Helping Mothers Cope with Lupus

Being a mother is considered to be one of the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences. For many women, it’s what identifies them to the rest of the world.  Warm hugs and soft kisses from little faces have the power to drive women to overcome any challenge they face. For many women, the most difficult challenge is being a mom with lupus. 

When a mother develops lupus it doesn’t become her disease, it quickly becomes the family's disease. This is because when lupus decides to flare, it will in its own way and dictate what does and does not happen in the house. 

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation, swelling, pain and damage to joints, skin rashes, and kidney issues.

Lupus is known to strike unexpectedly and flare-ups will occur. For moms who are also lupus patients, they must learn that concessions must be made to their parenting styles.  In other words, they must learn to co-parent with the disease as a partner to ensure they are practicing self care. 

Thanks to technology, internet, and social media, more and more moms with lupus are sharing their stories and connecting with one another. Because of this, it’s easy to find a number of tips about being a mom with lupus. 

Do not be afraid to talk your lupus 

It’s important to talk about the disease, especially to their close family members. It’s a lot easier for others to understand why playdates are cancelled or if family functions are cut short when mom is honest with everyone about not feeling well. 

Remember to always have a plan for when a flare-up kicks up 

Lupus is a fickle disease and you never know when a flare up will occur. This is why having a plan in place for those bad days is key.  As a mother with lupus, it’s good to have a few backup plans in place for a variety of situations. For example, a lupus patient who is sensitive to the food they eat should always try to have a quick healthy alternative for those nights when making dinner just isn’t in the cards. 

Sometimes planning and preparation does require a bit of work, but in the long-run being ready for the unexpected will potentially keep the lupus patient healthier and will certainly help keep the family happy.