Remicade, pregnancy and a very healthy baby

Hi all. I know some of you know my story. I want to post a quick recap here for people who are doing searches on these topics and need positive stories.

I was diagnosed with UC 4 weeks after my first child was born in 2012. Symptoms started during the pregnancy but I was unable to get a colonoscopy until post partum. Rowasa kept my symptoms under control until I had the baby. Post partum was a mess. It took me a year to get into remission. Mainly because I was ignorant to the disease and medications. I played around with meds because I didn't know any better and before I knew it I was in the hospital. I went thru the gammet...apriso, asacol, asacol hd, 6 mp, prednisone, all the enemas and suppositories. 6 mp made my liver go crazy and thats when I stopped everything started lialda with nightly rowasa and one last round (3 tapers later) of prednisone. That did the trick.

Fast forward 18 months later and I was pregnant with my second child. I was in remission. Always took my meds and continued on them thru pregnancy - 4 lialda, rowasa 2 nights a week. At 26 weeks (same time as my first child) a terrible flare started. I wasn't able to get it under control with ANYTHING. I started Remicade at 30 weeks pregnant. I was in remission by the 3rd loading dose.

I am now 3 months post partum on Remicade every 8 weeks and still in remission. I am tapering my lialda and down to one pill a day. I take probiotics and fiber.

I exclusively breastfeed on Remicade as well. I wasn't able to do that with my first because I was so sick and couldn't produce milk. My second was born 2 weeks early at 5 lbs 13 oz via c section (non UC related). Now he is a WHOPPING 16 lbs. Healthy, happy and insanely adorable. I was able to spend "infant time" with him unlike my first because I was so sick. Its been the best redo ever.

I want other women out there to know this can happen and it can work out. Making the decision to start Remicade while 30 weeks pregnant was the hardest decision I ever made but turned out to be the best.

I pray every day to stay in remission. And I don't take one minute for granted. This forum helped me get here. So thank you all.

xxoo

Congrats on the birth of your little one! It's so good to hear that you and baby are doing well! I'm 38 weeks pregnant with my second and so far my UC has been quiet. I flared badly after the birth of my first but I am hoping that won't be the case this time around. Thanks for sharing your story!

Thanks for posting. A lot of people wind up in the same boat and this will inspire them.

Nice to hear from you!!! Congrats

That's wonderful news!!!!!!!! It's such a blessing to find a UC med that can really keep one in remission, and I wish you continued success & enjoyment of your children in good health. / Old Hat (34 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)