Flaring and want a baby... Help?

[Sophia]

Hi,

I'm just married two months ago (yay!), and we really want to start trying to conceive. The problem is that after my honeymoon, I've been feeling worse (I have Crohn's disease), and my calprotectin tests have shown inflammation. My blood tests are fine, though, and I am only on Asacol (mesalazine) at the moment.

The IBD nurse at the hospital has said I should consider going on Imurel (azatioprin) now, and then once the Crohn's is under control we can start to consider a baby. But I've read the side effects of Imurel, and it really is not tempting to try to get pregnant when you are taking heavy medications like that. Has anyone here any experience with Imurel and baby making/pregnancy/breast feeding etc.?

Has anyone any experience on becoming pregnant when flaring?

Do you have any recommendations when it comes to medication and pregnancy?

I feel like I have so little information, and I haven't been able to talk it through with the doctors, because they are always so busy, only looking for treatment options, and not willing to talk about family planning and other "trivial" stuff...

<3

 

[Cross-stitch gal]

I'm sorry to hear of your frusterations. Even though my husband and I have been married over 13 years, I have a concerned doctor who has asked us if we're interested in having babies. From some info that I learned when we first got married, there's 1/3 chance that you'll get better while in pregnancy, 1/3 get worse and 1/3 stay the same. Depending on how sick you've been and for how long can determine which 1/3 you will be. I for an example, more than likely would have been the 1/3 that got worse since I've been sick for so long had we chosen to have our own little ones.

Here is some info I found that I'm hoping might help a little. I hope all goes well for you and your husband. Xxxx

http://www.ccfa.org/assets/pdfs/pregnancyfactsheet.pdf

http://ibdcrohns.about.com/cs/pregnancyibd/a/pregnancyibd.htm

http://www.badgut.org/information-centre/ibd-pregnancy-meeting-the-challenge-1.html

 

[Sophia]

Thank you so much for the reply, cross-stitch-gal. The links you shared are very informative.

Anyone else have experience with conceiving when in a flare? Or experience with taking Imurel while pregnant? Would be so thankful for some information first hand..!

 

[lgpcarter]

I was in remission when I had my daughter but when we discussed flare and what ifs my doc was comfortable with me being on Imuran if necessary.

The other thing to consider is that active disease means a higher chance of miscarriage in the first trimester. I was lucky to be referred to an Ob/Gyn who was familiar with IBD and specialized in high risk pregnancies who followed me through my whole pregnancy. Maybe see if there is someone like that available in your area?

I was lucky that I stayed in remission and had an easy pregnancy. I know how consuming the desire to have a baby can be, but I would try to get your disease under control before you TTC. Better for you and the baby.

 

[Sophia]

Thank you for your reply, Igpcarter. I've actually gotten a go ahead from my specialist doctor at the hospital, he didn't think it would be a problem at all. I guess he has considered my blood tests and calprotectin tests, and thinks it is no problem. So hopefully everything will be okay, and we are looking forward to TTC in the near future.

 

[lgpcarter]

That's great! Good luck and have fun

 

[iriechic]

Hi Sophia!
I was in a colitis flare my second pregnancy. I didn't know what I had was
an IBD when I became pregnant. I knew I had celiac disease but that was all. Going gluten free (in my 1st trimester) didn't stop my flare, unfortunately. I didn't have a GI taking control or prescribing me any medicine...could have been helpful. I did have a high-risk OB/GYN group and I was not happy with my second experience with them. It seemed they never had another pregnant patient with IBD. They are 'high risk' specializing in monitoring a mom of multiples and delivering multiples. Sorry for the rant, it til this day is upsetting that they didn't refer me on to a specialty GI while pregnant.

On a very upbeat and positive note, I was able to conceive fairly quickly while flaring (within 4-5 months) and I carried full term. My son was born at 7lbs 3oz., completely healthy and beautiful. Truly blessed.

My first pregnancy was easier in some aspects, except I knew more what to expect the second time around. Without flaring, 1st pregnancy, I got pregnant in two months. I carried 41 full weeks with daughter (versus 39 w/son. I chose to be induced w/him.). She was born healthy and beautiful at 8lbs 3oz.

My current IBD specialist GI has had plenty of pregnant patients whom are on medicines throughout. Her ARNP or PA has Crohns and was on Remicade while pregnant.

Best wishes to you and your hubby!

 

[Snickerdoodle]

I personally have been given the go ahead by my o.b. to conceive while on my medications for Crohns. This was while I was still on 6mp as well as my current list of meds. A doctor who is familiar with patients like us is always going to be the best way to have peace of mind thru your journey to parenthood. Good luck!

 

[Sophia]

Thank you so much for your replies, iriechic and Snickerdoodle!

Very pleased to hear your pregnancy went okay, even though you were flaring, iriechic, and it is so motivating to know that you were able to conceive in just a few months. This is our second month trying, and we are hoping for a positive test within a week or so. *fingerscrossed*

Snickerdoodle, are you trying to conceive right now, or was this earlier?

 

[Snickerdoodle]

We already have 3 kids but we are considering another. My Crohns began in my 4th pregnancy (3rd child), so getting pregnant while on Crohns medications is an experience I've not had yet. I have had these discussions with my o.b. in preparation for the right time...I wouldn't want to decide to have a baby just for the doctor to tell me I couldn't or shouldn't. The best thing to do is have your doctor examine you and bring your list of medications and IBD history with you to that visit to discuss what medications are ok to take during conception and during actual pregnancy. That way you are getting the most personalized answer to your questions. Best of luck to you!

 

[Snickerdoodle]

Btw, when I first got married 14 years ago, it took us 6 months of trying before I got pregnant the first time...this was long before Crohns was a part of my life. Being that you are on month 2, don't get discouraged if it takes a bit longer. I have close friends who were not considered candidates for fertility intervention who took as long as 2 years to conceive. There are little tricks to try, like resting for at least 1/2 hour after intercourse, using a basal thermometer to determine best ovulation times and whatnot. I don't know if any of them were clinically proven, but they are worth a call to the o.b.office. They may have some advice as well.

 

[honeybee]

My first pregnancy i was in remission and off all meds and i was fine.2nd pregnancy i was back on pentasa and got a terrible flare which left me in icu when my daughter was born so i didn't see her for her first 2 weeks i had to be tube fed blood transfusions etc i had an abscess in my hip that connected to my bowel so needed a drain for that also s perianal abscess it was a horrible time my point would be to make sure ur not in a flare before u get pregnant have it under control.we are currently waiting to start ttc no 3 but i need to start humira as well as imuran pentasa so we need to wait til march before actively trying.but Il definetly be staying on the meds this time

 

[lgpcarter]

I was lucky to be able to conceive fairly quickly with all three of my pregnancies - 1st one was miscarriage due to partial molar pregnancy, 2nd was a chemical/very early miscarriage at 5-6 weeks, and third one was healthy baby girl who is now 2. I went off Remicade when I got pregnant the first time in 2009.

The molar pregnancy took over a year to resolve and two D&Cs, so after that we were anxious to conceive right away. I used ovulation sticks and pregnancy tests from http://www.early-pregnancy-tests.com/

They are cheap and effective. It does take a little of the "fun" out of it, but makes it very easy to pinpoint when you are ovulating and for people who obsessively take pregnancy tests (like me!) it is so much more affordable when they are less than $1 each! The tests you can get in the dollar store also aren't bad - at least the ones I got at Dollarama in Canada.