Ulcerative Colitis and Pregnancy

[Anonymous]

Any moms out there who have Ulcerative Colitis and can tell me how their pregnancy went? Did you opt for a C-section based on doctor's advice? Which Doctor did you see? I am seeing Dr. Beckerman at Foxhall OBGYN currently. Greatly appreciate any advice - first pregnancy and a little nervous here. Thanks so much.

[Anonymous]

Fellow UC person here. My experience with UC and pregnancy . . .

Prior to getting pregnant I had to get off my medicines (Remicade and Imuran) for a few month before trying. I had one flare immediately after getting pregnant that put me in the hospital and on prednisone. I had another flare and another round of prednisone at 6 months. Other than a few weeks around the two flares I had a very easy pregnancy and felt great.

Both my OBGYN (Capital Womens Care) and my Gastro (Georgetown Practice) told me that obstetrically everythign was perfectly healthy so I did not need to have a csection. I ended up with one anyway but for reasons completely unrelated to the UC. I also went to see a high risk OB at Georgetown (Dr. Bolan) before getting pregnant and after. She told me that basically every person and every pregnancy was different but that unless there are unique circumstances there was no reason somepne with US would automatically need a csection.

Despite the flares and prednisone, I now have a beautiful, healthy baby that is 4 months old. I have been mostly symptom free since he was born. I plan to go back on Remicade once I am no longer breastfeeding.

I hope you pregnancy goes smoothly and that you and your baby are healthy!

[Anonymous]

I don't have UC, but I have Crohn's Disease. My doctor strongly urged me to have a c-section which I'm fully comfortable with. I currently take Asacol everyday and I've read that it does transfer through breastmilk so I need to either talk to my Gastro or OBGYN to figure out what to do.

[Anonymous]

OP here to Mom with Crohn's - do you mind telling me which doctor you are seeing that advised the C-Section? Thank you to everyone who has replied to this!!

[Anonymous]

I'm seeing Dr. Dorothy C. Lee with Capital Women's Care. She's in the Rockville and Germantown offices. Their number is: 301-279-9400

Their Web site is: http://www.cwcare.net/

[Anonymous]

This is interesting. I have Crohn's as well and haven't heard a single thing about a recommendation for a C-section because of it.

[Anonymous]

UC here. For both my pregnancies I went off medicines. First pregnancy I had some flare-ups that I just ignored (my UC is thankfully quite mild). 2nd pregnancy I had no symptoms whatsoever. I breastfed both babies for 10 months without taking meds.

I did have a c-section for both, but totally unrelated to UC; I actually labored for many, many hours before we decided on a c-section. I've never heard of the need for a c-section due to UC.

Good luck to you!

[Anonymous]

PP here - forgot to mention the most important part. I had 2 full term, very healthy babies

[Anonymous]

This is the poster with Crohn's. My side effects were fistulas and fissures, so my doctor (as do I!) wishes to avoid these issues resurfacing.

[Anonymous]

OP again, this is all very encouraging, thank you so much. To Mom on Asacol, I am on it too and have been told it is safe during pregnancy and for breastfeeding by both my GI and my OB. What did you hear about the problem with breast milk?

[Anonymous]

I actually spoke with a lactation consultant with BCBS today about it. She said that a Dr. Thomas Hale wrote "Medications and Mother's Milk" and had advised that there have been no controlled studies and that risk is possible, but it is minimal and non-threatening. There is potential (however rare) that the baby will experience watery diarrhea. The lactation consultant basically advised to talk to my doctor/pediatrician to see if I would need to cut back on the Asacol or if there was an alternative drug.

[Anonymous]

anyone out there on 6-MP (mercaptopurine) who is planning to stay on it during pregnancy?