With heartfelt sincerity, Laurie, a mother who accepted to talk about her story during our Launch event on November 19th, shared her deeply personal journey of navigating pregnancy while managing chronic illnesses such as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and hypertension.
Medications becoming a regular part of life
Pregnancy brings challenges for any parent, but for Laurie, it also meant managing the complexities of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Diagnosed at 14, Laurie has spent much of her life balancing medications to manage pain, inflammation, and other effects of this autoimmune disease. Her story highlights the strength and care needed to navigate pregnancy while living with a chronic illness. Laurie began:
“Since I was 14, I’ve taken them daily to manage the pain and inflammation from rheumatoid arthritis. When I was diagnosed with hypertension in my 20s, the need for medications only grew. But as I considered starting a family, I knew I needed to approach things differently. One of my medications, methotrexate, could harm a developing baby, so I sought pre-pregnancy counselling. Despite all the advice, I was shocked by the lack of data on medication use during pregnancy. It left me feeling uncertain and stressed.”
Pregnancy vs Chronic Illness
Her pregnancies were filled with difficult decisions and trade-offs.
“You shouldn’t have to choose between your health and your baby’s, but that’s exactly what I faced. Do I stop my medications and risk severe pain and inflammation, or do I continue and face unknown risks? It’s an impossible position to be in.”
With the support of her healthcare team, she chose to stop her medication when she was pregnant. During her first pregnancy, she experienced partial remission from rheumatoid arthritis, which brought some relief.
“For a time, I could manage the pain, though there were mornings I could barely hold a pen,” she said. “Claire, my sweet little girl, was born healthy in 2007, but I could only breastfeed for two weeks before my condition flared back with a vengeance. Once again, I had to choose: my health or breastfeeding.”
Her second pregnancy in 2012 proved even more challenging. Laurie’s symptoms didn’t go into remission, and her health declined as the pregnancy progressed:
” I had trouble breathing and was in and out of hospital a lot. I had to take medications. Later, I also developed preeclampsia, which led to a seizure during delivery. The last thing I remember before giving birth was having a seizure.”
She woke up in intensive care, while her newborn son was in the neonatal intensive care unit. Fortunately, Charlie was healthy, but Laurie required extensive recovery. “Even with the same person, you never know what will happen in different pregnancies,” Laurie explained.
Advocating for Better Resources
Despite these challenges, Laurie focused on healing and caring for her family. Today, she works with the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance to support parents going through similar challenges. Her experience illustrates the physical and emotional resilience required to navigate a high-risk pregnancy while managing a chronic illness.
She concludes with a powerful message for other parents:
“Advocate for yourself. Seek out counselling and ask the hard questions. Your health matters, and it’s essential to find the balance that works for you and your baby. Let’s work together to ensure that no parent feels unsupported or uninformed.”
You can listen to Laurie’s story here: