Porsha Williams and Deiondra Sanders Talk Pregnancy with Fibroids

Today, we’re looking at how some of our favorite stars—Porsha Williams and Deiondra Sanders—have experienced pregnancy with fibroids.  After years of struggling with fertility and miscarriage due to uterine fibroids, Williams got pregnant. But just a few months later, Porsha, now well into her pregnancy, was taken to the hospital, reportedly because of complications from a large fibroid tumor.

Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in a woman's uterus. Prior to becoming pregnant, Porsha had undergone myomectomy surgery to remove a fibroid, but clearly a new one has developed. According to People.com, Porsha suffered “some pregnancy complications due to large fibroids. She was admitted to the hospital.”

While Porsha was released from hospital and went on to deliver a healthy baby, she spoke to Bravo TV about the incident, saying "In my second trimester…I had that one little scare, when I had to go to the hospital, but since then I haven’t had any issue with the fibroids."

For Deiondra Sanders, daughter of football great Deion Sanders, pregnancy with fibroids was more complex. Deiondra had multiple miscarriages and myomectomies before conceiving. Then, during her pregnancy, she experienced a shortened cervix and needed to undergo a procedure, known as a cerclage (it keeps the cervix closed with stitches) in order to prevent early labor.

Luckily, both Deiondra and Porsha went on to deliver healthy babies. But their stories highlight how fibroids can make it more difficult for pregnant women to carry their babies to term. Fibroids can also complicate the delivery process, especially if they are located near the opening of a woman's cervix.

Pregnancy and Fibroids: What You Need to Know

Pregnancy with fibroids is possible, but the growths can cause complications. Between 10 and 30 percent of pregnant fibroid sufferers will experience complications. Problems range from mild to severe, and can include:

• Abdominal pain
• Light vaginal bleeding
• Increased risk of premature delivery
• Abnormal fetal position
• Increased risk of miscarriage
• Increased risk of cesarean section

Treating Fibroids During Pregnancy

In an ideal situation, a woman's fibroids would be treated before she became pregnant. Many women, however, don't know they have fibroids until after they've conceived! Once a pregnant woman is found to have fibroids, most symptoms can be treated with minimal intervention.

Fibroids should also be monitored throughout your pregnancy. The hormonal changes affecting your body during this time may cause the tumors to grow larger. In some cases, however, the hormones have the opposite effect, shrinking the fibroids as your baby grows.

Whatever your situation or symptoms, staying aware of your fibroid symptoms during pregnancy will help ensure a safe and on time delivery for your baby. Once your child is born, you can determine the best treatment option for your specific situation. And if you wish to explore minimally invasive uterine fibroid embolization following your delivery, we invite you to request a consultation at one of our six Houston area fibroid clinics.