Pregnant with crohn's after misscarrage

[daniyell271]

Hi there! I was recently diagnosed with Crohn's in september 2011. I am 27 years old with 2 healthy daughters. I was on prednisone and pentasa, I quit taking these medications when we started trying to get pregnant about 4 months ago. I had a misscarrage at the end of March and I am now 5 weeks and 1 day pregnant. I have been to the ob for an ultrasound and again in two weeks for a heart beat and mesurements. As today's ultrasound only showed a gestational sack. I have been having flare ups from the crohn's for about a week now; constant pain with sharp stabs to my right side, diareaha and vomiting at the same time, accidents. We thought this through and decided this was our best time to try for a child so that after I can focus on managing my crohn's which has hospitalized me 7 times since September, considering most crohn's meds are not acceptable for babies. As I think back in my 2 previous pregnancies there was signs of crohn's but the doctors removed my apendix because of the abdominal pain i was having in my first pregnancy. Then immediatly after my second pregnancy they removed my gall bladder. I was just curious if anyone has gone through a pregnancy with active crohn's and what your experience was. I think of every positive thing and every negative thing adn my mind is just so heavy right now. PLEASE HELP IF U CAN

 

[David]

Hi there and welcome to the forum

I suggest you take a look at our parenting and TTC forum. You'll find others in the exact same situation as you there. I'd also research enteral nutrition as it is an efficacious treatment option for Crohn's Disease that may be beneficial for you and the baby.

I wish you all the best

 

[Rebecca85]

Ditto what he said!

Your priority right now has to be getting yourself healthy, as your baby is relying on you for nourishment.

By the way, I am 16 weeks pregnant but so far no flares.

 

[Gwen pippy]

Hi Welcome to the forum honey

I can fully relate to your worries.
I was DX age 11, told I'd never have children. Then while in a major flare I became pregnant 6 years ago, unplanned as I was told it would never happen, unfortunately I miscarried early on as my body just wasn't strong enough. Doctors were not happy but after many months of rebuilding my health and in remission I tried again on pentasa, I had many meeting with my GP and GI's before I was convinced it was safe to be on meds while pregnant.
I even had to take pred at 30 weeks till I delivered 36wks 1dy she was 5lb 13oz and she is going to school this year. Then pregnancy number 3, while in remission ended sadly in early miscarriage.
Staying on pentasa throughout helped me maintain a good level of health so we tried again 3 months later and I got pregnant straight away and had pred at 30 wks till delivery 37wk 1dy, and she was 6lb 13oz and now nearly 2 years old. I even breastfed both my children while on my meds.

Doc's put it to me that if I took meds and stayed healthy I had a higher chance of a safe & positive outcome.
Pentasa is a very mild drug and is used by many pregnant women and pred helped me get to the end of my pregnancies and be strong enough to deliver my two beautiful girls.
I am sending you big hugs and if you want to chat I'm here.
Gwen xxx