prednisone during pregnancy

I was wondering if any mothers had to use prednisone during their pregnancy. I'm currently 15 and a half weeks along and in the hospital with a horseshoe abscess and a fistula. Initially I wasn't sure that this problem was caused by my crohn's. I was having some pregnancy symptoms that seemed responsible for the abscesses, and I rarely have trouble with my crohn's disease. However, when I found out about the presence of a fistula, I started thinking maybe this was a crohn's problem. My doctors want to put me on prednisone, and it has been cleared through my OB doc. I don't love the idea for the baby, but I've been in the hospital twice in one month, and had a total of 4 surgeries on the abscesses. I really don't want the chance of another abscess or fistula, so I am leaning toward the prednisone. I'd love to hear any stories any mother's have of being on prednisone during their pregnancy. Thanks!

I've taken prednisone throughout all 3 of my pregnancies. I've taken doses as high as 25mg/day and as low as 5mg/day. The worst danger I have read about that can be caused by taking HIGH doses of pred while pregnant is cleft palate. The palate forms somewhere between weeks 4-7 of the pregnancy. You are well past that, so really - the baby is going to be just fine. I've only read of that side effect. I have never, ever heard of anyone actually having it happen.

If I were in your shoes and dealing with an abcess, I would go ahead and take the prednisone. Just for the record - all 3 of my kids were born healthy and with ZERO complications. Good luck! I hope your abcess heals up quickly!

Thank you so much everyone, you have all made me feel so much better! I'm getting an MRI of the abscess area tonight to see if there is more infection left, or if my pain is being caused by inflammation. I'm hoping inflammation because otherwise I'm back to the OR. Nanners, you are so sweet, thanks for taking the time to reply. I can't believe you remember my exact story! It is all removed, and things seem to be moving okay for right now, with the exception that it is painful to clean with the setons. Steph17 and sgirl, your replies mean so much to me. All I want is for my baby to be healthy. I couldn't bear if anything I did caused harm to him/her. Prednisone has always worked miracles for me, so I'm very hopeful that being on it will give me my life back. Keep your fingers crossed my pain is from inflammation, so I can start prednisone and not go back to the OR. Thank you so much everyone!

Congrats on your pregnancy!

I took prednisone from beginning of both pregnancies and weened through breastfeeding. All the docs assured me it was safe and they even give it to mom's at risk of having preemies to help develop the baby's lungs.

My docs said they have been studying this drug in pregnant women since the 1950s. It is very safe. My pregnancies were high risk and I had a lot of health issues, including Crohn's, but my babies were healthy.

I was told there is a very very slight risk of cleft palate, which is correctable by surgery. Extremely rare, and like I said, my babies were fine. If you go on pred, make sure you get tested for gestational diabetes later. It's very manageable, if it happens, just annoying.

Best wishes!