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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/16/2010 3:59 AM (GMT 0)
Hello-

I am entering my final trimester of pregnancy, recently diagnosed with UC.  It wasn't that bad until about a week ago when my body just became overwhelmed and all I do is hang out in or near the bathroom.

I have been given colazal but cannot bring myself to take it in hopes that my bod or the billions of supplements I have will start helping and I will not need it.  The studies are inconsistent about how meds affect the pregnancy and vice versa.  I don't want to give my baby any of the stuff that the docs want to give out.  Unfortunately, the studies are also inconsistent about how a flare left untreated will affect the babe.

My question is for women who have had UC that didn't respond to treatment, or just did not treat, while pregnant.  How was the pregnancy, eg babe's health and did you make it to term? 

I am a nervous wreck!  Any experience out there that can help me figure this out, I would so appreciate!  Thanks.

Posted 2/16/2010 4:11 AM (GMT 0)
im in my third trimester as of yesterday! 28 weeks.

ive been flaring since week 9 and nothing has been working until the last week or so. i thought nothing would work and id be flaring forever!
finally have no symptoms except for some pain while having a bm. which are normal now and no blood and only once a day.
woot!!!!

the baby so far is perfect. perfect size, perfect anatomy scan, doing great.
ive even had a blood transfusion and iron transfusion.
im on prednisone and mesalasine. both are fine and dont hurt baby.
ive spoken and chatted wtih heaps of women who had perfectly healthy babies while on meds for UC.
Posted 2/16/2010 4:12 AM (GMT 0)
Please, please, please take your meds. Colazal is very safe for use during pregnancy. I went into my first flare shortly after my son was born, and it was very, very, very bad. You really don't want to be that sick with a new baby...it's not fun at all and I think it took away a lot of the joy a new baby can bring. Also, flaring increases the risk of pre-term labor.
Posted 2/16/2010 4:25 AM (GMT 0)
I took pred in my 1st trimester and it got me into remission where I stayed until after delivery. Since you are flaring, they may take extra ultra sounds to monitor the baby's growth. Are you taking probiotics and fish oil as well? That's all I took while (along w/prenatals) I was pg b/c I cannot tolerate other Rx meds. Best of luck, hope you feel better soon.
Posted 2/16/2010 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
I was bad. I did not take meds in the first little while..then I started taking only 4 SAlofalk a day and I was not consistant cause of how "good" I felt. Well 10 weeks post partum the mother of all flares hit home..:( And here we are two years later after several rounds of prednisone and just off humira after 1.5 yeras as well...Something from above must be helping me now :)
Posted 2/16/2010 6:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi - I am at the end of my first trimester. I started to flare at 7 weeks. I started taking Lialda and got the flare to settle down. I am almost back to remission now and am still taking my Lialda. Simply from my experience I second fruitgirl. I had my first flare and was first diagnosed right after my daughter was born. It was terrible to be flaring and sick with a new baby at home. I also feel I missed out on some things early on because I was so sick. It is very common to flare after giving birth. I would take your medications now to try to minimize your risk of a huge flare after giving birth. I understand the worry about medications and your unborn child and can totally relate but please know the risk of having a very sick mommy is much greater than the risk if the medication.
Posted 2/16/2010 6:12 PM (GMT 0)

I can't agree more with some of the prior posters.  I was on Prednisone for at least half of my pregnancy, as well as Lialda and Mercaptopurine.  Both my OB and GI said the risk of flaring is much worse than the risk of the meds.  From what my OB told me, the risk of Prednisone is a very loose correlation to cleft palatte, but it has never been absolutely proven.  The development of the mouth and palatte is during the first trimester.

And yes flaring after giving birth sucks - do what it takes to try to prevent that. 

Good luck!

Posted 2/16/2010 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with the others...

Being in the hospital when u have a newborn at home is horrible. A severe flare could put you there, as it did me after my first pregnancy.

there is plenty of risk if your having a big flare during pregnancy to you and to baby. dehydration from dirrehea can cause contractions, leading to premature labor. So, please keep a good eye on your fluid intake, and go to L&D if you notice any contractions (don't let them brush you off with braxton hicks).

good luck girls
Posted 2/17/2010 1:26 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all of the input. After being on the fence, I believe that I'm being pushed over. It's true, I cannot imagine being in the hosp while my newborn is home.
Kazygirl, congrats! It looks like we have the same due date...I was also 28 weeks Sunday.
Any pregnancy/UC advice at this point is more than welcome. I would like to keep trying complementary stuff despite the fact that I've had little luck thus far.
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