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Prednisone and Pregnancy

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Posted 3/11/2010 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hey my fellow Crohnies,

well I just found out I'm pregnant!!! Soooo happy, we've been wanting this for so long. However, I am getting increasing anxiety, because I am on 20mg of Prednisone and Remicade every 8 weeks.  Has anyone been on these meds while pregnant?  If so, please let me know about your experiences.  Thank you so much.

Posted 3/11/2010 8:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Angie,
I'm on Remicade every eight weeks and I'm nearly 15 weeks pregnant. I'm having a mild flare at the moment and doc want me to wait for pred. till about 21 weeks. My doc. mentioned cleft palette as a possible side effect, and since I'm not all that bad, he doesn't want to worry about it. That being said, I've read about a bunch of women on pred. during pregnancy who have had healthy babies (and I've never read about cleft palette.) I would maybe ask my doctor about it, but if you need the pred., then you need the pred. If I get worse and need it, I'm not going to worry about it either. Better that you're well during your pregnancy! I hope this helps...and congrats!

p.s. I understand about the anxiety...I've been struggling with it, too!
Posted 3/11/2010 9:08 PM (GMT 0)
CONGRATULATIONS on your pregnancy!!! I was on prednisone and remicade for 2 pregnancies. For my 3rd child I took Humira instead of remicade. All 3 of my kids, ages 5, 3, & 1 are healthy and intelligent. I have only positive things to report about taking my meds while pregnant. No negative aspects or outcomes whatsoever. I don't know what questions you have, but I'd be happy to answer any I can from my own experience. I also breastfed all of my kids while taking my meds too. Find a good OB who will send you to a maternal/fetal medicine specialist. You'll get extra monitoring and can reassure you about your meds. Healthy mom=healhty baby. CONGRATS! and keep us posted!
Posted 3/12/2010 12:15 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks you guys:)

I feel a little better now. Im going for my first prenatal visit at the end of the month. Sooo excited!!!

I have not told my GI about the pregnancy yet though, bc he mentioned before that if I were to get pregnant, he does not want me on Remicade. Im very scared to come off it since it has been keeping me in remission. But I guess I should tell him soon...

Posted 3/12/2010 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
You can TOTALLY take remicade while pregnant and if your GI tells you that you can't - then tell get a new doc, or tell your GI to look into the research. Back in 2006 my GI (part of a large research team of GI's in Miami) told me that the most recent studies showed that Remicade doesn't even cross the placenta until somewhere between 30-32 weeks of the pregnancy. So, a lot of GI's recommend getting your last infusion sometime around then and then waiting until delivery to have another infusion. That being said, that info was not known when I was pregnant with #1 and I was getting 10mg/kg of remicade every 5 weeks the entire pregnancy - even at week 30 and 35. My kid is fine. So, for whatever that's worth... It just helps to arm yourself with information. The better educated you are about the whole thing the better you can stick up for yourself and most importantly - make the right decisions for you and your little peanut!
Posted 3/12/2010 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
Well I am not pregnant and have never been pregnant.

BUT I have talked to an OB/GYN specialist in Crohn's pregnancy.

And she said that If she had to have me on any drug during pregnancy Pred would be the best.
It has been the most researched drug of all the Crohn's meds during pregnancy.

And Remicade is also ok, We have a few remi babies at my hospital all are fine healthy babies :)

Good luck and congratulation.
Posted 3/12/2010 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
I was on prednisone and pentasa while pregnant. I can't go on remicade because I have a mild heart problem.
My babies were fine, but my pregnancies were VERY rocky. I was high risk for both and my first had to be taken by emergency c section.

I was so incredibly sick with CD and other health issues while pregnant. I was even seeing top GIs in Canada about having surgery while pregnant because of daily obstructions for the first 4 months. Thank God the obstructions stopped!


One thing being on prednisone, make sure you get your blood sugar levels checked as prednisone can cause temporary diabetes in pregnancy. I ended up having to go on insulin for both my pregnancies.

I was assured that prednisone has been tried and tested for 50 years, even in pregnancy. I started on 30 mg, then weaned to 12 mg and stayed there for he rest of the pregnancy, then weaned postpartum, which took another 4 months or so.

