Pregnancy IBD / Ulcerative Colitis

[OneKhakiDreamer]

I am feeling lost and really looking for some advice.

I was diagnosed with UC over a year ago and been on bouts of steroids and various drugs. Before conception I was feeling a bit better just in octasa and Aza with Allopurinol. Anyway fast forward to pregnancy I have been in touch with my IBD team who have advised me it is best to stop Allopurinol and changed my Aza dose. But they recommended I begin Adalimumad (biologicals).
so I am interested in any experience on pregnancy and IBD. Obviously feeling anxious about it all.

secondly I feel I meet criteria of blood thinning injections due to age/ weight (thanks sterioids) and my colitis. Anyone take Adalimumad and blood thinning injections?

Also interested to know if you were put under consultant care? I haven’t even had booking in appointment!

finally I know a far off thing to think about but I am so nervous about the birth part (2nd birth) with how I am now (IBD symptoms) and wonder is it possible to opt for a c section? Or is it up to consultants?

thanks so much in advance!

I took octasa and pentasa (suppository) when I had flare ups in pregnancy, but was on those anyway. I also requested a section for this reason, turns out there was another issue that meant I had to have one, but they were fine with me requesting it and there wouldn’t have been an issue with it if I didn’t have the other issue.

I also had blood thinners from finding out I was pregnant for another issue, plus aspirin and a progesterone pessary. I honestly felt I spent the majority of my pregnancy shoving tablets into various orifices!! All turned out fine and had a healthy baby and great birth experience.

Hi, congratulations on your pregnancy. There is a pharmacist called Wendy Jones who runs the Breastfeeding Network - she has IBD and can advise on meds during pregnancy.

I was consultant led and it just means you have a few extra appointments where they do the normal checks, plus growth scans. I think you would have grounds to ask for an elective c-section if that’s what you want.

If you go into pregnancy in remission you are more likely to stay in remission throughout. Your team will work to keep you as well as possible. I was at my healthiest in pregnancy. I had two good births.

Good luck xxx

Also you can ask for an elective at any time. You don’t need a reason. I was in remission when I got pregnant but had two episodes during pregnancy and one a few months after birth. Otherwise I had a very easy pregnancy.

Thank you.

The end of the day is baby is healthy. Just a strange feeling to be advised to take additional medications but I guess consultants are the experts. Have my meeting to discuss my decision in a few weeks.

but really helpful to hear it all turned out well.

and also great to hear you can request a c section as not only my colitis but my last birth just feel would make me feel a lot more positive about that part of my pregnancy if I make it there ok!

Thank you so much!

this is so useful will look Wendy up for sure.

i really hope i also get my healthiest in pregnancy but had about a week or so break from medications when finding out about pregnancy and being scared and already feel my symptoms coming on again but again that could even be hormones/stress… who knows.

really lovely to hear two good births too!

I was in remission throughout my 2 pregnancies, so fingers crossed for you. I possibly took Asacol during second pregnancy, but was able to come off my steroids. (Sorry, over 10 years ago.)

The first pregnancy was before my diagnosis, and symptoms stopped for the pregnancy, then returned with a vengeance a couple of weeks after the birth. Finally diagnosed when baby 4 months.

Births were c-sections but not related to the UC.

@Wictc are you me? So many similarities!

I had a flare up in the 3rd trimester and went onto steroids for 6 weeks, my god they helped! I developed cholestasis so had to come off of octasta and Pentasa, but by then I had such hideous piles who even knew where I was bleeding from!!!

I had an ELCS, Drs didn't even blink when I said I had UC. I had a huge PPH with my first (vaginal delivery) baby, so a ELCS was a no brainer.

Was also badly anaemic so had iron infusions. I did wait to conceive til I was in remission though, pregnancy gave me a flare up but not til late on.

Also yes was consultant led due to UC and previous PPH (3 litres).