Pregnancy, Parenting and More with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Episode at a Glance:

The following is a breakdown of the main topics we discussed - scroll to the end to see hyperlinks for resources mentioned in this episode! As a reminder: this episode was originally recorded in 2019.

• 01:35 - Claire diagnosis journey for rheumatoid arthritis: difficulty being believed by providers through her official diagnosis and her journey towards accepting it
• 10:30 Claire’s pregnancy and childbirth experience
• 14:20 - Claires postpartum experience with RA coming back slowly
• 16:20 - How Claire parents a Toddler with Rheumatoid Arthritis
• 18:15 Claire’s advice for people with RA who might want to have a child
• 20:20 - How to Manage Stress and Anxiety with chronic illness, including tips for finding a good fit with a provider (
• 26:40: Claire’s advice for newly diagnosed patients
• 30:10: What Claire wishes doctors did better
• 31:26: Claire’s tips for a good patient-provider relationship and tips for advocating for yourself
• 35:36: The Difference between living with an invisible illness and living with a visible one when Claire had to wear a splint!
• 38:55: How RA affected Claire’s choice of work, and her employment
• 41:42: How RA affected Claire’s relationship with her husband
• 44:00 - Fatigue and RA
• 45:44 – How RA affects friendships and relationships in adulthood

Get More Support at:

Rheum to THRIVE, an online course and support program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected**.** See all the details and join the program or waitlist now!

External resources mentioned in this episode or relevant to it:

• Suzie Edward May “Arthritis Pregnancy and the Path to Parenthood”
• Mother to Baby - website for evidence based information for pregnancy and medications
• Arthritis Life Podcast, Practical Tips & Support - Cheryl's Facebook group
• Free download from Cheryl: my Master RA Checklist
• Free download: the 6 Things Everyone with Arthritis Should Know

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER:

All content found on the Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.