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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 10/5/2007 12:40 PM (GMT 0)

Hello

I have Crohn's and I am 19 weeks pregnant. I have had a reoccuring abcess that appears to be a recto-vaginal fistula since my 7th wk. of pregnancy. I was off meds prior to pregnancy (was on them in the past) until this pregnancy and just started on Pentasa a few weeks ago. I am also on my second round of antibiotics. With this last reoccurance of the abcess, my Crohn's Dr. has recommended Remicade during my pregnancy to start next week. My husband and I are very distraught and looking for information. I am not certain of what to do.....Is it safe to take Remicade for my baby boy?  has anyone been on remicade during their pregnancy???? We just got the news on Monday that this baby is a boy...what joyous news............then this..............I am truly lost right now. confused

Posted 10/5/2007 1:12 PM (GMT 0)
CONGRATS on your SON!!!! That's wonderful news. I've been on remicade through 2 pregnancies and afterward while breastfeeding. My 2 kiddos are perfectly healthy in every way. Currently we are trying for baby #3 - and I will stay on remicade. There is data that shows that remicade doesn't cross the placenta until 30-32 weeks. This was not known when I was preg. with #1. So, I had an infusion at 30 & 35 weeks. My daughter is fine. When I was preg. with #2 GI said to get an infusion at 32 weeks and hold out the last 8 weeks till the delivery....so I did because I feel well when I am pregnant. This is probably what I will do when I get pregnant again, but I personally would not be opposed to an infusion after 32 weeks.

As far as a fistula goes, I haven't had one, but I have heard that remicade can be quite successful in treating those. I know this is a terrible decision you weren't planning on making, but if I were in your shoes... I would take the remicade. There have been MANY healthy remicade babies born to women on this board. And I have yet to hear of any complications or negative effects due to remicade. Feel free to email me if you'd like.

Stef
Posted 10/9/2007 2:47 PM (GMT 0)

Congrats on your little boy!!  I agree with Stef.  I'm 31 weeks pregnant with #2 right now and have been getting remicade since about 14 weeks.  I'll get my last infusion before delivery on Friday.  We've had tons of ultrasounds with this pregnancy and so far everything is completely normal with our little girl.  It was scary to make the decision to continue the remicade, but I felt like it was most important for me to be healthy while carrying my baby.  Good luck to you for the rest of your pregnancy!

Posted 10/12/2007 6:55 AM (GMT 0)
Congrats... I just recently had a baby girl - was not on any meds the whole time and for about 1 year

prior, however the minute I had her - that all changed, all symptoms came back 10x worse... ah well...

I do have recently had an abcess which has not healed after being drained and is a fistula so doc has

now suggested remicade - I like you (for different reasons possibly) am freaked out - the idea of an infusion

and the possible side effects scare me... however I feel like I have no choice - I hope it all works out for you

my main concern is if its addicting? Doc says no - but I have read otherwise...  no idea...

Good luck xx

Posted 10/13/2007 12:12 AM (GMT 0)
Please rest assures jblack, that Remicade is NOT addicting. I took it for almost 3 years, had to stop and had no problems. There is no withdrawal.
Posted 10/14/2007 2:15 AM (GMT 0)

I have a 10.5  month old healthy baby girl and was on remicade during my pregnancy. I am so happy I was able to feel well and have a great pregnancy.  Stef17 gave me lots of encouragement--thanks Stef. Best of luck and feel well.  This site is great to help you through it!

Kathleen

Crohns since 1996

Remicade since 2003

Posted 10/14/2007 2:24 AM (GMT 0)
I have no answers about pregnancy since my husband and I have yet to attempt starting a family due to my ill health in the recent year. We were finally ready for me to start getting off some of my meds in hope to have a family (elavil for prevention of migraines was the med I need to get off of I plan on staying on CD meds since I will need them most likely when the time comes esp since a few months after my temp ostomy Sx was reversed my CD returned and now I have an enterocutaneous fistula). My new gi (new since my hospitalizations since my old one wasnt aggressive enough and kept putting off the fact that I want a family) is a CD specialist and does many seminars about CD and pregnancy and safety of meds. Remicade is okay in his book and humira will most likely have to fall under that category for me too since I started having reactions to remicade after getting it for 5 years. Do to the Rxns he placed me on humira for the fistulas rather than try remicade again. So no remicade isnt addicting however the longer you need it you may need to increase the dose even if you dont fall into the next weight category. I was increased at 1 point but went back to the proper dose for my Wt after I went into remission, then 1 morning I woke up and it was like my CD came back in full force...and it did.

Good Luck woth the baby :)
Posted 10/15/2007 1:38 AM (GMT 0)

I have an 11-week old baby and was on Remicade throughout my pregnancy.  She is completely healthy and growing like crazy . . .  she is already up to 13 lbs.  

Best of Luck!

Mandy 

Posted 5/19/2008 11:35 AM (GMT 0)
just found out im pregnant total surprise have 2 children already both before i was dignosied wit crohns in 2000 in active flare since since febuary my meds are 150mg imuran twice daily, 2grams of pentasa daily, 15mg predisone and have just had frist remicade infusion due for 2nd soon. im bout 6 weeks. quite worried. any advice???? confused
Posted 5/19/2008 12:50 PM (GMT 0)
I am 23 weeks with my second baby. I learned I had crohn's after a VERY difficult pregnancy with my daughter in 2005. I was so sick and the drs had NO IDEA what was wrong with me and were limited on the testing they could do considering. 3 months after my daughter was born I was dx'd with Crohn's. I am currently on remicade and have been on and off since June 06. It is a WONDER drug for me and without it, I don't know where I would be right now. I did as much research as possible before getting pregnant, spoke with my GI and OB/GYN about the remicade and effects...as well as the possibilities of NOT taking it. Getting pregnant without the remicade was not an option for us. I was so sick with a HUGE flare during my first pregnancy that I thought I was going to die and/or my baby was going to die. I was in the hospital 7 times for a total of 31 days during the 39 weeks and lost almost 30 lbs. It was horrible..so for me remicade was my only option. Everyone has to make this choice on their own with their drs and significant other. It is a hard choice, but as you can tell there are plenty of people here with experience and most will tell you remicade is safe. GOOD LUCK!!!
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