Hello! I'm so glad to have found this forum to talk to people that are going through or have went through what I'm experiencing. To start off, I am 27 years old and I have been diagnosed with Crohn's Disease for 2 years now. I actually found out I had CD on Christmas '08 after suffering from abdominal pain and losing 20 pounds in a 3 month period. Finally I ended up in the ER on Christmas Eve after passing out, and ended up being hospitalized for 2 and 1/2 weeks. At first I was terrified to find out that I had CD and scared for what the future would hold. But since then I have gradually learned to accept it and learn how to cope with it on a day to day basis. I really haven't had any horrible flare ups since I was first diagnosed except this past Labor Day. I started getting sharp pain on my right side and went to the ER and found out that I had appendicitis due to a flare up of my CD. That was fun. 
Now 3 months later I ended up back in the ER (it's fast-becoming my 2nd home) with abdominal pain only to find out I'm pregnant. That was a shocker. I am extremely happy for this great news but also extremely scared. Before I only had to worry about myself but now every decision I make and every food I choose to eat affects my unborn baby. I only know a few other people with CD but I don't know anyone with CD that has been pregnant. My GI wants me to stay on my meds which are Azathioprine and Folic Acid. I don't have a problem with staying on the Folic Acid since that helps my baby but I'm not so sure about the Azathioprine. My online research shows that it can be extremely harmful to the baby, including birth defects and fetality but my GI says that if I don't take it I risk having a flare-up which can result in losing the baby. What wonderful options huh? Luckily I have a wonderful boyfriend and family that support whatever decision I make. So I'm really hoping somebody in this forum has been in my shoes or has some insight that they would like to share. Thanks for listening (reading) and I hope to hear from you.
Now 3 months later I ended up back in the ER (it's fast-becoming my 2nd home) with abdominal pain only to find out I'm pregnant. That was a shocker. I am extremely happy for this great news but also extremely scared. Before I only had to worry about myself but now every decision I make and every food I choose to eat affects my unborn baby. I only know a few other people with CD but I don't know anyone with CD that has been pregnant. My GI wants me to stay on my meds which are Azathioprine and Folic Acid. I don't have a problem with staying on the Folic Acid since that helps my baby but I'm not so sure about the Azathioprine. My online research shows that it can be extremely harmful to the baby, including birth defects and fetality but my GI says that if I don't take it I risk having a flare-up which can result in losing the baby. What wonderful options huh? Luckily I have a wonderful boyfriend and family that support whatever decision I make. So I'm really hoping somebody in this forum has been in my shoes or has some insight that they would like to share. Thanks for listening (reading) and I hope to hear from you. 
