Pregnancy and Parenting with Sarcoidosis
The good news about pregnancy and sarcoidosis is that women often improve somewhat during pregnancy. Pregnancy triggers the release of steroids that result in an overall improvement in the condition. Unfortunately, as those steroid levels go down after delivery, usually within three to six months, there is an increased possibility of an exacerbation. As the saying goes, "forewarned is forearmed," so parents can prepare themselves for the inevitable change in the condition. Whoever has the condition, be it the mother or father, may need some added support during this time, and a possible adjustment in lifestyle and medication.
Parenting with a chronic condition requires a special dedication and creativity. The rulebook on how to parent was not written for parents with chronic health conditions. That doesn't mean that parents don't work hard to assure that their children grow up healthy and happy. It means that how your family manages the task of parenting may look a little different from your neighbor and more similar to the families in your sarcoidosis support group. Experienced parents in your support group can offer emotional support, and tips on how to make the task of parenting easier. It may not be necessary for you to reinvent the wheel. Also, more information is now available from various resources on parenting with a chronic condition.
Creative living offers the widest array of options for dealing with the pitfalls of living with sarcoidosis. Taking care of the caregiver first is paramount so that the needs of the child can be attended to. Tips on conserving energy, saving time, and shortcuts for managing your daily life demands abound in magazines, on the Internet, and in other parenting resources. Initially, problem solving what works best for your family may take some trial and error. If the tips are not working for you and/ or you're having serious problems that are responding slowly to medication, you may want to query your primary care provider about a referral to an occupational therapist, experts in these areas.
Whatever lifestyle your family chooses in achieving successful parenting, following some general principles for staying well always help: 1. Allot time for rest, relaxation, and play, 2. Eat nutritiously, get some fresh air daily, and stay active, 3. Delegate responsibilities when necessary (include using paid providers), 4. Use the KIS (keep it simple) approach to organizing and performing daily tasks, 5. Utilize the support from family, friends, sarcoidosis support group, etc., 6. Maintain the medical
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