Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system. MS is an autoimmune disease, a disease where the body produces antibodies or lymphocytes against substances naturally present in the body. In people with MS the brain has difficulty getting messages to the rest of the body.
iMS s the most common chronic autoimmune demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) which preferentially involves young women in early child bearing age, so it's not unusual to have women with MS get pregnant.
There is a wide range of how people are affected by MS, it can be relatively disabling, with some losing their ability to write, speak, or walk while others have only mild symptoms.
The exact cause of MS is still being researched and many different causes are being discussed including viruses, autoimmune disorders, environmental factors, and genetic factors. In all of these possible causes the body's immune system attacks its own nervous tissue.
Symptoms of MS may be mild or severe, they may appear in various combinations, last shorter or longer.
Multiple sclerosis can first appear during pregnancy, it could have been diagnosed prior to pregnancy or in the postpartum period.
Women in labor with MS may not have pelvic sensation, and may not feel pain with contractions. This may also make it difficult for them to tell when labor begins. Delivery of the baby may be more difficult in women with MS. While labor itself is not affected, the muscles and nerves needed for pushing can be affected. This may make Cesarean section surgery, forceps, and vacuum-assisted deliveries more likely.