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Humira and pregnancy

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Posted 3/4/2015 2:33 PM (GMT -7)
Hello. I am having a issue. Me and my husband want to try to have a baby. My GI doctor does not think I should continue my humira if I want to get pregnant. He honestly does not think I should even start trying until I see a doctor in Manhattan who has more knowledge of humira and pregnancy. But my question is has anyone here taken humira while pregnant? My GI thinks I shouldn't even start trying until I stop the humira for 12 weeks until it's out of my system. Please if you have any information to help me. We wanted to start trying in april. I could use some help. Thanks so much!
Posted 3/4/2015 3:25 PM (GMT -7)
Humira is safe during pregnancy. Many have done it and had healthy babies. It's important to stay in remission while pregnant. Your GI is flat out incorrect about this and needs to do better homework.
Posted 3/4/2015 4:19 PM (GMT -7)
Wow, I'm surprised your GI said that. Most GIs recommend that you stay on your meds, whatever they are, so that you don't flare during the pregnancy - that could cause a miscarriage. I was on Remicade (super similar to Humira) my entire pregnancy, and had no problems whatsoever with regards to it. The ONLY thing was that I had a c-section at 37 weeks because I was due for my next infusion (you aren't supposed to have them after 32 weeks because they stay in the system so long) and was already starting to have symptoms, so it was better to do that than to delay the next infusion, flare, and go into labor that way. I have a rectovaginal fistula that won't heal, so I had to do a c-section.

Also, after my daughter was born we were told to keep her out of public for 8 weeks and to not give her any live vaccinations until 6 months old. She is now 19 months old and completely healthy and developing normally.

I am kind of angry now at your GI.

Here is one resource about Humira and pregnancy:
http://www.pregnancystudies.org/ongoing-pregnancy-studies/autoimmune-studies/specific-treatments-autoimmune/specific-treatments-autoimmune-studies-adalimumab-humira-and-pregnancy/

And another:
http://www.mothertobaby.org/files/adalimumab.pdf
Posted 3/4/2015 4:25 PM (GMT -7)
So according to you guys it is completely safe. I have twin girls that are now 4 years old. I was in pentasa while pregnant with them. A year after my pregnancy I was in the hospital with obstruction in my bowel and that is when they decided I needed humira. I have been fine since starting humira and I am afraid to stop it. my GI said I should just totally stop taking it but I am nervous I will end up back in the hospital with an obstruction. Is humira something I can take my entire pregnancy or would I stop it during my 3rd trimester?
Posted 3/4/2015 6:00 PM (GMT -7)
I think it's okay the entire time up until one dose's time before the due date (within reason). For example, my Remicade was every 8 weeks. I got it that often all the way up to 29 weeks, which is just how it happened to work. Since it's typically 8 weeks before it wears off, they didn't want it to be given after 32 weeks. Does that make sense?

So if your Humira is ever two weeks, then don't take a dose within the window of two weeks till deliver. Unless you start flaring. My GI said that if I were to have problems, she would have even had me do a Remicade infusion at 36 weeks if needed.
Posted 3/4/2015 9:32 PM (GMT -7)
I have a Humira baby. She is 6 now. I took Humira during my entire pregnancy and even breastfed her for 9 months while on it. During my pregnancy I was part of the OTIS study on Humira in pregnancy. A year after my daughter was born the lead doctor, Dr. Kenneth Lyons (he "discovered" fetal alcohol syndrome) flew to my home to personally examine her. He said that she was perfect and also informed us that Humira proving to be safe during pregnancy and that there were no adverse effects to a fetus/baby from taking the drug. That was back in 2008/2009. My kiddo is healthy, intelligent, and has no health issues whatsoever.

Clearly your doctor doesn't know very much about this. I would recommend you finding a doctor who has more experience in this area or who is a little more educated. There is NO reason for you to stop your Humira. A flare up is far more dangerous to a pregnancy. I was taking a double dose of Humira every week throughout my pregnancy. I delivered at 38 & 1/2 weeks. Baby was fine. Don't stop your Humira. Find a new doc.

Stef
Posted 3/5/2015 8:00 AM (GMT -7)
Thank you so much. I will see the doctor in Manhattan and see if he can give me any more input.
Posted 3/7/2015 1:31 PM (GMT -7)
I have 2.5 year old identical twin girls. I was om humira the entire pregnancy and all went well. They are born at 35 weeks but where strong and healthy. I just went into labour early and had a c-section due to the babies being breech.

They did get very sick when they where 3 weeks old but we never found a reason and I stopped breastfeeding them when they where 6 weeks old and they got better after that and just so we are clear I am not saying it was caused by Humira it just happened like that!

Today they are very bright toddlers, scored 95/100 on there development test and are big and strong. They do have kidney reflux but are doing well.

I would go through another humira pregnancy without a doubt in my mind! Even if I was pregnant with twins I felt like I was the healthiest I have been since getting diagnosed in 2008.

Good luck
Posted 3/7/2015 4:21 PM (GMT -7)
Did any of you breastfeed while on humira?
Posted 3/7/2015 8:58 PM (GMT -7)
Stef did. I breastfed on Remicade....the proteins are too big to pass through the barrier into breastmilk, so it was okay.
Posted 3/8/2015 1:11 PM (GMT -7)
I breastfed for 9 months while taking Humira. No issues there as far as the milk and the medicine. The basic idea behind the science is that molecule of the medicine is so large that only trace amounts of the dose are able to get through. Trace amounts meaning less than 1% of the dose.

https://www.infantrisk.com/forum/showthread.php?616-Humira-Enbrel-or-Remicade-for-RA-while-breastfeeding

This link should give you some more information. Dr. Hale is the leading expert on medications and breast milk. You can search the site for different meds and see if it is safe to breastfeed while taking them.
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