This is a screen shot of the maternal pku section of www.npkua.org

Women with pku who wish to have a baby one day must deal with mpku syndrome.

When Cole and I are ready to have a baby it is critical that I have my levels low and in range prior to conceiving , the duration of the pregnancy and breastfeeding.

If not there are many great risks to myself but also to the unborn baby. The side effects could be fatal.

For us to have a suscessful future pregnancy my levels need to between 2 to 4 mg/dl as whatever my levels are in my blood are double in the uterus and are toxic.

High levels to a fetus can lead to the baby being born mentally handicapped , disabled ,heart and brain defects , brain damage , microcephaly , poor fetal growth , or more .

Despite how scary this sounds. ..if I maintain my levels and keep myself healthy it is 100 % possible to have a normal pregnancy and healthy baby .

Many women my age have had great success . I have met many inspirational women at my clinic who have perfectly healthy children with no side effects.

Now with our low protein subsidy and support systems I have in place , I am hopeful for the future and dream of the day Cole and I start a family.

At times it is very overwhelming and scary . Sometimes I feel this is the worst part of having pku. Sometimes I think if I didn’t have pku..Cole and I would have already had a baby.

This year we celebrate 10 years together and I turn 29. I always wanted to have a baby before I was 30. It is still my dream but seems to be still out of reach.