Postpartum Concerns

I've been putting a lot of thought into what is going to happen with the MS postpartum lately. At first, I was kind of just flying the positivity balloon and saying I wasn't going to think much about it because I didn't want to will it to happen... but as I listened to other people's concerns I realized that though in theory that's a great idea, in actuality, it's just plain stupid.

Israel has been concerned with what is going to happen with my health after our baby is born all along.  I think a part of me was afraid to discuss it with him in any detail because I didn't want to scare him with the aspect of taking care of an infant child and me while likely working to support us financially, too. 

Conversations and listening to the concerns of other close friends also got me thinking about it.  Every year, Slumber Parties has its national convention in New Orleans, LA around March - April.  It's a big event where I get the opportunity to cash in on prizes and credits I have been earning all year... so basically, it's a stupid event to miss (they basically pay me to go).  Over this past weekend I was talking with another one of the Slumber Parties girls about how I'm going to pull off getting to New Orleans this year with a newborn baby, when she addressed what I hadn't even thought about!  She said, "I wasn't worried about that part... I was more worried that you wouldn't be able to come because of your MS and something happening with that after the baby is born." How could I have missed that?? Wow. I didn't even think about that being a major limit on my travel plans.  Looks like I'll need an insured ticket...

So basically, it's been on my mind lately.  It seems almost morbid to try to think through it and plan for the worst while hoping for the best, but it also seems like what needs to be done.  I did a little bit of research, too, to find out what exactly the research says I have to be prepared for.  It was actually not too bad.  Basically, it stated that the first 3 months postpartum are the ones with the highest relapse rate.  But in another study, they found that breastfeeding instead of getting back on an MS treatment immediately after giving birth may be beneficial in reducing relapses.  Basically about 50% of women with MS in the study did not breastfeed.  Of those, 87% relapsed in the first 3 months.  Of the other ~50% who breastfed, only 36% relapsed.

Just some interesting things to think about... lucky for me I have great family and friends who are all willing to step in and help me out if/when the time comes.  I just hope they get to help me out with the baby and not my own health.