‘My biggest concern was that I was going to pass lupus onto my kids’

Kate Middleton, CEO of the Wren Project, talks about the lack of research for prospective mothers living with autoimmune diseases

Navigating life choices such as motherhood when living with complex autoimmune diseases can be incredibly challenging.

And as our CEO of the Wren Project, Kate Middleton, discovered on her own personal journey to motherhood - little research exists to help prospective mothers make such life-changing decisions.

Sharing how it feels to navigate pregnancy while living with lupus in a new interview with CBS news, Kate said there is a lack of information for women on medications for chronic diseases who are considering having children.

“My biggest concern was how likely was it that I was going to pass lupus on to my kids,” she shared in the documentary ‘Navigating Pregnancy with Chronic Disease: Closing the Data Gap.

“And what was the effect of my medications [on my pregnancy]. I don’t think there is that much information or advice for women out there, on the same medications that I'm on, or the same history of disease.”

Kate, who was diagnosed with lupus at 17 years old, said she was lucky to have clinicians that she trusted when she began her reproductive journey but without them, it would have been “terrifying.”

“There is very little information for women with lupus,” she explained. “I had amazing clinicians that I had trust in. 

“If I didn’t have those clinicians. I think it would have been absolutely terrifying and I’m not sure I would have made the decisions that I did.”

Kate, who has lived with lupus for all of her adult life, founded the Wren Project in 2020. The only UK charity to offer free, listening support to anyone over the age of 18 living with autoimmune disease, its aim is to help reduce the loneliness, grief and isolation felt by many living with these complex conditions.

You can watch the full documentary featuring Kate now, by clicking ‘play’ above. 

Kate was speaking to CBS News for the ‘Navigating Pregnancy with Chronic Disease: Closing the Data Gap’ documentary.

If you, or someone you know, is living in difficulty as a result of an autoimmune disease diagnosis, you can reach out to the Wren Project here and apply for support.