Fibroids & Pregnancy

A small number of pregnant women have uterine fibroids. If you are pregnant and have fibroids, they likely will not cause problems for you or your baby.

During pregnancy, fibroids may increase in size. Most of this growth occurs from blood flowing to the uterus. Combined with the extra demands placed on the body by pregnancy, the growth of fibroids may cause discomfort, feelings of pressure, or pain. Fibroids can increase the risk of:

• miscarriage (in which the pregnancy ends before 20 weeks)
• preterm birth
• breech birth (in which the baby is born in a position other than head down)
  
  

Rarely, a large fibroid can block the opening of the uterus or keep the baby from passing into the birth canal. In this case, the baby is delivered by cesarean birth. In most cases, even a large fibroid will move out of the fetus's way as the uterus expands during pregnancy. Women with large fibroids may have more blood loss after delivery.

Often, fibroids do not need to be treated during pregnancy. If you are having symptoms such as pain or discomfort, your doctor may prescribe rest. Sometimes a pregnant woman with fibroids will need to stay in the hospital for a time because of pain, bleeding, or threatened preterm labor. Very rarely, myomectomy may be performed in a pregnant woman. Cesarean birth may be needed after myomectomy. Fibroids decrease in size after pregnancy in most cases.