When you think about arthritis, you don’t usually imagine a young pregnant woman; however arthritis affects more than the over 60s.

In fact, you can develop arthritis at any stage of your life, so if you are reading this, have got arthritis, but want to have a baby, you are not alone.

Trying for a baby
A part from lupus, most types of arthritis will not harm your baby or create complications during your pregnancy. Yes, you will experience more aches and pains as your bump gets bigger (if you have got osteoarthritis in your knees, hips or ankles), but generally you will find that your condition improves.

For instance, if you have got rheumatoid arthritis you may find that you experience no flare-ups until after your baby is born!

Now this being said, if you are considering trying for a baby, it is important that you talk to your doctor first, as they will be able to prescribe you the safest combination of drugs at their lowest dosages so you don’t have to completely give up your painkillers during pregnancy.

The only ones you will have to be wary of using are NSAIDs as research has found that they can make conception difficult.

Should I stop taking anti-inflammatories completely?
Whilst this might sound like a good idea – after all it ensures they don’t affect your baby’s development – completely stopping your anti-inflammatories could in fact make your arthritis worse. For this reason , it is best to talk to your doctor first before you make any rash decisions.

During your pregnancy
As mentioned before, whilst you might be more susceptible to back and joint ache; the reality is every pregnant woman has a high chance of experiencing this type of discomfort.

In fact when it comes to your arthritis, you may find that your pregnancy actually helps to relieve some of your symptoms.

However if you are reading this, worried that your arthritis will give worse, then there are a number of things you can do to improve your experience:

1. Keep exercising – try to keep exercising for as long as you can during pregnancy as this will help prevent muscle wastage and instead help to strengthen your joints.
To help relieve some of this pressure though, we recommend exercising in a swimming pool as the water will help to support your weight and your bump.

2. Invest in bump support
Even if you haven’t got arthritis, it is possible to invest in maternity support bands which will help to support the weight of your bump and in turn relieve your back.
Similarly you can invest in support bands for your wrists, knees and ankles to help you cope with the weight of your growing bump.

3. Get plenty of sleep
Fatigue can increase your arthritic symptoms so it is important that you try to get plenty of sleep every day. One good tip is to take a nap in the afternoon for 30 minutes to help revitalise yourself.

If however you are struggling to get comfortable, placing a pillow beneath your bump with help to take some of its weight. Similarly, sleeping on a firmer mattress will help you to experience back pain relief as it will provide your back with additional support.

4. Wear flat shoes
Even if you weren’t pregnant, wearing flat shoes/a low heel can help to reduce backache as your calves, hip and bum muscles won’t shorten or become stiff under the strain.
Remember: as your bump grows, your centre of gravity will shift making it harder for you to maintain a straight posture.

5. Don’t exceed yourself
It is important that you recognise your limitations and don’t try to push yourself too much. Even without arthritis when you are pregnant it is essential that you avoid lifting heavy objects; balance the weight of your shopping (between both hands) and recognise when you need to take a break.
Standing in the same spot for a continuous amount of time for example, will trigger your back ache, so if you are on your feet remember to keep mobile and sit down when possible.

6. Eat a healthy diet
There has been a lot of speculation about whether certain foods can improve arthritis. A Mediterranean diet for instance is often recommended for those suffering from arthritis as it contains many good oils which are good for your joints.

And when you are pregnant it is even more important that you eat a balanced diet. Simply make sure you eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, minerals, and lean meats, and limit the amount of oils you have.

Pregnancy is a wonderful experience and one which you should be able to enjoy without the discomfort and pain of arthritis.

Simply remember to talk to your doctor first about what medications you are safe to continue using; what foods you will need to eat more of (e.g. some anti-inflammatories reduce your natural folic production) and exercises which will reduce your arthritic pain. More importantly, make sure that you take care of yourself.

This article was written for those in search of natural pain relief.