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Does UC = "high risk" pregnancy?

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Posted 2/6/2011 12:26 AM (GMT 0)
I see a lot of pregnancy related questions but most of them are related to specific drugs. It's *at least* a year before I start trying, but in the meantime I'm working hard to get my body in shape - both getting the disease under control and trying to lose weight. (I swear the only people who lose weight with UC are the ones who don't need to.)

I'm also researching like crazy. I've decided I definitely do not want a hospital birth, figuratively tied down and monitored, laboring on a doctor's schedule, etc. However I know that midwives don't like to touch "high risk" pregnancies and I was wondering if UC qualifies for high risk?

I know this is going to be one of those different for every woman things, but even anecdotal stories would reassure me. I'm not concerned about needing extra pre-natal monitoring but for the actual birth - were other post-diagnosed UC mothers able to do non-hospital births? I'm thinking one of those nifty birthing centers would be ideal, but it's a little early to try calling and asking if they'd take me. turn
Posted 2/6/2011 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
I think you could definitely call the centers you are interested in and ask for info. It's never too early and knowledge is power! I've asked my GI and GP about possible pregnancy - for myself they both give green light but my GI says he would want me monitored as a "high risk" due to combo of UC and being late 30's.
Posted 2/6/2011 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
I've had 2 pregnancies with UC. My OB said that having UC does NOT make you high risk. I was pleasantly surprised with how much she knew about UC. I did get an extra ultrasound in the 3rd trimester to make sure the baby was growing well. (My main OB said it wasn't necessary it was a different OB that ordered it, but I was happy to get an extra peek at the baby).

Also, I was in a big flare at the time I conceived my 2nd child. Just weeks after my GI said not to get pg any time soon until my flare was under control. (It was honestly a surprise). Thankfully, I was one of the lucky ladies that got better while pg. Took a while tho, wasn't until my 2nd trimester and after a short round of pred (for poison oak!) that I forgot about UC. I reminded my OB during delivery that I have UC and she said let's make sure you don't tear towards the rectum (I didn't), and that was that. I was not on any Rx meds during my pregnancies. I did take fish oil and probiotics along with my prenatals.

I asked my GI about the risks of passing UC onto my children. He said, there is a 15% chance they could develop it if one parent has UC - 50% if both parents have UC. I nursed both of my children. I hope that this helped them with establishing a good gut flora for life.

Good for you for planning ahead! Good luck!
Posted 2/6/2011 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
i dont think its the UC that makes it high risk, but some of the meds that cause the problems. They classified me as high risk, but it was the meds for me. IT was actually nice to be high risk, i got an ultrasound once a month!
As for the at home birth, i don't know how that work, if it would matter. personally i wanted to be at the hospital, i was like, drugs please! And i dont know what meds you are on, but some cause easy bleeding and you need to be monitored for that, and in my case they wanted me at a nursery with a Nicu, just in case. He did have some problems, but not related to the meds, so i am glad we were there.
but i think the best thing is to call and talk to different midwifes and see if there is one that is comfortable with it. good luck!
Posted 2/6/2011 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
I just delivered. I wasn't considered high risk but I did see a high risk dr once a month for extra ultrasounds to check on the baby's growth.

After delivery I had post partum hemmoraging which was really scary and I'm not sure if it's UC related or just something that happened. For that reason I would never consider giving birth outside of a hospital.
Posted 2/6/2011 4:01 AM (GMT 0)
I was not considered high risk with my pregnancy.
Posted 2/7/2011 2:10 AM (GMT 0)
MY GI said I would be...but then I never had children.
Posted 2/7/2011 2:17 AM (GMT 0)
I don't think that it necessairly does, but a lot of women with UC deliver early, and if you're anything under 37 weeks (ie, full term), you'd definitely need to be at a hospital. And even a full 37 weeks is cutting it a bit close, IMO. Even though my sig says my first flare started when my son was about 4 weeks old, I sometimes wonder if I was very mildly flaring throughout my pregnancy. I was NEVER constipated, and even pooped more often than normal. I had no reason to suspect I'd deliver early (and I know for sure when my due date was b/c I was charting when I got pregnant).

And if you do end up having to go to a hospital, definitely get a doula.  They'll help you get the birth experience you're looking for.  And, there are OBs out there who are willing to let a mom go natural and let her body do what it's supposed to do, so you might start asking for OB recommendations in your area.  You also might consider looking for a midwife who will co-manage your pregnancy along with an OB.  The OB can be there to monitor your and the baby's health, and the midwife can do the delivery.  Your insurance likely wouldn't pay for visits to both, though.

Posted 2/7/2011 4:01 AM (GMT 0)
Bosco - I had post partum hemorrhage with my first too - not UC related but VERY scary Thankfully it did not happen with my second but they watched me VERY closely. I agree - I would never consider giving birth outside of a hospital either.
Posted 2/7/2011 11:06 AM (GMT 0)
I started having symptoms after birth, but from my research - yes. There is a risk of blood clotting issues and most pregnant women now are put on baby aspirin. Also if one is on 6mp or imuran, which is category D, or prednisone, which is C, the ob-gyn needs to monitor more closely. On the positive side, my GI had lots of women on imuran during pregnancy and he thinks it should be moved to B because it's safe.
Posted 2/7/2011 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
I was high risk with my first pregnancy because it triggered a huge hospital-staying-medical leave flare. But they told me at the end of that pregnancy that if I got pregnant again, I didn't need to go to that hospital unless I had UC issues again - that UC does not mean high risk.

I am pregnant again and I've heard this from my family doctor recently. I might insist on the high risk clinic because I have experienced SO many UC challenges that I will probably flare again either during this pregnancy or right after labour, but it's not necessary.
Posted 2/7/2011 10:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Hoshi, I am going to try getting pregnant this year, so I've been asking lots of questions of my gi, my colo rectal surgeon and my gyn. I have had an abscess/fistula, so my doctor tells me a c section is advised (though it's still not considered 'high risk' but likely to cause more trouble with fistulas), but if you don't have that kind of history, and your symptoms are under control, you are not high risk. Good luck!
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