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Just took a pregnancy test...

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 12/15/2013 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
And I'm pregnant! I should only be about 4 weeks along, and coincidentally I have an appointment on Monday with my GI care provider's PA.

I was undiagnosed with UC prior to my first pregnancy, I went into a UC flare somewhere around week 16 (fully flaring around week 25) if I remember right. No one could figure out what was wrong with me, and doing a colonoscopy while pregnant was out of the questions. At 21 weeks, they discovered, I have a short cervix and I was placed on modified bed rest. My OB has already told me that modified bed rest may be in my future on subsequent pregnancies, as my cervix is not going to grow!

Even though, I'm scared, I'm also excited that we can complete our family. My daughter is 2 1/2 and it has been a tough 18 months or so after her birth to get my UC under control. I have posted several times here on my story. I had a fecal transplant Aug 2012, and I have been only on Lialda and VSL#3DS ever since!! I would say I have been doing great UC wise. Upon diagnosis, I was on prednisone for a LONG time and 3 GI docs later I was put on Aza. (Imuran) for a brief stint prior to the fecal transplant just to get myself under control so I could have the FT.

I'm a bit curious if they will let me continue my meds as I am right now while pregnant, until a time comes that requires something stronger. Any opinions?? I surely hope so. I really prefer to not take Imuran while pregnant. I have read it is a Class D drug, although my GI PA mentioned it as a possibility over a year ago and said lots of patients take it with no birth defects. Still makes me nervous!!

I was so incredibly sick with my daughter, going 25+ times a day and only gaining 13 lbs the entire pregnancy. I don't want to go there again. But at the same time, she is the most healthy, perfect child I could ever imagine, and I'm just so fortunate for that. Since I was undiagnosed, I was under no-UC meds whatsoever…so I'm hoping that this time can only be better!!
Posted 12/15/2013 6:00 AM (GMT 0)
Congratulations on the pregnancy. I don't know much about UC and pregnancy, I haven't been pregnant but I hope you have a smooth pregnancy. You may want to try searching the forum, there have been a lot of posts on the topic. I think people are usually able to continue their medication. It seems like a lot of doctor's these days feel that a healthy mom makes a healthy baby. You will have to see what your GI and OB say.
Posted 12/15/2013 1:57 PM (GMT 0)
Congrats!! Hope all goes well for you this time around.
Posted 12/15/2013 2:02 PM (GMT 0)
Congrats! I was only on Asacol when I was pregnant with my daughter. I didn't flare when I was pregnant and in fact felt very well. I did however flare about 6 months after I had her - probably hormone driven.
Posted 12/15/2013 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
Congrats! I wasn't on anything when pregnant, I just had proctitis at the time. It flared badly during the pregnancy and I refused meds until I almost miscarried at 14 weeks. It was a wake-up call for me that being on meds would be safer then off them. I was put on sulphasalazine for about a month, then switched to Mezavant. The doctors said bit were fine to take during pregnancy! I've heard that as long as you are in remission when you get pregnant you often stay that way. Good luck with it all!
Posted 12/15/2013 9:13 PM (GMT 0)
I was on Remicade when I got pregnant the last time and even though most if not all research has said that's it's safe the first 2 trimesters my GI doc would not let me stay on it. I was high risk b/c of my UC and my OB was completely comfortable with me staying on it but I decided since I was in remission from the remicade that I would just stay off of it and hope that it didn't come back. I stayed in remission until I had my son.
Posted 12/16/2013 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
Congrats, how exciting! I was on Apriso while pregnant and did very well throughout. Started flaring 7 months post pardum, 9/13, and am currently still in that flare. Definitely talk to your GI and OBGYN about your meds!
Posted 12/16/2013 10:52 PM (GMT 0)
Congrats! I came off imuran before my first pregnancy but GI said most people stay on it with no obvious ill effects. There are studies of immunosuppressants and pregnancy. Google and you'll find a list.
Posted 12/17/2013 12:47 AM (GMT 0)
What wonderful news ! Congratulations @lolil!
B
Posted 12/17/2013 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
Congrats! I was on Lialda all during my second pregnancy. No problems at all. I had an elective c section (first was c section also) she was born one week before her due date and weighed 8lbs 9oz and is completely healthy. My GI told me that pregnancy can actually help stay out of a flare. I did not flare either pregnancy. Good luck! Also, I believe Lialda is a category B, if I remember right.
Posted 12/18/2013 10:03 PM (GMT 0)
@LoLil CONGRATULATIONS!! This is so crazy! I found out I was 4 weeks pregnant on 12/14 too! We also have a very similar diagnosis and post partum flare story.

This is a VERY unexpected pregnancy for my husband and I. We are extremely excited but I am very worried at the same time. The past flare is all too fresh in my memory and I don't want to go back there - ever.

I am staying on Lialda and Rowasa in hopes of a smooth pregnancy. My GI is completely on board. I met him when I landed in the hospital in March because of my first flare (and only so far).

What really gets me scared is post partum. Does anyone have suggestions on how to keep things under control after the baby is born?

I also had a C-section the first time and don't know if I should attempt a natural birth this time around...

Posted 12/18/2013 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
Many post partum flare stories come from previously undiagnosed UC cases so they didn't have a drug regime in place. I had no problems in the first six months. The only bit of advice I'd have is that it is hard to remember to take your drugs at the right time during a possible multi-day labour and hospital stay. Charge your birthing partner with giving you your UC drugs at the right time for the first week and have a small stock of enemas in case you miss a dose. It'll be hard to spot minor bleeding for obvious reasons...
Posted 12/19/2013 5:50 AM (GMT 0)
Best of luck to you during this exciting and hopeful time! :)
Posted 12/19/2013 2:02 PM (GMT 0)
Congrats! I would definitely, definitely, definitely stay on your Lialda and VSL#3, and perhaps consider adding a twice weekly mesalamine enema to the mix. Mesalamine-based drugs are safe to use during pregnancy. Much safer than going off of them and risking a flare. I was on both Apriso and twice weekly mesalamine enemas throughout my second pregnancy, and my daughter was born the day before her due date (scheduled c-section, but I went into labor that morning anyway) at 7 lbs 13 oz. She's 9.5 months old now and is doing just fine. I have stayed in remission, too.
Posted 12/19/2013 2:05 PM (GMT 0)
What a wonderful Christmas surprise! I know nothing of this disease and pregnancy but wish you a healthy happy 9...or 10 lol.
Posted 12/19/2013 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
Totes, I just saw that you are also expecting -- congrats!

As for how to keep it in control postpartum, I asked my GI to write me a script for Canasa (mesalamine suppositories), because I figured it might be hard to retain enemas, given that you never know when you'll have to get up with a baby! I used them nightly for the first 2-3 weeks postpartum, just as insurance. I wasn't having any problems, but wanted to be really, really proactive. I also upped my probiotic from 2 to 4 caps a day.
Posted 12/20/2013 12:22 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much!!

Fruitgirl that's a great idea on the canasa. I plan on sticking to my regimen and want to be as proactive as possible. Being sick with a newborn is something I wish no one would ever have to experience.

Did you stay on the extra vitamin d during your pregnancy? Also what probiotic did you take? I'm on vsl #3ds. I've been taking a packet in the morning and one at night since my hospital stay in march. Doesn't upset my stomach at all so I never thought about dropping to one packet and now that I'm pregnant I don't want to rock the boat but it's very expensive thru my insurance.

Also did you take dha with your prenatals and have any issues? I did my first pregnancy but don't know if my stomach will like it this time around.
Posted 12/20/2013 1:17 PM (GMT 0)
I'm actually not on vitamin d any more -- I need to update my sig, I guess! I had my levels checked and it was a bit high, so I stopped. I take a store brand probiotic from Super Supplements; it's pretty inexpensive, given the number and variety of "buggers" in it, and there's a store really close to my house. If I were you, though, I'd stay on the VSL, because the last thing you want to do right now is rock the boat.

I tried to take the dha, but it nearly made me vomit each time I took it, so gave up on that!

Good luck with everything -- I hope you have the same luck I did with my second pregnancy/post-partum period!
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