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Pregnant mommies with Ulcerative Colitis

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Posted 3/29/2010 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
I am about 8 weeks pregnant and been feeling pretty good just a little tired.  I haven't seen much blood in the stool.  Does UC get better when you are pregnant?  By the way, how is everyone doing with their UC? How far along are you?
Posted 3/29/2010 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
I was pregnant now, although I was in July 2007. At that time my pregnant threw me into a large relapse. What I was told at the time was that 1/3 of people get better during pregnancy, 1/3 stay the same and 1/3 get worse. I'm hoping that because you're doing well 8 weeks in, that you're part of the 1/3 that gets better group! Happy and healthy 9 months!
Posted 3/29/2010 4:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hey there ucisnotmyfirend

Glad to hear you are feeling better. I am pregnant right now and in remission. I am 15 weeks. With my first baby I was in remission until the middle of my second tri. At that time I had to add cortifoam to the asacol and canasa I was taking. I was in remission again by the end of my pregnancy but all hell broke loose postpartum. Just be prepared for a postpartum flare. It seems to happen to most of us. Mine was the worst I have ever had. Anyhow, you dont need to think of that right now. Like Canadian chick said, uc can remain the same, get better or get worse in pregnancy. How's that for a non-answer! jo
Posted 3/29/2010 5:52 PM (GMT 0)
I was good all throughout my pregnancy two yeras ago and all broke loose as per Joma post partum. That was not pretty and I wish I had listened to my body more and acted fast cause two years later still trying to get it under control.
Posted 3/29/2010 6:29 PM (GMT 0)
It's more a pregnancy symptom than a UC sympton I think but I was very tired during my first trimester. I never take naps and I was napping 1-2 hours every day from months 2-4.

Glad to hear things are going relatively well so far!
Posted 3/29/2010 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
I felt great UC wise during both of my pregnancies. smilewinkgrin
Posted 3/30/2010 2:57 AM (GMT 0)
I went through two pregnancies with uc. The trick for me was to communicate quickly with my gi for any symptoms that happened for three or more days. I had one 11 lb 10 oz boy and one 8 lb 6oz boy. They are now 21 and 17. UC did not affect their health or development during pregnancy even though I was on pred. during the first preg. Maybe that's why he was so big.... I am so happy for you! I wish you great health and a wonderful baby.
Cynthia
Posted 3/30/2010 8:39 AM (GMT 0)
I was great during my pregnancy, had my baby boy 9 months ago. No bleeding, nothing during the pregnancy at all, in fact I felt great :) 6 week spost-partum I started to flare and am still struggling to get the flare under control...
Posted 3/30/2010 11:12 AM (GMT 0)
I just wanted to tell you all how much I am pulling for you... I think you are all VERY brave to be facing new mommyhood with this disease. I was diagnosed after my daughter was born and even thought I would not trade her for anything I am falling on my face in the motherhood department through this flare. My husband and I are not planning to have more children and I am so sad about that! we weren't 100% sure we were going to add another child to our family for several reasons but my UC was definitely the deciding factor that shut the door on baby number 2!

Wow, my "you rock go go go" turned into a me pity party, sorry about that!

I hope your UC settles so you can enjoy the rest of your pregnancy!
Posted 3/30/2010 12:22 PM (GMT 0)
So far I have been feeling fine, but what pregnant person has went through their entire pregnancy without being nervous-Pregnancy in itself is a nervous situation but to add ulcerative colitis on top is something else.  I have never missed a day of work or never been hospitalized due to UC-so I would consider mines as mild.  I see some mucus and a little blood in the toilet but no urgency to use the restroom.  I am praying that my lil seed is doing just fine in the mist of UC.  What symptoms have you ladies experienced during pregnancy?

