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Posted 8/30/2009 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
I'd like to hear people's experiences regarding pregnancy -specifically drugs taken while pregnant (anyone on imuran?).  Has anyone had a pregnancy that was conceived during a flare? I have read a lot of info and talked with my doctor but I would like to hear someone real life experience.

I am currently on 175 mg of imuran, however I am in a flare up right now and do not know what the next step will be. However I hope to remain on imuran and in the next year become pregnant while in remission. However I may need to do a round of steriods to get there.

Thanks,

Mel

PS its so nice to have a place to ask these questions and talk with people who understand (theres only so much a healthly husband can understand!)

Posted 8/30/2009 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
My second pregnancy came shortly after my diagnosis. My GI said not to get pregnant any time soon until we get this flare under control - oops! So, I conceived during a flare. I did (and still do) not take any Rx meds. I did take a short round of pred while pg and it stopped my flare and I remained in remission taking only fish oil and probiotics.

My GI said that 1/3 of women will stay the same, 1/3 will get worse, and 1/3 will get better if they have UC while pregnant. Thankfully, I was in the 1/3 that got better. I felt great UCwise during my pregnancy. I wish the best of luck to you!!
Posted 8/30/2009 8:24 PM (GMT 0)
I conceived during a very bad flare and miscarried (at 6 weeks). I was still in the flare and conceived again 3 weeks later and found out I was pregnant while I was hospitalized from the flare (severe dehydration and low potassium and had to get fluids for 3 days). I was diagnosed a couple months later and put on Asacol. I started Prednisone a couple months after that. Though I was pretty sick during the pregnancy and had to go to the ER a couple times to get fluids because I couldn't keep anything down, my son is perfectly healthy and was born at 7 pounds, 10 ounces (one week early c-section because he was breech).
Posted 8/30/2009 8:33 PM (GMT 0)
I conceived during a really small flare and it became a really big flare; I also miscarried. It prompted my J-pouch surgery. It was really hard to get enough food for the baby even though I didn't want to eat because of the pain. I hear about UC people able to carry their baby full term, but I'm not one of them. :(

I went to the ER even and the doc said the baby eats before I do... I lost the baby three days later.

Good luck. I'll be working on making babies after my last surgery with the J-pouch and I'm sure I will let everyone know how that goes!
Posted 8/30/2009 8:39 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, my OB did comment after I had my son that I should not get pregnant again until my UC is completely under control
Posted 8/30/2009 8:49 PM (GMT 0)
I got pregnant during this flare last October, it got worse and i had a miscarriage at 9 weeks in December. Definately not risking another pregnancy until it's under control but even then not sure if i can on Azathioprine, the leaflet says not to.
Posted 8/30/2009 11:36 PM (GMT 0)
Thats the confusing thing, and the reason I posted this. As the leaflet my specialist gave me said the same about Imuran, but he is telling me that its okay and safe. Therefore Im a little confused and want to make the right choice.

Thanks to everyone who has shared.

Posted 8/31/2009 12:31 AM (GMT 0)

mel83 said...
Thats the confusing thing, and the reason I posted this. As the leaflet my specialist gave me said the same about Imuran, but he is telling me that its okay and safe. Therefore Im a little confused and want to make the right choice.
Thanks to everyone who has shared.

Most drug companies will advise against medications while pregnant/nursing because they have not been studied. I mean, what pregnant woman would be willing to take part in a drug study?

If you can call a lactation consultant, they can advise you much better than any doctor or leaflet. Dr. Hale is considered the authority on medications during pregnancy/nursing and he wrote "medications and the mothers milk". LC's usually have a copy and can look up the medication for you. There is a also a web forum that you can read (but can't post in if you aren't a medical professional) and search for a drug and see what he says. He studies these drugs and is very well respected in the medical community. My son's pediatrician advised against breastfeeding while on Remicade until she called a LC and heard that Dr. Hale advised that it is safe and then she was fine with it.
Posted 8/31/2009 1:28 AM (GMT 0)
There's also a thing in the UC Resources thread and it says a lot about the different drugs and pregnancy.
Posted 8/31/2009 1:40 AM (GMT 0)
I'm 33 weeks along with a blissfully un-eventful pregnancy. Baby looked healthy at the 20 week ultrasound, and I've been able to stay with a regular OB throughout the pregnancy (didn't need a high risk doctor to manage me) so far.

I take 100 mg imuran and have throughout the pregnancy; I was in remission when baby was conceived.

I've been feeling largely good for the past 8 months!

I've posted about this before on this site-you may be able to look through the archives--but if not, my advice is to wait until you are in remission before trying to conceive.

As for the imuran, I was scared about using it, too, but after consulting with a number of high-risk OB's and a variety of GI docs, felt much better proceeding. I also have been given the go-ahead to try breastfeeding while on imuran from our pediatrician.

Best of luck to you!
Posted 8/31/2009 4:11 PM (GMT 0)
tooth fairy, are you feeling good and large right now? :) sorry, reading your "feeling largely good" made me think of that. :) I remember how I felt at that point!

mel, I also recommed that you get into remission before even starting to try to get pregnant, and listen to what your OB and GI say about the meds, NOT the drug leaflet. They're basically written to cover the drug company's butt! Also, definitely check out the article about pregnancy and IBD in the UC resources sticky thead. It's got a lot of good info!
Posted 8/31/2009 8:14 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with the others here--start from remission if at all possible!
I was pregnant three times (one miscarriage) while on Imuran. It went ok but I feel very fortunate, since we knew we were taking a risk with that drug. I ended up flaring the third trimester of both and went on prednisone. I think overall the pregnancies have spiraled me into a much worse point in my disease, but what can you do, you want to have babies. But we have pretty much decided to call it done at two kids, whereas we originally thought three. It's just too hard on my old busted body!
Good luck!
Posted 8/31/2009 10:22 PM (GMT 0)
I feel your pain Amywaffle.  I flared 8 weeks after giving birth with #1 and 4 weeks with #2.  With #1 I flared again when stopping breastfeeding and I'm just weaning #2 so I am expecting to shortly.  It is SOOOOO hard taking care of a newborn when you are in flare.  There is nothing worse in my mind then hearing your baby crying while you are on the toilet.  cry    I don't regret having my kids at all(they are the BEST!), but I to wonder if it worsened my disease and we are definitely stopping at 2. I just couldn't put my body through all that again.   I've only been on Mesalamine, Asacol, and hydrocort enemas so I can't help with the Imuran question, but I do recommend Dr. Hale as well.  My babies are born protein sensitive to dairy and soy(which they outgrow around age 1), so I HAVE to breastfeed.  Dr. Hale made me feel better about doing so on Asacol.  Luckily my guy was fine with me taking it otherwise I wouldn't have been able to BF.

Good luck!  I know how hard this disease makes having babies.

Posted 9/1/2009 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
Fruitgirl, I have seriously considered joining a circus sideshow...$0.25 to see the small girl with the HUGE belly! I now get from place to place with a distinct waddle and need serious leverage to get out of a low car or a soft couch. This kid is not having any weight-gaining problems as far as I can tell! :)

6 more weeks...or 4 more, if you go by the OB findings that 37 weeks is "term!" Ha ha!
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