Neuromuscular Disorders in Pregnancy

Diagnosis begins with a discussion of your overall health and symptoms. Your specialist may recommend specific testing, such as blood draws, a neurological exam, electromyography to record muscle activity or an MRI if imaging is considered safe for you. 

Some women experience frequent headaches, migraines and high blood pressure during pregnancy, which is associated with a risk of developing pre-eclampsia or stroke. Other conditions that sometimes arise during pregnancy include: 

 

• Demyelinating polyneuropathies  
• Inflammatory muscle disease 
• Myasthenia gravis and inherited nerve and muscle diseases 

 

Rarely, diseases that are unique to pregnancy and postpartum can arise, requiring hospitalization. Some of these include stroke, eclampsia, cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), pseudotumorcerebri (false brain tumor) or postpartum neuropathy. 

Depending on the results of your diagnostic testing, we will recommend a treatment plan to address the cause of your symptoms and reduce risk to your pregnancy. 

Each neuromuscular disorder requires unique considerations to protect the mother’s health and reduce risk to the pregnancy. Depending on your unique needs, your care team may involve several specialists with expertise in maternal-fetal medicine, neurology and a range of other fields. As a team, we use a multidisciplinary, comprehensive approach to treat neurologic issues in pregnancy and improve your chances for positive outcomes.

Accurate diagnosis is key in managing neuromuscular conditions in pregnancy. Houston Methodist specialists will pinpoint the cause of your symptoms and build a personalized treatment plan to relieve your symptoms, reduce risk to the pregnancy and improve your chances for positive outcomes.