Interstitial Cystitis And Pregnancy

[Rabbithole27]

Hi all
I appreciate this is quite niche but I wondered if there was anyone who had experience of Interstitial Cystitis / painful bladder syndrome and a positive pregnancy journey? I’m currently 9 weeks pregnant and having a flare up of IC. I’ve never been officially diagnosed after being fobbed off by drs over the years but I’m almost certain I have it as have all the symptoms and all my tests came back negative for infection. I’d learnt to live with it with a lot of water drinking and cutting down on certain things but now I’m pregnant it seems to have come back with a vengeance and it’s really worrying me. I’m going to speak to my midwife at my first appointment on Wednesday but was just wondering if anyone else had any experience?
Thanks in advance!

Hi Rabbithole27

I've had IC/PBS for over 20 years, nothing has helped so far and I've tried almost everything. My main symptom is bladder pain and I've never had any tests come back positive for infection. It started a few hours after I went swimming in a chlorine 'bombed' swimming pool that I hadn't realised was just treated. Chlorine is absorbed by the skin and excreted via the bladder and I believe it damaged the inside of my bladder.

I've been through a few pregnancies in that time and have 4 children. I won't pretend it's easy with IC but I did go back and do it again...! My pain seemed to be a bit worse during pregnancy, but I always wanted a large family and didn't want IC to take that away from me like it has so much else in my life. I've had both natural birth and c-section so don't worry about the options in relation to your bladder. My main advice would be to take one day at a time as pain is such a hard thing to deal with. Breastfeeding seemed to help my bladder a bit maybe because of the happy hormones it produces, however don't be too upset if you struggle with breastfeeding (unfortunately I couldn't get my 4th to breastfeed even though I was really experienced).

I hope your symptoms improve. I'm sure it'll all be worth it when your baby arrives. xx