Congratulations and be healthy and happy!
Posted 3/12/2010 3:17 AM (GMT 0)
I'm so happy to hear happy prednisone stories from you all! I keep wondering why my doctor is concerned about prednisone if he wasn't at all concerned about Remicade OR azathioprine (which I was on until 9 weeks). Yet, for some reason, he's wary of pred. He's one of the top GI's in the country at a university hospital...weird. Go healthy Crohn's babies!
Posted 3/12/2010 1:09 PM (GMT 0)
Congratulations Angie. I am also pregnant (10 weeks) and experiencing anxiety because of the severe joint pain that I have had for over 2 weeks. I am on remicade but it is not lasting 8 weeks. The DR moved the interval up to 6 weeks but the infusion place couldn't see me until next Tues. I will feel better when I finally get into see an OB on the 25th. I want my body to be healthy enough to support another life. But for the baby's sake, it is better that i can't move rather than have my guts stop working. Good luck with your pregnancy.
Posted 3/19/2010 11:48 PM (GMT 0)
Congratulations everyone!
I am only 11 weeks along myself and found this site, whilst researching the possible use of Remicade during pregnancy. My GI (whom I do trust and have been seeing for almost 10 years) recommends that I continue with the Remicade every 8 weeks during pregnancy. I did have an infusion before I found out I was pregnant, and I am scheduled to go back shortly. Obviously, I am very concerned and it is your decision to continue meds or not. I feel GREAT thus far, so it is easy to get lulled into a false sense of security. I definitely do not want to go back to where I was a year ago (in the hospital and unable to eat anything but liquids). Remicade is a Category B and studies indicate it is safe (although because of the relative newness of the drug there are not long term studies). It has really helped me achieve remission the last year, and being healthy is the best you can do for your child. My OB was not excited about the Remicade, but she emphasized that really my GI is basically making that decision with me. She would not go against what my GI says, but also said that me being healthy should be the priority for me and baby. So many things to think/worry/obsess about! I will probably continue the Remicade.
Stef17--were you able to breastfeed following delivery and Remicade infusion? Thanks!
Posted 3/20/2010 12:06 AM (GMT 0)
Congrats on your pregnancy darkblue!!!  To answer your question - yes, I breastfed all 3 of my children (2 on Remicade, 1 on Humira).  All of the studies available show that the remicade  molecule is too large to pass through the milk so there's no problem in breastfeeding while taking it.

In the U.S., Dr. Thomas Hale is considered the leading expert on medications and breastmilk. Here is a link to his website. You can search for your meds and see which ones are ok to take and which ones are not. He publishes an updated version of his book (Medications and Mothers Milk) every year.

http://neonatal.ttuhsc.edu/cgi-bin/discus/discus.cgi?pg=topics&access=guest

I'm happy to answer any other questions you might have!

 

Posted 3/20/2010 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
a BIG CONGRATS TO ALL you expecting a beautiful miracle of life.....all the best to each of you n plz keep posting on how you are all doing...so great...huggles...lyn turn
Posted 3/20/2010 12:37 AM (GMT 0)
Congrats Darkblue!

Thanks Lyn.
Posted 3/21/2010 8:45 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Stef and everyone.

This is a very difficult time--I am ecstatic about my first baby, but worried due to all the different opinions (unsolicited) my family is giving me regarding taking any sort of drug during pregnancy. It is very difficult to hear from someone (who is not in your situation) that they would never take Remicade during pregnancy (as if I have not researched it thoroughly and spoken with my dr. about my meds during pregnancy years ago). We all just want to do what is best for us and our child, so I wish people would recognize that. Yes, it would be wonderful not to have to take any meds and have my Crohn's magically cured after 12+ years, but I do not see that happening.
But so far so good...trying to stay positive. :)
Posted 3/21/2010 8:53 PM (GMT 0)
Congrat's to everyone expecting on here!! That's awesome!
I was in remission and on no meds when I got pregnant 5 years ago. However, my GI has assured me that
most of the Crohn's meds are very safe to take during pregnancy. I am on Cimzia now and before I started
I made sure to ask if it was safe as my husband and I would like to try for #2 sometime this year. He said
yes and so is Remicade and Humira. So I hope this makes you feel better. :-)
Posted 5/18/2010 7:06 PM (GMT 0)
I am currently 27 weeks pregnant and have been on Lialda throughout my pregnancy. I am at the start of a flare, so will be starting Prednisone here in the coming days. It was a hard decision to make, but as my GI explained it to me, it's either this or let the flare run it's course, end up in premature labor, and risk my son's life. I'll take my chances with the meds, thanks! This time last year he was telling me I wasn't going to be allowed to be on Pred anymore because I'd been on it 8 of the previous 12 months. Luckily I managed to avoid any flares until now and it's been long enough that he'll let me do another course. Also, I obviously wouldn't want to start any new "bigger" drugs during a pregnancy. I imagine if I continue to flare after pregnancy, I'll probably end up finally biting the bullet and going on Remicade. We know we want another baby, so it probably means that baby will be a Remi baby.

Congrats to everyone expecting. These decisions are so hard to make but the little ones are so worth it!
Posted 5/18/2010 8:53 PM (GMT 0)
I have made it out of the 1st trimester (16wks) and will see the OB on Friday. I start Humira next week and hope it helps relieve the joint pain. Although this last round of Remicade seemed to last longer than before with just minor joint pain. I have finally started to gain a little weight. I was worried about gaining since I have never been able to gain weight, no matter what I ate. I have gained about 4 pounds and am trying to eat healthy. The veggies are not agreeing with me. So only fruit for now. How are all the other moms to be doing?
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