Posted 3/30/2010 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
My flare during my first pregnancy was blood, gas, bloating, urgency but it was not too bad as I was on top of it pretty quick.
Posted 3/31/2010 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
i flared at 9 weeks. and it got pretty bad. had to have blood transfusion (2 bags) and then an iron transfusion in feb. went into remission right after that. so a month and a half now in remission. thank christ cuz im so uncomfortable as it is being just preggers.
omg so ready to have this thing. hopefully i wont flare post birth. i hear a lot of women do.
one month to go though.... c-section scheduled for april 30th. holy crapola~!
Posted 3/31/2010 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
If I were to go through another pregnancy I would try to avoid a post birth flare by eating a high protein low residue diet for the first 2 to 3 weeks, continue taking a good immune supportive vitamin, and use daily mesalamine enemas. For me it was the third week after the baby was born that was hardest. Helpful relatives had gone home and I probably tried to do too much too fast. I think I would ask for more help from friends during the third week.
Posted 4/2/2010 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
Just wondering....

are there any pregnant women out there that dye their hair?  Or use any kind of natural hair color dye?  Because Im going crazy with my roots...dont know what to do...

Posted 4/2/2010 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
I got highlights probably 3 times when I waspregnant. Dr never said no to me.
Posted 4/2/2010 2:55 AM (GMT 0)
I am going to get highlights done next week. Just partial ones on the top of my head. I have several friends own have done the same.
Posted 4/3/2010 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
I am almost 7 weeks. I am flaring pretty bad. I thought it was starting to come under control because I just started the Humira. I am not doing too good now. I am still taking the Humira even though it scares me to take while pregnant. I feel like I might need to go back on my Entocort. The nurse at my new OB office told me no enemas. I feel like I need them and don't think they will interfere. Any opinions on Entocort, Rowasa and my probiotics during pregnancy??? I am definitely not one of the women who get better during pregnancy.
Posted 4/3/2010 11:49 PM (GMT 0)
i dye my hair all the time and im 8+ months pregnant.
its not a problem. just do it!
Posted 4/5/2010 12:50 PM (GMT 0)
Congrats to you!  I am 15 weeks pg with baby #3.  With my first 2 I did battle flares during the pregnancy.  One was controlled with cortenemas, the other I ended up on prednisone.  Here's hoping that doesn't happen again! I had to chime in on the enemas... I have never heard something that sounds so crazy as not to use them during pregnancy.  It is most important to keep yourself well, and mesalamine is known to be safe.  My dr says probiotics are fine as well.  I hope things get under control quickly for you.  Keep us posted.

Posted 4/5/2010 12:53 PM (GMT 0)
Boxermom,

I heard that enemas are safe during pregnancy.  So far I am doing ok and decided to take just Apriso and no enemas unless my flare gets really bad.  The blood is no longer in the toilet so that is a plus for me.  As of tomorrow, I will be 9 weeks pregnant-I can wait until my next ultrasound to make sure my little bean is doing well.  I have been breaking out very bad on my face and neck-but it's all well worth it in the end.  In the meantime, anything I can use to clear up this acne while pregnant?

Posted 4/5/2010 1:55 PM (GMT 0)
I think I am going to start back on my Rowasa. Maybe the nurse didn' understand me when I told her. I also read probiotics were good. I need to get back into my old routine and try to get this under control. I don't see the new OB until the 14th. anybody take Entocort while pregnant? Safer than prednisone? The pred gives me high blood pressure so I would like to hold off on it.
Posted 4/5/2010 6:34 PM (GMT 0)

UCISNOT MYFRIEND said...
Boxermom,

I heard that enemas are safe during pregnancy.  So far I am doing ok and decided to take just Apriso and no enemas unless my flare gets really bad.  The blood is no longer in the toilet so that is a plus for me.  As of tomorrow, I will be 9 weeks pregnant-I can wait until my next ultrasound to make sure my little bean is doing well.  I have been breaking out very bad on my face and neck-but it's all well worth it in the end.  In the meantime, anything I can use to clear up this acne while pregnant?

