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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/24/2008 6:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hi I am 7 wks pregnant. I've been in remission for a while now. I am taking my doc approved meds etc. I have heard that women get worse UC after the baby is born. Anyone have any stories or knowledge of this, Positive or Negative. Hopefully positive. :-)
Posted 2/24/2008 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
Congrats on the pregnancy! Is this your first? I went into remission after I was pregnant with my daughter and I did fine until about 6 months or so after I had her. I wouldn't say that I flared any worse then before though and it was easily controlled with Rowasa at the time. But any flare while taking care of a newborn can be tough. I was also babysitting a friends baby too at the time so I was caring for two infants while flaring - not fun! But I look back it now and for some odd reason, I feel a sense of accomplishment for doing as well as I did at the time. I think that if you flare after the birth, it's best just to recognize the early signs of a flare if you have one and be proactive in your care.
Posted 2/24/2008 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
I was fine after I had my babies. Both of them, actually I was fine for a long time. I was told that breast feeding helps. I don't know if you plan on doing that, you definately can with the meds you are on. I pumped. I was fine for the entire time. I would not worry about it, you have plenty to worry about now as it is. After my first I did not flare again until my son was conceived (2 years later). Good luck with your pregnancy and I hope you continue to feel well. And congratulations
Posted 2/24/2008 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
congrats!!
i'm about 11 weeks along right now and feeling really good UC-wise.

i didn't have UC before the birth of my son in 2005 and had my first ever flare a couple months after he was born. but since you already know what you're dealing with, and what meds you can start or increase if you do flare, you are way ahead of the game.

i didn't know what i had and put off getting care and starting meds for far too long. so i got very ill.

but i did breastfeed the whole time as well. breastfeeding can be good for helping to reduce the chance that your kids will develop ibd (as well as many other benefits).

anyway, everyone is different but if you notice a change in your UC like around your period, you may also notice a change after the birth since hormones are changing like mad at that time. breastfeeding can also make the hormone change a little more gradual.

happy pregnancy!
Posted 2/24/2008 6:50 PM (GMT 0)
I personally do not think there is any rhyme or rule to UC and pregnancy. Some people are in remission during pregnancy and it's a wonderful thing and some have the opposite experience.

I had my very first flare (pretty bad) in my 3rd trimester with my first pregnancy (didnt know what it was at the time so I just attributed it to hemmorhoids and the "diarrhea" of pregnancy (probably doesn't exist).

Immediately after I had my daughter my symptoms really subsided (a lot)...it was amazing how quickly. I was still having very mild symptoms so decided to see a GI doc 3 mos later and was diagnosed with left sided colitis (mild).

Monthly, I'd have tiny flares around the time of my period (on zero meds).

I'm 18 weeks into my second pregnancy and I flared in my first trimester (again, mild and very stable). I think it may get worse for me as I move on in my pregnancy but I'm prepared for that.

I would just make sure that you gain weight appropriately and stay hydrated. Another thing is really to keep the stress levels low. I know it's hard and I have a problem with that myself but I know that immediately when stress hits, an hour later I'm bleeding...it's really ridiculous...

Anyhow, good luck and keep us posted!! Kids are fun!!
Posted 2/25/2008 3:18 AM (GMT 0)
This is my first pregnancy and I am so excited. I am so confused as to what to eat? I am experiencing fatigue, nausea and headaches so I am eating a lot to try and make it stop. I usually eat no fruit. I eat cooked veggies, protein, breads, and dairy, due to uc issues. Now that I am pregnant I am wondering if I should try and change this? I would love to eat some fruit or raw veggies to fill-up on. I am thankful for your posts I hope that my remission remains after pregnancy.


Thank you,
Melissa
Posted 2/25/2008 6:08 AM (GMT 0)
Congratulations...hope all goes well.

Just don't take ginger for nausea..not good for pregnancy.

Eating raw veggies might increase diarrhea or cause more gas...probably not a comfortable thing.

If you're craving them, maybe less gassy veggies would be better...although I cannot think of which ones they could be.

Stick to what works for you as the staples and add the fruits (peeled and in small portions) as well as some raw veggies (but in small portions).

Eat more often during the day, smaller meals.

Keep us posted.
quincy
Posted 2/25/2008 11:45 AM (GMT 0)
Eat only what you can tolerate and if you can't eat certain vegetables or fruits, substitute the nutrition with a good prenatal vitamin. There are some that are over the counter but there are also stronger ones that the doc can prescribe. As for the headaches, it is safe to take Tylonel while pregnant. The first 3 months are the roughest! But hopefully after you get out of your first trimester, things will be smooth sailing :)
Posted 2/25/2008 2:40 PM (GMT 0)
I have heard (last years IBD symposium, for my notes google UC and pregnancy above) that there is a rule of 1/3

1/3 of pregnant women will flare, 1/3 will remain the same/ and 1/3 will actually get better

Congrats!!! Take good care of yourself and your baby. It's so exciting!
Posted 2/26/2008 6:04 AM (GMT 0)
I flared during my pregnancy in 2006, mostly during my 2nd trimester, which required prednisone, but I got a lot better by my 3rd trimester..my dr. said the hormones change a bit then, which might have been it. I was fine until about 3 months post-partum, when I started using Rowasa enemas to control a flare, but ended up back on prednisone. Unfortunately, I did not respond to pred. well, and made the hard decision to stop breastfeeding when my daughter was 8 months old to go on Imuran. This drug really helped me a lot, though I am uneasy about contemplating another pregnancy in the next couple of years on this drug. Just do the best to take care of yourself, eat the best you can, and stay active if you can as well. Couldn't hurt to see a nutritionist to make sure you get all you need right now, I used to get headaches from eating too much or too little of some foods. Good luck with your pregnancy and keep in mind you might very well have no problems at all.
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