Adalimumab during pregnancy

Do not stop it suddenly after a positive pregnancy test without speaking to the prescribing specialist. Uncontrolled inflammatory disease can also affect health during pregnancy, so the decision should account for disease activity, previous flares, other treatment options, and the stage of pregnancy.

Adalimumab is an antibody medicine that blocks tumour necrosis factor, an inflammatory messenger. Antibody transfer across the placenta changes as pregnancy progresses, which may influence the timing plan. There is no single schedule suitable for everyone: continuing treatment can protect disease control, while modifying it may be considered when the condition is stable and the clinical circumstances support that choice.

The obstetric and prescribing teams should coordinate the plan, including treatment near delivery and information the newborn's clinical team may need.

If possible, discuss pregnancy intentions before conception so your specialist can review disease control, medicines, vaccinations, and routine monitoring. Once pregnant, tell the obstetric team the exact adalimumab product, dose schedule, and date of the most recent injection. Attend planned reviews and use the medicine only as prescribed.

Before delivery, request a written plan covering later doses, postpartum treatment, breastfeeding, and the baby's vaccination advice. Make sure the baby's doctor knows about exposure during pregnancy, because this can affect decisions about some live vaccines early in life.

Contact your maternity or prescribing team promptly if you develop fever, persistent cough, painful urination, an infected wound, or another sign of infection. Urgent maternity assessment is needed for heavy bleeding, severe abdominal pain, fluid leakage, reduced fetal movement when movements are normally felt, or other warning signs specified by your obstetric service. Trouble breathing or facial swelling after an injection requires emergency help.

Discuss the benefit of controlling your condition, the possible consequences of pausing treatment, and whether dose timing should change later in pregnancy. Ask who will coordinate dermatology and maternity care, what monitoring you need, how to manage an infection or missed injection, when treatment resumes after birth, and which infant vaccines need individual guidance.