REPORT

Multiple Sclerosis: Its Manifestations and Management in Pregnancy

Multiple Sclerosis
According to NHS (2018), Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition that can affect the brain
and spinal cord, causing a wide range of potential symptoms, including problems with vision,
arm or leg movement, sensation or balance such, fatigue, difficulty walking, problems
controlling the bladder, numbness or tingling in different parts of the body, muscle stiffness and
spasms, and problems with thinking, learning and planning. MS is unpredictable and can range
from benign to disabling. Some people with MS may be mildly affected. Others may lose the
ability to write, speak, or walk (Johns Hopkins Medicine, n.d.).
Johns Hopkins Medicine (n.d.) further explicates that many things may cause MS,
including viruses, autoimmune disorders, environmental factors, and genetic factors. But, all of
the possible causes share the common feature that the body's immune system attacks its own
nervous tissue. In MS, the immune system attacks the layer of protein called myelin that
surrounds the nerve fibers in the central nervous system. Myelin insulates the electrical signals
the nervous system uses to communicate. When this insulation is destroyed, communication is
interrupted. Parts of the nervous system become permanently damaged.
In pregnancy, the disabling effects of the disease may make it physically hard to carry a
pregnancy. Muscle weakness and coordination problems may increase the likelihood for falls.
Fatigue may worsen. Wheelchair dependence may increase the risk for urinary tract infections.
There is no evidence that MS causes infertility. Studies have shown that pregnancy, delivery, and
rate of birth defects are not significantly different in women with MS compared with those
without MS.
Manifestations during Pregnancy

Treatment Modality

New Treatment Modalities for Pregnant Women Who Have Preexisting Illnesses or
Disorders

Nursing Interventions
References

Johns Hopkins Medicine (n.d.). Multiple Sclerosis and Pregnancy. Retrieved from
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/multiple-sclerosis-
ms/multiple-sclerosis-and-pregnancy.
NHS (2018). Overview: Multiple Sclerosis. Retrieved from
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/multiple-sclerosis/#:~:text=Multiple%20sclerosis
%20(MS)%20is%20a,leg%20movement%2C%20sensation%20or%20balance.