Pregnancy and ankylosing spondylitis

[jax1986]

Hi all,

Bit of a niche question, but does anyone have any experience with having Ankylosing spondylitis and being pregnant?

I got my diagnosis last year and have been on Humira for about 8 months. It seems to have stabilised my condition which is fab! I'm currently 8+4 weeks. I'm going to stay on Humira until the end of second trimester - positively dreading coming off it!

However, I'm interested to know whether my condition will affect giving birth naturally or the possibility of having an epidural. Has anyone on this forum with AS given birth? I would really appreciate hearing whether it changed your birth plans at all. Thanks in advance!

HI OP. I don't have your condition, but I did have something called spondylolisthesis which resulted in L3, L4, L5, S1 being fused together.

I am due to have an appointment with the consultant anaesthetist to see whether I am able to have an epidural or spinal block. My midwife said in my booking appointment it may be possible that if I have to have an emergency cesearian that they would have to put me to sleep rather than give the spinal block, but hoping that the consultant aneasthetist can elaborate a bit more on how likely this is.

Sorry I can't be of more help, but wanted to reply anyway!

When I say it resulted in them being fused together, I mean I had an operation where they added in screws and rods and fused those vertebrae together - it didn't just occur naturally. If I hadn't had a spinal fusion, I would have ended up not being able to walk.

@jax1986
Hi!
I have ankylosing spondylitis- diagnosed 3 years ago. I was on enbrel injections which took all pain away and my life was back to normal but had to come off of that to get pregnant. Since being pregnant I’ve been in hospital for a month and diagnosed with Crohn’s so now on Humira myself.
This seems to help the Crohn’s but not my back pain as much unfortunately.
My sacroiliac joints are fusing but I’ve been told that I can still have a natural birth- unsure on the epidural? I’m 37 weeks this week so will ask at my midwife appt on Friday actually! Didn’t even think of that!

@UrsulaSings Thanks for the reply. Mine is just inflammation and a loss of mobility, but no fusion. I will be interested to hear what they say about what your consultant says. Keeps me posted if you don't mind. Thanks

@EmC96 I hope Humira works for you as well as it has for me. That's great you can have a natural birth!

Heyy, I also have AS, I am on cizima, I was on enbrel a few years ago but got changed to cizima. The only thing is I've had a bad flare up this pregnancy and now on a course of oral steroids!
I am hoping for a c section. I am 26 weeks and have a consultant appointment tomorrow so hoping to ask tomorrow about the section, my back and hips are causing me so much trouble and couldnt think of going through a natural birth.
Great to hear of others with the condition x