Pregnancy with Bronchiectasis and Pseudomonas?

Posted , 5 users are following.

HI everyone,

I'm a 30-year-old woman with the above stated condition and I'm still trying to decide whether or not having children is something I should/can do. All my doctors told me I can absolutely go for it, but I have some specific concerns.

Does pregnancy actually heal or exhaust you? (Some women have said that pregnancy has is "regenerating")

Does all the work around the baby and the lack of sleep worsen your condition?

I would appreciate to hear some of your thoughts and, from all the moms, the experiences.

1 like, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Alouette, I am 40 years old and a mother of 3 children, 13 year old, 11 year old and 6 year old. My 1st two pregnancy I was quite well, but yes it was exhausting towards the end of the pregnancy. I believe though once I became a mum, I learnt how to read my illness and also learnt as a mum you don't have time to be sick! I do push myself alot, but I am quite stubborn.

    I do get very exhausted by the end of the day, but hey I am a mum of 3 busy children and I also teach a year 5 class 3 days a week.

    Even though I am exhausted, I would not give up what I have! I do get sick often, I do suffer from lung pain but I don't give in. During my pregnancy and breastfeeding I was on antibiotics at times but as long as you have a good obstetrician you will know what is safe and what isn't.

    Living with bronchiectasis is all about balance, exercise, postive mind, good diet and time out! Don't give in to it, the more you move and live your life the better life you will have!

    Hope my story helps.

  • Posted

    Hi Alouette.

    Having children is challenging for every parent in different ways. You will find life difficult at times, but you probably have your difficulties now and there's nothing more rewarding and worthwhile than bringing up children. Children are very adaptable and they would be an enormous support to you as they grow. Living for your children rather than constraining your life within the limits the illness places on you could also be theraputic. Don't let your illness deprive you of the wonderful experiences having a family can bring as I suspect you would regret it for the rest of your life. Use Eve as a role model and build yourself a future.

    Best wishes.

    John

  • Posted

    as a husband and father i can assure you that having kids exhusts you.

    there are plenty of pro's and very few cons - but they are crackers!!

    i dont need to explain to much about the pros. my little makes me smile every day smile

    the cons on the other hand are tough and certainly test you as a human - even without Bronch.

    they totally exhust you, you are on call 27/7/365

    and i didnt need to breast feed.

    when they are babies its easier, you sleep when they sleep, you let them eat, then you eat. cyclical!

    once daycare and interaction kicks in it's another story. GERMS and VIRUS' everywhere. which leads to us bronchs acting like retards not being able to live a normal life. this part sux arse so if you ahve a supportive partner, family, friends and whatever you safety net maybe then you should be ok-ish.

    i'll be honest it hurts. in the last 4 years i have spent 300 days in hospital and 300 being sick. my daughter is now 6. its been really hard on the family unit. as i start to get sick my patience starts to wear thin and i get angry quick- she didn't understand it at first, but now i can tell her and she can relate.

    the lack of sleep = lower tolerence to stay healthy.

    from a males point of view with personal experience its your call.

    but weigh up the odds and you make the decision.

    as long as you have the support and have spoken to your specialists, shrink nd parents.

    good luck wink

     

  • Posted

    Thanks everyone for your replies. 

    I wrote this only 10 monts ago, but my condition has worsened so much, as the Pseudomonas has become basically uncontrollable.

    I have another question - has anyone here been pregnant with Pseudomonas and how do you go without antibiotics for 9 months? And breastfeeding?

    Thanks.

    • Posted

      Hello Alouette! I just came across this. I am not certain but it seems that some of the responses were from BX not pseudamonas. I have both for at least 3 years now. I have also had asthma for many years before (but it was mostly controllable). I am 50 yrs old. I was really fit and strong and developed this suddenly and was taken DOWN in a giant way. I have 3 grown children that were a blessing in my life. I feel bad for your situation. I cannot imagine having babies or very young children to care for with pseudamonas. Not to mention the sickness they will bring home once they go to daycare/school. They get sick for many years while building up their immune system. They are a joy and I cannot imagine life without them but I think you would really need GREAT support system if you do decide on having children. My pseudsmonas seems to be an almost continual issue. I keep hoping they will come up with a better treatment/cure some day. What has been happening with your pseudamonas since your original post?
    • Posted

      Hi, thanks for the reply. Everything you say is almost exaclty how I feel about babies right now. And all the people around me don't really understand how it feels to have lung issues, so they think I can do it. And yes, the bugs they bring home, that's scary.  

      The problem with my PS is I only feel ok while on meds. Azitromycin gives me Candida, Cypro gives me fever-like side effects. All the natural remedies that used to help in the past are not as effective, and the BX seems to have spread a little.And this is all thanks to an extremely stressful period which happened in February. So I will probably have to go to hospital again where I'll get traumatized looking at people dying from lung cancer

       

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