Most people with Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative colitis can expect to have normal pregnancies and healthy babies. The changes that happen to your body during pregnancy have the potential to have an impact on Crohn’s and Colitis.
Ideally you should talk to your IBD team if you’re planning to get pregnant since it may be helpful to optimise your health or adjust medication before trying to conceive. You are more likely to have active disease (a flare up) during pregnancy if you have active disease when you become pregnant. Your IBD team can give advice on which medicines to stop or to continue taking as well as advise on any vitamins or supplements you may need to take before and during pregnancy.
If you are on sulphasalazine we may recommend an increased dose of folic acid due to its antifolate effect. The folic acid for pregnancy that you can buy at the pharmacy will not have enough folic acid in, so your doctor or nurse will need to prescribe an increased dose for you as soon as you decide you want to get pregnant.
If you have inflammatory bowel disease your will have care from your midwife and also one of the obstetricians (a doctor who specialises in pregnancy and birth). They will work together with your IBD team to work out a care plan for you. For some women living in Dorset, Salisbury and Hampshire, your care may be shared with your local team and staff based at Princess Anne Hospital in Southampton. Most people with IBD can give birth vaginally. There are some situations when you may be advised to have a caesarean birth. An individual plan will be made with you, and include a plan for pregnancy, labour and birth and care of you and your baby.
After pregnancy and birth you care will return to your GP and/or Specialist for management of your condition. Please confirm with your GP/ Specialist before starting or stopping any medication post pregnancy.
Crohns and Colitis UK- pregnancy and breastfeeding information Pregnancy and breastfeeding with Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis (IBD) (crohnsandcolitis.org.uk)
A national study of women with IBD and their children- The Piano Study IBD Pregnancy Study - Results (pianostudy.org)
Medications and Pregnancy advice for those on Ustekinumab Ustekinumab (medicinesinpregnancy.org)
