Having a baby after transplant?

[raina]

I've always very much wanted to have a baby but I put it off whilst I launched my buisness.   I was actually planning to get pregnant in about a year when I got sick right before I turned 25.  I've had 3 different nephrologists, 2 have said I should be OK to have a child a year after a sucessful transplant.  Yaay for me.  Now just to get the kidney, I guess.

Anywhoo I'm just starting this thread to get peoples opinions about pregnancy after transplant.



EDITED:  Moved post to proper section - Goofynina/Admin.

[okarol]

Hi Raina -- Doctors originally told us that our daughter should never attempt to get pregnant when she was diagnosed with renal failure
6 years ago. Since then the tide seems to have shifted and more transplant centers are not ruling it out. Our center says " It is possible
to conceive a child after transplant, but it will require careful medication adjustments by your transplant physician before trying." There's
a great discussion thread related to this subject on the National Kindey Foundation website and there are lots of different contributors: http://www.kidney.org/fusetalk/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=60&threadid=12&enterthread=y - take care!

~Karol

[froggy]

I had a baby after my transplant and though I am back on dialysis I would not change it for the world. I have read dozens of success stories about pregnancy after transplant even twins. All my doctor always told me to wait a year some say two and be on a stable dose of medicine. They also say its important to plan and have close follow up. Creatine should be lower than 2.5. Good luck with your decision

[Amanda From OZ]

Hey,

I have many friends who have had children after a transplant. One of my friends have had 3 healthy children. My sister who had a transplant 10 years ago will be trying to to conceive a child after her wedding in september. i will keep you posted on the status of that at the end of the year. 

Good luck with everything. 

[coravh]

I think the only thing you have to be careful of is the medication. I know that some of the anti-rejection meds (I believe cellcept) can cause birth defects. I'm sure your docs will discuss any necessary med changes with you.

Best of luck.

Cora

[angela515]

Hello rain. I was told I should wait 2 years after a transplant to get pregnant. However, it didn't work out like that for me. I got pregnant 6 month's after my transplant, my son was very healthy and there was no complications. I then was scheduled to get my tubes tied, and I found out I was pregnant again with my daughter. My children are 11 1/2 months apart, which I think is great for them to be able to be close and always have someone to play with and talk to. However, I was told my tubes would be tied after removing my daughter by c-section so that I wouldn't get pregnant again because my creatnine was starting to climb, fine by me, 2 kids was way more than I planned for and I was happy I got a boy and a girl.

My transplant only lasted 2 more year's after my daughter was born, so 5 years total... we were hoping it would of lasted longer since it was donated from my mom and she was a very close match. They couldn't really give me a reason for the rejection, however I would recommend waiting the 1 or 2 years post transplant before trying. 

[BigSky]

I have heard of various others who had a baby after having a transplant.

It is very advisable to wait at least a year if not longer a little longer.   From what I was told was the biggest chance of an episode of rejection occurs in the first year of transplant and some very powerful drugs can be used to halt the rejection if needed.  From what I was told roughly 50% of patients will experience some form of rejection in that first year.

[lamillinger913]

I hope this thread isn't too old!

My daughter was born in 1987, 7 years after my transplant. Vaginal delivery, no complications. Yes, I was followed very closely throughout the pregnancy both by my nephro and my ob/gyn. They were great guys ... the ob/gyn printed out a couple of medical studies for me so that I could assess the risk for myself. Ask about that. I also met with a ... can't think of the name ... but the doctors who consult with you about possible birth defects.

My meds were different then ... I was only taking prednisone and azathioprine (Imuran). Could not breast-feed because of possibility of transmitting meds through breast milk. But my daughter was fine. I'd encourage any healthy transplant patient to consider it ... being a mother is a great thing.