Some studies have shown that pregnancy can increase the possibility of a flare while other studies dispute this. If a flare occurs, medication options are limited due to the pregnancy which makes controlling the flare problematic. Another concern is the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies, the lupus anticoagulant or anti-cardiolipin antibodies. These antibodies cause blood clots that can occur in the placenta which cause problems in the developing fetus. These antibodies are also associated with a higher rate of miscarriage than in the general population.
Premature delivery is common among women with lupus.
Many women with lupus fear that their children will develop lupus at some point in their life. This fear is usually unfounded. Lupus rarely occurs in children whose mothers had lupus. This causes a rash, blood count abnormalities and in some cases a problematic heartbeat. The heart problem is treatable, but permanent.