Pregnancy and Ulcerartive Colitis

I have Chrons Colitis and take Asacol for it. I continued taking my medicine during my pregnancy (with twins) and had no problem either with my own health or my kids. My doctors told me it was safe to take while pregnant. The only thing I postponed were any sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy procedures. I didn't find that my condition interfered with my ability to have a healthy prenancy and healthy kids. Good luck
H.

Hi R.,

I Have Crohn's and have a 1 1/2 year old daughter, so my experiences might be close.
Before I was pregnant, I attended a symposium with the Crohn's and Colitis foundation (www.ccfa.org), and listened to some highly regarded specialists from SFSU speak about treatment programs for women who want to have a baby. (They hold these all the time - Great to do once)
I focused on my situation at that time, but the advice I received there, as well as working with my own specialist, helped me to have a very normal and symptom free pregnancy. In my case, postpartum was where there was most concern for me. During my pregnancy I felt fantastic. I am able to manage my Crohn's without steroids, and my medication was cleared to be safe to take while I was pregnant. For you, I would say speak with your doctor to see if your medication is okay to take while pregnant, or if you'll need to go on another medication. This is all about your individual treatment.

All of this came with discussions with my specialist, primary doctor and OB before getting pregnant. I would suggest the same for you because we all have different responses to this type of illness. In addition, as you must already know, diet and exercise are equally important.

I wish you luck in your family planning!

not a sufferer but i had ibs really badly and got it under control. consider alternative meds as a way to heal yourself as opposed to living with it. it's worth a try. you've received alot of great advice

Hi R.- I was diagnosed with UC in 2000 have been pregnant twice since then- my daughter is 3.5 and my son is 9 mos. Before anything else, I would like to recommend a gastroenterologist- Dr. Uma Mahadevan-Velayos at UCSF- she specializes in UC and pregnancy and she is THE MOST AMAZING MD I have ever had. She really helped me get my UC under control and keep it under control while I was pregnant. I take Asacol (Mesalamine) and was able to continue on the meds while I was pregnant with no ill effects to me or the babies. I was told that it was crucial to get the disease under control before getting pregnant because it increases the likelihood that you will stay under control while pregnant.

Best of luck to you and your husband!

Hi R.,

Has anyone told you how you can get rid of the ulcerative colitis?

There are many sources of help available to overcome this disorder. Conventional medicine doesn't typically do enough--it's more like putting a bandaid on the problem but doesn't go far enough to get to the root of the problem to bring in a victory with wellness. The path that I would like to share with you is regarding appropriate nutriional supplements (including aloe vera juice), digestive enzymes.

I have a personal testimonial about my victory over irritable bowel and one from a doctor who has been healed from Crohn's disease.

If you would like to hear/learn more about the products that I have been taking/sharing for these things from Symmetry Direct, I would be happy to talk to you. You might want to start by checking out my website at www.symmetrydirect.com/dhendon. Look at Genesis first, then Aloe Plus, Advanced Omega, Ultra Vitality, Delta Zorb.
You CAN get back to normal again to prepare for pregnancy!

Victorious Living with Symmetry Direct,
D. Hendon, RDH, SMM
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www.symmetrydirect.com/dhendon

Hi R.,
While I cannot advise you on your medication, I have a suggestion for you. In my nutrition practice, I have seen people with inflammatory bowel diseases like UC do very well on a diet called the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. One of my clients was able to stop her meds all together--which she wanted to do for the same reason you do--to get pregnant. She had a beautiful baby boy. You may need additional support, but this diet can be miracle for some people. I myself was on it during my pregnancy, and it worked out wonderfully for me. The book that lays out the diet is called "Breaking the Vicious Cycle" by Elaine Gottschall. Check it out. It seems overwhelming at first, so ask for help if you need it, but if it works it is well worth it.

I would be more than happy to talk with you more about it. Please feel free to give me a call to talk more.

Take care and good luck,

E. Bender, NC, CHN
www.nutritionforthewholefamily.com
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