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"Prepare to flare after giving birth"

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/25/2015 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
Months ago these words were said to me by a lady with Crohn's. At the time I wasn't even pregnant, and gave it little thought. When I became pregnant (5 months ago now) the words popped back in my head, but I told myself, meh, it was just what happened to her, doesn't mean it's the norm. Well, spoke to my GE the other day, yup, according to him, it's the norm. He said, the "typical" ibd patient improves during pregnancy and then flares writhing the first four months after giving birth. Of course he said this doesn't happen to everyone, but to prepare for, just in case. Sigh. I guess my saving grace is I've never presented as the "typical" ibd patient, lol.

Did y'all flare after giving birth? I wonder if the numbers are screwed because of so many who go off mess for pregnancy and or breastfeeding. Let me be clear, I'm not off my meds now and will not be off them after giving birth. Hopefully that helps.

Give me hope please! It will be a nightmare to flare with newborn.
Posted 10/25/2015 6:02 AM (GMT 0)
I'm going to give you some hope. Yes, I did flare for 4 months after the birth of my first child. However, my baby was born preterm with jaundice, concerns about her heart, etc. and I was a basket of nerves and stress!

With my second child, I had no flares! She was born full term, no health issues.I knew I needed to really focus on being more relaxed.I did meditation, took walks, tried to get plenty of sleep. I didn't have another flare until 7 years after the first (this year)!

I have read that flares are common postpartum. Do your best to take good care of you. But if you flare, you flare. Don't beat yourself up! Try to get good rest, eat and drink healthy foods. Maybe consider probiotics and flax or omega 3s/fish oil (ask your doctor first of course). Good luck momma!! :-)
Posted 10/25/2015 1:05 PM (GMT 0)
I didn't flare after my son was born or after weaning him at one year. My UC was completely in remission the whole time except for a two week period right after I conceived.

I've always had UC problem with hormonal shifts. I knew I was pregnant because of the sudden miniflare but I was fine until my son was almost three.

My UC was mild and I didn't take anything for it then. I'm allergic to mesalamines and it made no sense to be on meds.

So don't worry. Just stay on your meds. Some flare after pregnancy but many don't. You could discuss this with your GI and OB so you have a plan if you have symptoms. And if you do, don't wait and see. Jump on it right away. It's much easier to stop a flare when it starts than to get out of a full-blown flare.
Posted 10/25/2015 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
I was undiagnosed with my first pregnancy. Symptoms started around 26 weeks and because I was undiagnosed stayed with me until I was diagnosed 4 weeks after giving birth. I did flare badly post partum after my first...BUT I had NO IDEA what I had just been diagnosed with. I didnt take it seriously and played around with my meds because of breastfeeding. It took a long time to get under control. Now I know you can pretty much be pregnant/breastfeed on every UC drug...6mp/Aza being 2 that I'ver heard mixed reviews on.

My second pregnancy I stayed on my meds but again flared 26 weeks post partum. My hormones greatly affect my UC and seem to be like clockwork with pregnancy and post partum. I changed meds around and was in remission before giving birth and stayed that way for 3 months. For this pregnancy I also encapsulated my placenta to help regulate hormones. It worked amazingly...placebo effect or really working I didn't care. And I was able to get a tincture made that I used when I weaned from breastfeeding at 6 months.

I started a very mild flare (for me) at 3 months. My two other flares landed me in the hospital. Once I started to flare I was ALL OVER IT. It never progressed but it has taken some time to heal...again I think its my hormones settling.

All of my doctors (high risk ob, ob, and gi) all believe in the rule of 3rds. Some stay the same, some get worse, some get better. I get worse.

A tip that was given to me about post partum - take canasa the firist month. It can be preventative. Its hard to do enemas because of getting up and down with the baby but if you can handle it go for it!

I wish you a UC free pregnancy and post partum. Hugs and congrats!!
Posted 10/25/2015 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds as though you are prepared....you might consider to up your oral a tad when the time approaches. What rectal schedule are you using now

q
Posted 10/25/2015 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
I first started having symptoms of UC a few months after giving birth. I just sucked it up for over a year but then the bleeding got really bad and I couldn't blame it on hemmies anymore.

I think the giving up smoking and having my daughter just set it all off.
Posted 10/26/2015 1:17 PM (GMT 0)
I flared after my first child was born, but that's when I was diagnosed.

I did not flare after my second was born, but I had been stable for a couple of years before getting pregnant, was stable throughout pregnancy, and (obviously) stayed on my meds throughout. I think I upped my rectal meds after delivery and used Canasa nightly, just as a precaution. I knew I might not be able to retain a mesalamine enema, as much as you're up with a newborn. Plus, I had a c-section, so administering an enema wasn't exactly easy. I also upped my probiotics.
Posted 10/26/2015 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
I'm afraid I also flared after both births. Not immediately and it wasn't dramatic. It is very hard to keep to your drug schedule if you have a long labour and recovery. Put your partner in charge of ensuring you take drugs on time. And stock up on enemas in advance.
Posted 10/27/2015 3:09 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with bettylou...make sure you stock up on what you can. I brought ALL my meds to the hospital and took them every day - I was there 4 days for a c-section (unrelated to UC). I even had my VSL packets on ice while I was there LOL.

Everyone is different and it does not mean you will flare but do the things you can to be preventative and ready in case one starts.
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