Labor is ultimately diagnosed with cervical dilation in the presence of contractions. Ideally, this should be done within at least two hours prior to delivery. A traditional epidural is frequently held until a woman reaches active labor, commonly four centimeters dilated. It can be administered throughout active labor and even when a woman is pushing and completely dilated. Pregnancy has no long-term adverse effects on the course of sarcoidosis.
Most patients improve during pregnancy.
Poor pregnancy prognosis is associated with lesions on chest x-ray, age greater than 35, requirement of drugs other than steroids and the presence of sarcoidosis outside of the lungs. With subsequent pregnancies, the cervix can open up slowly in the last 4-6 weeks prior to labor at a rate of approximately one centimeter a week. High risk pregnancies also include those women who themselves are healthy but their unborn child or children are having problems, whether that be from a birth defect discovered by ultrasound or a possible genetic condition. We really enjoyed having you as our guest today, Dr. O'Leary, and would love to invite you back for another chat. I would love to come back and answer more of your questions.