Just wondering... Stoma and pregnancy?

[sparkles]

Obviously I have years till I have to worry about this, but I was just wondering if anyone one here with a stoma has ever been pregnant? Is it (even more) uncomfortable? Is it even possible? When the stomach stretches what happens to the stoma?

I have an ileostomy so I was merely curious to see if anyone had any experience with this matter

 

[Christie]

Hi I have often wondered this, I have an ileostomy too but had my children before I got it!

 

[hazeydays]

its totally possible , I am 6 months pregnant with my first baby and its ten years since I had my ileostomy. so far I cannot see much of my feet but the baby (in my case) lies quite low-( perhaps cos there is more space in there!) which means that I can still see and change the bag no bother...

in comparison to my friends who are expecting I feel like a bit of a fraud no morning sickness or heartburn! perhaps though having had crohns I am so used to making myself eat- even if i didnt feel like it that you just get on with things!

so all good, Im sure being healthy exercising and varied diet all helped but no issues so far! fingers crossed that continues...

good luck ladies and stay well!

 

[PsychoJane]

I had my ileostomy at the age of 14 and my GI team referred me to a Planning/Obsgyn team + intern medecine specialist for whenever I would be willing to have kids (time that should be coming soon). I have been told that it can be a little tricky to conceive (hardest part probably being pregnant on its own, but that it was totally possible. They are just well aware they need extra precaution with various potential pregnancy effects (preclampsia and so on). Since forever I have been told that it is a possibility that I would have to be hospitalized for the last month of pregnancy due to pressure on the stoma and the potential need of draining it/ adequate food intakes to manage. These were given to me as the "worst case" scenarios. But hey, have not been pregnant yet so I will stick to Hazeydays experience and the others I've heard of that went great and without much complications! Point is, it is possible for us (I know my surgeon specially adjusts the position of the stoma he does to allow the best outcome with pregnancy).