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Just Got the Go Ahead from My Docs to Start Trying for a Baby!

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 7/24/2012 8:51 AM (GMT -5)
I have had UC since I was about 14 years old and had many ups and downs with the disease: Took Asacol for 16 years with occasional flares and then boom, it stopped working! For almost 2 years was in a terrible flare trying to find the right mix of meds. Finally settled on Apriso and 6 MP and (knock on wood), I am feeling much better (which the usual UC aches and pains and occasional flares, but so far nothing requiring I go on steroids).

Yesterday I had my latest Colonoscopy and this was the big one: Was I in remission and cleared to start trying for a baby?! My mom grilled my Gastro doc after the procedure on if he felt I was healthy enough to begin trying (I was of course still drugged :). He said it was a go! I had already had preconception counseling with my OB and she cleared my meds and said if my colonoscopy was good, I could start trying! My husband and I have waited to have kids (I am 32, he is 35) and we are both so excited to begin we just don't know what to do (well, we KNOW what to do smilewinkgrin )!

Anyhoo, I know there are many posts about about this already, but if anyone has any tips on trying to conceive with UC or just tips on staying healthy once you conceive, or any tips at all, I would really appreciate it!

Thanks so much!
Posted 7/24/2012 9:05 AM (GMT -5)
Congrats and good luck!

I'm currently 8 weeks pregnant with my second child -- my UC symptoms started about 4 weeks after my son was born. At any rate, if you haven't read the book "Taking Charge of your Fertility," I encourage you to do so. I know charting isn't for everyone, but it does help you know if and when you are ovulating. I charted when we were TTC our first child, and I found it reassuring. For this pregnancy, I sort of charted the first month I was off birth control to figure out if I was ovulating or not, then quit. It was pretty obvious I was ovulating, given my cycle length. I got pregnant on our second month of trying, which was my third month off of birth control, for various reasons.

Also, start taking a prenatal vitamin NOW. It's important to have the extra folic acid very early on in pregnancy, even before it's possible to know if you are pregnant.

I think the another important thing to realize is that it's totally normal to take up to 6 months to get pregnant, even if you're having sex at the "right time." So don't get discouraged if it doesn't happen right away.

So far my UC symptoms have been fine; I've stayed on my meds (in signature) and have no plans of going off. I think I'm going to talk to my GI about getting a script for Canasa to use after the baby is born, because that's when my UC started, and is (so far) the only flare I've had. I think that it'll be tricky to use enemas with a newborn, so I'd like to have the Canasa available to keep the rectum calm.
Posted 7/24/2012 9:25 AM (GMT -5)
Thanks so much Fruitgirl! congratulations on your growing family! I will definitely look into "Taking Charge of your Fertility" and really appreciate all your advice :)

I started the prenatal vitamins right after the preconception counseling (about 1 month ago), so hopefully I am good there (at the pharmacist suggestion, i added a Folic acid supplment to ensure I am getting enough)!

This is my first month off BCPs, so it is good to be reminded it could take up to 6 months. I will do my best to not discouraged if it doesn't happen right away. I had a friend try for a year with no luck, and then the second she stopped "trying" bam, preg... tongue

I have read conflicting info about pregnancy and UC symptoms so I guess everyone is different and you can't guess how your own pregnancy will go. I wish you a healthy pregnancy and baby, and nothing but the best of luck to you and your family!
Posted 7/24/2012 9:30 AM (GMT -5)
Thanks!

Mostly what I've read about pregnancy and UC is that there's no way to guess if you'll stay in remission, flare, or get better (this of course assumes you were flaring when you got pregnant). The rates are about the same as in the general population.

Also, if you've been on BCP for a while, don't be surprised if your first cycle or two is pretty wonky. I quit BCP about 4 months before we TTC our first baby -- I'd been on them for about 11 years at that point, and my first cycle was over 45 days and I did not ovulate. My second cycle was "normal" and I did ovulate. I've had friends that have had 3 or so weird cycles before things smoothed out.
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