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Probiotics During Pregnancy...

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/19/2009 10:00 PM (GMT 0)
This may be a really stupid question, but do you guys think it's ok to take probiotics during pregnancy?

I recently got off the pill and called my OB's office to tell them what meds I'm on (Asacol) and that I take a probiotic everyday for my UC. They made it sound like I needed to be off everything once I got pregnant if possible, even the probiotic. I talked to the nurse practitioner, not actually my doctor, so I'm not sure if they share the same opinion. She said that I would have to do what I thought was best, ultimately.

It just made me nervous. I was diagnosed with UC a year after my first daughter was born, so this will be the first pregnancy with any kind of meds. I've talked this over with my GI before, and he made it sound like taking Asacol and a probiotic during pregnancy was no big deal.

Thoughts? I hate to be feeling nervous about this before I'm even freaking pregnant! :)
Posted 8/19/2009 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
Yes. It's very dangerous to take probiotics when pregnant and so is eating pizza when pregnant.

Just kidding :)

I think people are scared of things they don't know too much about.

Posted 8/19/2009 10:27 PM (GMT 0)
I was on Asacol (or maybe back then it was Azulphidine) when I got pregnant, twice. I was the healthiest I'd ever been while I was pregnant - so I wish the same for you!!!
Posted 8/19/2009 10:31 PM (GMT 0)
I took probiotics during my last pregnancy and still while nursing. My daughter is 7 months old and healthy as can be. My OB never said they were bad to take. Good luck with getting pregnant! yeah
Posted 8/19/2009 10:40 PM (GMT 0)
Asacol is EXTREMELY safe in pregnancy....lots and lots and lots of babies have been born while on it. The possible risks from flaring while pregnant are a lot greater than the risks of being on Asacol while pregnant. Your OB's nurse likely doesn't know much about Asacol. And probiotics are fine as well.
Posted 8/19/2009 10:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the replies ladies! It makes me feel a lot better. I've done some research online too this afternoon, and everything I can find says that probiotics are fine. AMK77 - love your little smiley man! :)

I had a great pregnancy and delivery with my daughter and I'm crossing my fingers for the best this time around!
Posted 8/20/2009 2:34 PM (GMT 0)
I'm 5 month pregnant now and take probiotics. My ob/gen said it's ok. But the interesting thing I found is that with my first pregnancy (I was perfectly health at that time) I couldn't even imaging taking anything but prenatal vitamins. And now, 9 Colazal every day, used couple times Cortifoam (1-2 days when feel really bad, and still believe that my baby will be fine!!! People on this forum was very supportive!!! Thank you, guys!

Somebody left this Motherisk clinic in one of my posts, search it on Google. It's in Canada, but you can call their help line and ask about drug you use. They are very helpful.

And good luck with your pregnancy!
Posted 8/20/2009 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, I'll do that.

I'm just hoping that my GI and OB won't give me conflicting information....that will stress me out! :) Aren't they supposed to work together??? They're in the same building for god's sake! ;)
Posted 8/20/2009 4:46 PM (GMT 0)
UC momma,

As you already now know, probiotics are completely safe, even with pregnancy, but I do find it odd that with you havng a chronic illness that your doc would make you feel as though you should be off everything...I think virtually all women are directed to stay on their maintenance meds even during conception...the only med I've heard they don't want you to be on before getting pregnant (while trying to get pregnant) is prednisone, however they will if necessary put you on pred during pregnancy (after you've already gotten pregnant)...though I do know a woman that got pregnant while on pred and her baby still was fine, it's just something they prefer not to take chances with until after conception.

I wish I'd have know about probiotics with my pregnancy back 16 yrs ago or even further back 18 yrs ago when I first became sick.

Good luck :)
Posted 8/20/2009 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
I ended up giving my newborn probiotics too, when he started with the whole colic thing.
Posted 8/20/2009 9:28 PM (GMT 0)

UC Momma said...
Thanks, I'll do that.

I'm just hoping that my GI and OB won't give me conflicting information....that will stress me out! :) Aren't they supposed to work together??? They're in the same building for god's sake! ;)

Oh, trust me, they will! Sometimes I think they do it on purpose! turn But I follow OB rules!
Posted 8/21/2009 11:39 AM (GMT 0)
Probiotics are completely safe during pregnancy, you're basically just eating yogurt! I don't know anything about Asacol but I'm assuming what you found is okay. I am 28 weeks pregnant and found out I was pregnant just after being diagnosed with a really bad flare up. So I have been on Lialda and prednisone daily since finding out. I was really worried about prednisone during the 1st trimester as everything I was finding was giving a high risk of cleft palate and other facial deformities. However all those studies were inconclusive and done in the 70's and since then other studies have been done that disprove those findings. Prednisone is completely safe during pregnancy. My OB, GI, and the risk hotline all said the same thing about the studies. Here in Utah they offer a "pregnancy risk hotline" you can call with all kinds of questions regarding medicines. 1-800-822-2229 I should also note that so far, even with all the meds I'm on baby has no visible deformities as of yet.

Good luck and let us know how things go!
Posted 8/21/2009 4:06 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks again ladies...this forum is awesome!
Posted 8/21/2009 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
I second sgirl. Especially if you take acidophilus. Then you really are just taking concentrated yogurt.

I'm not sure how well asacol has been studied, but to be honest, so little of it ends up in your bloodstream that I doubt it will be an issue. And you don't seem to be on any of the heavier meds like pred.
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