women s health issues
Autoimmune Disorders During Pregnancy
Myasthenia Gravis
 Myasthenia Gravis causes muscle weakness. Its effects during pregnancy and between pregnancies vary. Pregnant women may have more episodes of weakness. Thus, they may need to take higher doses of the medications (such as Some medications that are commonly used during pregnancy, such as magnesium, can make the weakness caused by myasthenia gravis worse. So women who have myasthenia gravis must make sure their doctors know they have it. Very rarely during labor, women who have myasthenia gravis need help with breathing (assisted ventilation). Although vaginal delivery is recommended, women may require assistance, for example, with forceps. The antibodies that cause this disorder can cross the placenta. Approximately one of five babies born to women with myasthenia gravis is born with the disorder. However, the resulting muscle weakness in the baby is usually temporary because the antibodies from the mother gradually disappear and the baby does not produce antibodies of this type. 