continue using contraception until you have had a review of your symptoms.}

^{Make an appointment with your GP or rheumatology specialist if you are planning to get pregnant.  Do this before you become pregnant. They will offer guidance on whether the autoimmune medicines you use are safe for pregnancy.}

^{They may refer you to a pre-pregnancy service in maternity or rheumatology for advice.}

^{They can also prescribe a folic acid supplement for you to start taking 3 months prior to trying for a baby.}

^{Folic acid (vitamin B9) helps a baby’s spine to develop and reduces the risk of defects such as spina bifida.}