Hi all,
How nice to find an Australian forum btw!
I have had Crohn's Disease for about 4 years now. Yesterday I went and saw my Dr and asked her about implications with getting pregnant with Crohn's (something we are thinking about this year). She told me I would stay on my current medication (150mg Azathioprine/ Imuran) which is safe for the baby, despite information that can be found on the internet. The only drawback is that it is not safe to breastfeed with! Well, I asked if there were any other alternatives, and she said no (apart from prednisone, and I'm not really keen to go down that path again!). Has anyone had any experiences with Crohn's Disease and pregnancy? I feel it is kind of important to breastfeed, and am thinking of possibly having a trial run of going off my medication (we will see, don't know if my Dr will be too keen!).
Anyway, any information is appreciated!
Thanks
I have had Crohn's disease for 14 years (had surgery in 2008) and am 8 weeks pregnant with our first baby. I am currently experiancing a small flare up although nothing i'm too worried about yet. I have just seen my doctor and he has advised me to stop taking my regular medication (150mg Imuran daily) as it is not recommend during pregnancy and has put me on a low dose of Prednisone (if you ask me any dose is too much of that stuff!) 25mg a day.
Apart from the obviously worry i have about affecting the babys development in these early stages i also worry about my health as i have alway experianced pretty heavy side affects from this drug in the past. I worry about the how much weight i will gain, the terrible innsomnia i experiance etc and how i am going to cope with it all whilst still trying maintain a healthy and active lifestyle!
My doctor has advised me that the risks to my health by not taking any medication far out weight the risks to the baby and the side affects of the drug on me. I trust my GP 110% as he has been with me through every single flare up and hospitalisation in the last 14 years.
I have an appointment to see my OB in a few weeks time and obviously i will discuss this with him then, but until then i have no choice to do what my GP tells me and try and cope with it best i can.
I must admit though, for someone who is 8 weeks pregnant i haven't had the slightest bit of morning sickness yet Maybe there is a god after all!
I would ask again, or check with a different doctor even.
There's a lot of misinformation about what is and isn't safe during breastfeeding. Somewhere in the breastfeeding support section there'll be posts with a number you can call to check the safety of drugs during breastfeeding. The information provided by manufacturers is often incorrect - they just slap on an arse-covering "not safe" label and don't bother to check.
Hmmm, interesting that your Dr pulled you off the Imuran, my Gastroenterologist seems to think it's fine to take, and says she has guided many pregnancies through with it! They all seem to have a different opinion don't they!
I hear you on the prednisone, I hate it too. Weight gain (especially in the face!), not sleeping and all of that. What does your Dr say about breastfeeding and prednisone?
I am still hoping for the no medication route, but we'll see what my doctor says after my colonoscopy. Be sure to keep us updated
I have UC not Crohns but i've been down that path with what meds are safe etc..
I spent both pregnancies on 25mg of pred. The thing to remember is A flare up during pregnancy is a lot worse for mother & baby.
I was told Imuran is okay during pregnancy & breastfeeding. That will just monitor you more closely.
I know of a few woman who have b/f while taking imuran, most of them pump & dump.
Pred is also safe to take during pregnancy & breastfeeding.
I think if you dont feel safe taking Imuran then your best to start taking the pred, I know it's horrible & all but a flare up will be such much worse for you & you know that will happen if you stop taking your meds.
I had a minor flare at the begining of my 1st pregnancy & then stayed in remission till 8 weeks after giving birth. My 2nd pregnancy i flared about 20wks then stayed in remission till 10 weeks after giving birth.
If you have any more questions i'll be happy to try answer them
Thanks everyone for your advice it is much appreciated! Funny how everyone's Dr seems to have difference feelings about the Imuran / Prednisone issue.
My GP called me this morning and he has spoken with my OB (who i am yet to see in person since becoming pregnant, have an appointment in a few weeks time) and he said he has had some patients on Imuran throughout pregnancy but would prefer if i could cope with the Prednisone instead. I know in the past my Crohn's has responded well to the Prednisone so i am inclined to "tough it out" but i did tell my GP that i though 25mg daily was a failry aggresive amount to start me on. He said he would let me trial just half a tablet a day (so round about 12.5mg) to start with and if that wasn't working he would have to bump it back up again. He has also made an appointment for me to see a Gastro in a few weeks time to get his advise. (The problem with living in a regional area is that we don't have a permanant Gasto in town, they only visit for 2 days a month. And unfortunatley they only seem to last about 6-12 months then a new one starts coming. Very Frustating have to retell your medical history for the last 14 year to someone new all the time!)
Anyway, that makes me fell a little bit better, just taking the smaller dosage to start with. Its not that i don't want to get it under control as quickly as possible, i just don't think i need to go in all guns blazing. I still have a long road ahead of me yet!
I will know more after my scan on Wednesday and my GP appointment on Friday.
Sandy my G.I started me on the 25mg because i flared at the beginning, by the end of my Preg i was 5 mg, with my 2nd preg i started on 25mg, then dropped to 10mg & because i flared i had to stay on 25mg till the end of my pregnancy.
I do hope you able to stay on the 12.5mg & then drop to a lower dose. All the best with your scan. i look forward to hearing how it goes
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