Crohns Disease and Pregnancy anyone else???????????

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I suffer with Crohns disease which fortunalty has'nt given me any problems for about a 18 months. Im am now nearly 30 weeks pregnant and think it beginning to flare up!

Does anyone else suffer with Crohns and if so what has been your experience with pregnancy??????

I'm probably not much help as I've only ever had one proper flare up of Crohn's and that was pre-children. I do remember my consultant saying that if I did have a flare up during pregnancy, there was medication I could take. Have you spoken to the doctor?

FWIW my mild symptoms (that had rumbled on and off after the first initial severe flare up) seemed to disappear entirely during pregnancy.

I spoke to a doctor one night when visiting my family, and he told me that crohns doesnt tend to flare up while pg and that i prob had a bug!!!!!!

My midwife got some blood results yesterday that indicated inflammation (which was always one way i have been checked in the past) but when i said i had had a few bouts of cramps that could be my crohns she didnt say anything in return!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just wondered if anyone else has suffered with it while pg to know what to expect?

my crohns was in remission in both pregnancies.. and has remained so, since dd;s birth 2.3 years ago, apart from 2 flare ups.

pregnancy does on the whole damp down the inflammation

how bad is it? are you bleeding at all? if so, tehn i would see if you can go back on some meds

Its not to bad at the mo. Im getting just the odd cramps, but the are quite bad when i do get them. There isnt any blood that i think is related to that!!

I really dont wont to go on any meds, but i suppose if it get to bad i may have no choice. I dont know if its contributing towards me feeling so shattered and uncomfortable and like i really cant go on (got no choice still 10 weeks to go)!!

Have you thought about trying acupuncture? It can be really helpful for bowel complaints and will ease other pregnancy symptoms - very relaxing too.

Yes my Crohn's flared up, not really badly but I was on predisolone about 10 to 15 mg throughout pregnancy and for 6 months after (in decreasing doses) It was not enough to give me any horrible steriod side effects

I was also on 100mg Azathioprine which I was terrified about but all was fine

I think steroids are fine in pregnancy I wouldn't worry too much about going on a low dose if that is what they recommend

xx

I spent 5 years on Azathioprine so def dont want to go on that again but predisolone has never worked for me, a friend whos a nurse thinks the coating on them doesnt agree with me, but its not to bad at the momment, i just feel constantly shattered which i think is the worst thing!!

Did u make it to full term even with ur crohns flared up??

Oh yes
I have a 5yo!

TBH it didn't really affect me adversely, I had a really good pregnancy despite it.

You can get different coatings on pred I think

Have you tried Budesonide? It is more locally released and is good for some people (not me sadly), less side effects.

I've been on Azathioprine for about 13 years with no adverse effects

Sorry can't offer any advice but just wanted to add that my mum was advised not to have any children cos Crohn's was seen as such a serious condition back in the day. I was an accident & everyone told her not to go through with it but she said she felt the best ever while pregnant. She didn't have any more children though so not sure what that says about me!
Hope you go ok with the rest of the pregnancy.

Yeah tried Budesonide and thats another that doesnt help! I flared up badly two years ago and i went on a drug that worked wonders but cant remember the name! Normally i would use Colpermin Tabs at the first sign of cramps and that usually helps, but cant take that as they are made with peppermint oil!!!

Im hoping that once i go on Mat leave in 4 weeks it will ease off with rest.

I was just wondering wether there is a risk of preterm labour if i dont treat it with meds, as i have read bowel aggrevation can bring on labour????

I was diagnosed with crohns at the start of my pregnancy (dd is 13weeks old now) and was put on pentasa 4g straight away. This did seem to help, but i had several minor flares throughout the pregnancy. They told me that the best treatments for crohns in pregnancy are budesonide, and the elemental diet....which they kept threatening me with and i kept resisting!! did npt fancy being 30 weeks pregnant and not able to eat!
I ended up having a c section becuase dd was breech, which they thought may have been due to inflamed bowel, but crohns has been fine since the birth.
I generally find that resting and getting plenty of sleep helps!...so am sure things will get much better when you start maternity leave!
I also have a fantastic IBD nurse who was there at the end of the phone as soon as I had any questions!
Good luck...am sure it will be fine!
Kate

Hello all i am new 2this site so i jus wondered if any1 can help??

I am 20yrs old and 38weeks pregnant, got 2weeks left 2day, but starting 2 have a little flare up!

i was 8weeks pregnant wen i got diagnoised with crohn's and was on steriods (predisonaloine) however its spelt, 4a few months, i am now on just pentasa but starting 2ave trouble again.

i wud not like 2b put bk on steriods whilst pregnant so i wondered if i can ask midwife 2 induce me as soon as i am 40weeks???

i wud also like 2b induced then due 2the fact that i am stil under the watchful eye of the IBD nurse and if i go overdue my app with them will b literally days afta i wud of given birth which "touchwood" if anything goes wrong i wud need 2stay in hospital and miss my app and with the NHS being wot it is wud take me ages 2 get another app.

Any help wud b gratefull as i am a 1st time mum, young and know no1 else with Crohn's!

Thanks xx

Hi Hells22,

Although i have suffered with Crohns Disease for 12 years, i am also a first time mum to be so unfortunalty cant be much help with your questions, as i too am very unsure as to what they do with us when we're unwell with our Crohns and getting closer to dropping!!!!!

Unfortunalty i live abroad at the mo as my hubby is in the forces, so i am not under the care of a IBD nurse any more, but from my experience of being under one in the past, you shouldnt have a problem getting another appointment if u cant attend due to giving birth! They didnt have IBD nurses when i was first diagnosed where i lived, but when they did it appeared to me they are there to be able to see more people easier, if you get what i mean!!!

Hi Hells2,

call your IBD nurse first thing on Monday...she might even be able to get them to induce you now at 38 weeks...but would certainly be able to advise you on what to do with the falre....have you tried budesonide?
With my crohns nurse, i just call her if there's a problem and she can normally see me if not that day then certianly the next and there is never a wait...that is what they are there for. They are aware that crohns is a relapsing remitting illness and therefore when you get ill you need treatment asap!

Good luck!

I have rheumatoid arthritis and one of the drugs I take is sulphasalazine, which is also used in the treatment of Crohns. It is safe for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It does take a few weeks to build up the dose and realise a benefit - about 6 - 8 weeks in my case as it was a new diagnosis and acute flare up, but it might be different in Crohns and if you're already having treatment.

Another Crohnsiac here, having a rubbish time atm (in middle of awful flare up).

My two pgs were mixed, health-wise. If MN can link to a pdf file, there's a great fact sheet from NACC. If you've recently been diagnosed it's really worth while to join NACC - they provide phone support and loads of information that goes beyond what your average hospitl adoc will tell you.

pregnancy fact sheet

This is the NACC homepage: jolly good people