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Lupus
Lupus is a disease that can inflame the joints and affect the skin, blood, and kidneys. Normally, the body makes anitbodies to protect the body from disease. These antibodies search out and remove the foreign bacteria and viruses in the body that would make one sick. With lupus, the body loses its ability to distinguish between the foreign bacteria and viruses and its own tissues and organs. This means that while the antibodies do attack foreign substances, the antibodies also attack the body itself, causing pain and inflamation in the tissues.

Pregnant women who have lupus have a 50% chance of having a normal pregnancy. However, there is a 25% chance of miscarriage or stillbirth, 25% chance of going into preterm labor, 20% chance of developing pre-eclampsia, and a 3% chance of giving lupus to the baby in the form of neonatal lupus. [Source: Lupus Foundation of America.]

For more information about lupus and pregnancy, take a look at the Mayo Clinic and the Lupus Foundation of America.

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