Pregnancy and Illness

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

Pregnancy and Illness

Asthma When asthmatics become pregnant, about 25 percent find that their symptoms get worse, 25 percent report that they improve and 50 percent report no change.
Cancer If you're currently being treated for any form of cancer, be cautioned: There are two very important reasons to avoid pregnancy.
Epilepsy and pregnancy If you're among the 800,000 American women of childbearing age with epilepsy, you and your obstetrician will have some medical decisions to make.
Heart disease and pregnancy If you have a history of heart disease, heart murmur or rheumatic fever, consult with your cardiologist before conceiving to see if there are any special medical precautions you should take.
High blood pressure and pregnancy Seven of every 100 women are affected by high blood pressure, or hypertension, during pregnancy and most did not have a previous history of this condition.
Lupus and pregnancy About half of all lupus pregnancies are totally normal, whereas 25 percent end with the premature delivery of a normal baby and another 25 percent end in miscarriage or stillbirth.
Multiple sclerosis and pregnancy Pregnancy and childbirth don't have any negative long-term effects on women with multiple sclerosis.

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Reviewed By:	Faculty of Harvard Medical School

Medical content reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School. Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.

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