I had terrible breakouts also, particularly along my chin and jawline.  I even got a few on my upper back and I was like what the heck!?  Nothing really helped me, but it got much better after the first trimester.  At least I didn't have morning sickness although the acne got so bad that I was considering maybe I'd rather have the morning sickness! 

Posted 4/6/2010 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
I would definitely try to stay away from pred if it raises your bp.  It does  the same thing to me and I was on bedrest because of it during my first pregnancy.  Also after my daughter was born I needed a 24 hour infusion of magnesium sulfate to make sure I didn't have a stroke.  It was awful!  Makes you feel like you're in a trance.  I definitely need pred sometimes to control a flare, but if at all possible I will not take it while pg because of hypertension.
Posted 4/6/2010 1:22 PM (GMT 0)
Wow!!  you ladies are bringing back all these 'great' pregnancy memories for me LOL, can you note the sarcasm tongue

I have a 5 month old son who is the JOY of my life. When he smiles at me my heart melts, and I was never a gooey baby-loving woman before I had him.

My pregnancy however was a nightmare. I started mildly flaring at week 7, just when the morning sickness started to kick into full force. I had 24 hour nausea accompanied by the fear of starting to flare after 6 yrs of remission. I had never had a real flare so you can imagine my fear, being pregnant with my first , super nauseous, and seeing blood again for teh first time in years!

Anyways, I made it through only mildly flaring but mentally, my UC had a grip on me my entire pregnancy. I wasnt able to enjoy it even after the morning sickness passed at 20 weeks, yes, 20 weeks, b/c I was so worried that I was flaring. I didnt use pred, my doc kept me on my maintenance dose of salofalk and said we'll see how it goes after I deliver.

I had a c section because we were breech. I didnt flare worse after birth but I am still not back in remission. Its sad, I was in such a solid remission for yrs and now I have daily cramps, and a little mushy poop, but thats it, just going once a day but the cramps are the thing that suck b/c you never know when they hit. Im going in for blood work next week to check for an ulcer, h pylori, pancreatitis, or anything else that mat be causing the cramps other thank UC b/c  that is my only syptom and it upper stomach...

Anyways, sorry I went on so long... my whole point was this: 

My entire pregnancy I couldnt wait for it to be over, I swore I would never do it again, but now I do want another but I am sooooo scared. How did you women who flared during or after decide to do it all over again? I am so worried that I will get even sicker!!  And wont be able to take care of 2 babies.

Thanks for listening :)

Posted 4/6/2010 1:42 PM (GMT 0)
kweeks-I have not gone through a pregnancy with this disease yet (I was diagnosed after my second), but we have talked about it and we don't feel complete with 2. There are no guarantees we will be able to have a third, but we feel like we have to try. And since I had 2 c/s (both breech), I know I will have another should we have a third baby, and to be honest, after 2 severe flares with hospitalizations and knowing I am almost out of drug options, I am scared about the idea of getting pregnant again. I don't know how I will handle it if I end up flaring badly after pregnancy and have to deal with a newborn and the prospect of surgery at the same time or something, because that would likely be the option.

That said, all I can tell you is that even though I am scared and I have no idea what will happen if we try and do this again, I know that I don't want to get to the end of my life and wish I had done it differently. For me personally, I know that I would rather lose my colon and have another baby than live with the regret of not trying again. Because if we try and it doesn't happen, I can be ok with that, but I don't think I can be ok with saying I'm done with 2. So I would just say, if you feel strongly about having another baby (and with your baby only being 5 months, I would say you have plenty of time to think on it!), think about how you will feel someday if you DON'T try again-will you regret it? Or do you think you will be ok with having not done it?

For what it's worth, I had the worst c/s recovery of anyone I have ever known after my first child was born, and I swore I would not go through it again for a LONG time. I got pregnant again when she was 7 months old, lol. And I had a terrible recovery after the second too-and then was diagnosed with UC and have has some definite uphill battles along the way, dealing with it and basically 2 babies. But I would go through it all again and worse for those two.
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