quick clicks

iparenting canada articles

iparenting canada q&a

community & groups

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

Bowels and Babies

The Effects of Chronic Bowel Disease on Pregnancy

By Jennifer Lacey

If you plan your pregnancy while your condition is in remission, you have a good chance for a healthy outcome for both you and your baby. "Do not try to become pregnant while your disease is active," he says. "Attempt to conceive during a period of good health."

If a woman should become pregnant while her disease is active, most doctors treat the condition aggressively. Many women fear their active condition may bring on an increased risk for miscarriage. This is not always the case, according to Dr. Maria Abreu, research director for the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Calif. If a woman becomes pregnant while her disease is in an active state, "the rates of a possible miscarriage are 9 percent with ulcerative colitis and 11 percent with Crohn's disease," she says.

She maintains these rates are similar to those in women who conceive a child without suffering from a chronic bowel condition. Usually, women who enter pregnancy with an active inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's tend to undergo more ultrasounds during pregnancy. "Increased fetal surveillance, such as ultrasounds for growth and fetal monitoring, will likely be advised," says Dr. Pinette.

Following a proper diet is essential for women with IBD to achieve healthy pregnancies. "Take a daily multivitamin and a folic acid supplement," says Dr. Robert P. Dillard, chief of pediatric gastroenterology at Nemours Children's Clinic in Pensacola, Fla.

Since certain foods can trigger an attack, changing or modifying a diet may help. Some pregnant women with IBD find it beneficial to seek advice from a registered dietician or nutritionist. They can look at the nutritional needs for both Mother and Baby.

Netty Levine, a registered dietitian with the Nutrition Counseling Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Calif., has counseled several pregnant women with IBD. "We make sure the mother is receiving an adequate intake for all of her needs," she says.

Want to see more?

• Lupus and Pregnancy: Is Your Health at Risk?
• The Facts About Molar Pregnancy
• Pregnancy and Diabetic: How Will Diabetes Affect Your Pregnancy?
• Talk about it!

Post As:
Enter your comment below:
Title
Comment Text
CAPTCHA
Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection.