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HomeBirth with Chrons

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 1/21/2012 10:33 PM (GMT 0)
Does anyone have experience or stories of doing a homebirth with Chrons. My gi dr is concerned regarding my choice to use a nurse midwife and naturopathic dr instead of a high risk OB. I love my midwives and the idea of having my baby at home. Any advice would rock!
Posted 1/21/2012 11:05 PM (GMT 0)
I guess it would depend on how your bowels are doing in your pregnancy. Personally, I don't see why having Crohn's necessarily means you need to be in a high-risk OB practice. If you are getting proper nutrition and the baby is growing well, what are the risk factors that are scaring your OB? Do you have fistulizing disease? Are you positive for strep B?
Posted 1/22/2012 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
I had a midwife with 2 of my 5 children. But I did deliver at hospital only because I was a smoker. My GI had no problem with me having a midwife because they do have to have a OB to consult with. The only time I was high risk was when I was first DX with crohns and the meds I was on were in clinical trials and they wanted to keep track. But after that I had midwives for my last 2 births.
Posted 1/22/2012 7:29 AM (GMT 0)
With having Crohn's, doctors (where I live) consider that as being a high risk pregnancy...personally I agree with them, there's always a risk of complications even without having a chronic illness like crohn's, but there can be even higher risks with having CD...of course it's up to you, but even though my pregnancy and delivery (while flaring with CD) ended up being okay with no issues, I still would not have delivered at home by choice...that's just me of course and I'm not judging anyone for their choices.

Best of luck to you with everything.
Posted 1/22/2012 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
As being a midwife I have to ask you: Do you have any medications your on? How extensive are your disease? Is it your first child? I have no problem in you being delivered by a midwife. Where Im from the midwifes are elivering the babies but at the hospital. There can be secerel complications to a delivery that one have to take in acount when taking that desition. Why did your GI disagrea? Have you had any operations due to your disease?
Posted 1/23/2012 2:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, congratulations on your impending arrival. I live in Australia and over here many women including myself do not see an OB but a Midwife, albeit through a Hospital. The only time I saw an OB was at the 20 week check up and with my 3rd when I was 35 weeks as she had a known birth defect. At the time I had no idea I had Crohn's although I'd had symptoms from when I was in my teens. I successfully managed to have a natural birth with all 3 children. I chose to give birth with a Midwife, but I did so in a Hospital. My reasons are that there are many things that can go wrong during labour, and I wanted to be in an environment where if something were to go wrong, that my baby would be well looked after without the concern of calling and ambulance, waiting etc. I had very different labours with all 3 of my children, and I'm glad that I had them at Hospital as not only were they well looked after after the delivery, I was well looked after too (and my injuries were attended to!!). I would assume that your GI would be worried about any possible injury to you, as it can happen.

Best of luck with your decision and the delivery.
Posted 1/23/2012 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
I'm actually feeling better then I ever have with my Chrons. I'm on Remicade and get infusions every 8 weeks. I've never had a surgery and any complications with the disease. I consider myself very lucky considering many of the stories I have read about people living with Chrons, I feel I have a mild case. We did a colonscopy to ensure I was 100% in remission before trying to get pregnant. His concerns is that all recommendations say to use a High Risk OB and not a midwife. But I feel that is because the US has moved away from Midwives in general, which I disagree with. I understand his view but also feel this in my body, my life and my birth. I have used a naturopathic approach to controlling my disease in addition to modern medicine. It is very hard in this medical world to find a balance between the two and feel that is where I am stuck. I do not believe an OB would be any different and from my experience with my first child less hands on. Also, the last thing I want is a c-section and think an OB would be more likely to do this instead of a natural birth. Thanks for all you advice and input so far!
Posted 1/24/2012 2:09 PM (GMT 0)
I used the High RIsk OB clinic for my first child. I was feeling great throughout the pregnancy, but they did many growth ultrasounds to make sure the baby was growing and getting enough nutrition. I delivered naturally in the hospital, but I started bleeding during the first labor pains and bled throughout. The doctors didn't know why plus I had to take antibiotics for Strep B. So the hospital was the best choice. Even though it was the High Risk OB, they didn't push C-section and let me get thru the 40 hours of labor. I was on remicade and switched to humira during the first trimester.

I am now expecting #2 (still on humira) in July and decided to go with an OB. I will still deliver in the hospital (strep B + unknown bleeding last time) but get the one on one of a doctor. Not whoever is working the clinic.

Having CD doesn't have to mean high risk, but I personally feel more comfortable in the hospital in case things are wrong and to repair any damage from natural birth.

Good luck with your pregnancy.

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