Hello All! I am planning on getting pregnant in the next few months    Recently I have been mildly flaring, but have been feeling really good in the last couple of weeks. Any advice from uc'ers to prepare my body for pregnancy?

Thanks!

Hey megger.
How exciting! Would this be your first pregnancy/baby?

I had my daughter in 2007. I had severe pancolitis and was in a flare. We wanted to have a baby, but were told I needed to get a handle on my dz b4 trying to get pregnant or have surgery first. I did neither b/c my pregnancy was a surprise. Oopsy!
I did a drug study and got sick and was put back on prednisone ( I was only off it for a couple of months for the study). I think the pred actually helped me get pregnant. b/c it suppressed my immune system. I was on pred. 10-15 mg.s through my whole pregnancy. They monitored me closely and I saw a perinatologist. I got ultrasounds frequently. (which was cool b/c usually you only get 2 ultrasounds- I got lots, which are cool for the baby book) She grew great! They thought that she'd be big, but she ended up avg.=7lbs. 14oz.

They say you can't predict how your body (really your dz) will react to the pregnancy. 1/3 get better, 1/3 get worse, and 1/3 stay the same. I was lucky (one of the only "lucky" things that had to do with my case of u/c) and I actually felt better during my pregnancy. I felt better practically immediately! I still had some bleeding, but I was only going approx 2-3 x a day! compared to 10 x a day and 10 x a night.
I had a good pregnancy. They tested me twice for gestational diabetes b/c of the pred., but I didn't have it. Whew. My probs. came with post pregnancy and breasfeeding. That's another story.

I would suggest starting your prenatals now! Eating healthy and staying in shape. not stressing about getting pregnant (I know I know, yeah right).
Don't be surprised if it doesn't happen right away! It hardly ever does. You docs will tell you to try to get your flare under contol first. Of course that's best, but......I didn't. if you have to be on pred. it's not going to affect the baby! I was on asacol-4 pills 3xday, too. - also safe.
Good Luck! If you have any other questions, I'd be happy to help.

Girls, I'm with you! I have left just a little bit flare to fix. But I hope from next month we start trying! Let's keep in touch!

I just had my baby 5 weeks ago today. I have pancolitis too. I was mildly flaring when I became pregnant (oops!). During the first couple of weeks my symptoms got a little worse, then by the 2nd trimester I was in remission. I felt great UCwise the entire rest of my pregnancy!! My GI said that it's a rule of thirds for pregnant women with UC. 1/3 get worse, 1/3 stay the same as when they got pg and 1/3 go into remission. I hope you fall into the last category as I did! My OB said having UC did not put me in a high risk category. They would just do one extra US in the 3rd trimester to check growth.

Make sure you start on your prental vitamins now. Take care of yourself. Oh, and enjoy your sleep b/c when that little one comes you won't be getting any!! Best of luck to you!

Good luck, Megger!

No colitis advice, I'm afraid but.... Get plenty of sleep. Buy some of those home tests beforehand so they are handy for instant answers. Practice acknowledging ridiculous, unsolicitated advice with just the right mix of grace and sass.

Thanks for all of the advice! And yes this will be my first!!! :)

I bought some pre-natals today, in the tablet form though... I hope they do the trick! Has anyone else liked the liquid form better then the tablet form? If I do not have the runs is it necessary to take extra folic acid?

My mild flare is nearly gone! Knock on wood! I have 2-3 bm's a day with very little blood... We are waiting unitl the end of April/beginning of May though because we want to have a spring baby :)

PS - supersaw - That comment was completely unecessary....

I completely agree with you Meghan. Besides you were not asking whether you should have children in this post! My daughter is my greatest joy! I plan to have another child in the future.

I had an appt. with my GI today and I asked what chances do my children have of getting UC. With one parent it's 15%, if both parents have it, it's 50% chance.

spluxa, steroids are ok during pregnancy. I was on a short course while I was pg. for poison oak.

I'm all 4 adopting if you want that. Someday we might anyway. Lots of wonderful children need good homes.
BUT
Not a single person in my family has either Crohns or Colitis. Immediate or distant. As far as I know I'm the ONLY one. (I mean I WAS the only one)
SO POOP ON GENETICS!!!!
Let's all have babies!!!! Don't rain on our parade.

By the way, my hubby and I are going to start trying again in the fall. I'm nervous about an ostomy pregnancy.....but I want more little ones.

Question about OBGYN...do I go to the regulad doctor or I have to find High Risk Pragnance Obgyn?

AMK77 said...
spluxa - my OB said that having UC does not put you at high risk. I saw my regular OB for both of my pregnancies.

Then I will have to find a good one, because my first baby OB sucks! When I told him that I have UC now, he said: Oh..whatever, you take pills anyway!   i don't think he has any idea how to manage it if flare comes up.

Hi...count me in as well! We r also planning for baby - our first too!
BTW, does anyone know of a good RE in Phoenix/Scottsdale or nearby area? Or has anyone heard of "Arizona Reproductive Medicine Specialists" ? I know this is not a fertility forum, but i m very worried due to my UC & Hypothroid

spluxa, it's going to be a month since i m using canasa, well! Symptoms did improve a little but i m still not sure how good it is working! today blood came back again , infact first few days there was lot of burning sensation and i was planning to switch to something else. But now i plan to give it some more time!
Think my body is not allowing us to have a baby, when we tried last year and were expecting a positive test result, instead the results showed hypothyroid and then UC... both r due to my active immune system ! Wonder if my immune system will allow us to have a baby So i m more worried about finding a good RE in phoenix - still haven't found any!
let's hope someone suggests us a doc who understands UC!