UC and Pregnancy

My husband and I would like to (hopefully) try to start a family at the end of the year.  I went off of 6mp in December to let it cleanse out of my body.  My doctors are being rather adamant with me that they feel I need to take an additional med like 6mp or Azathioprine while pregnant and not rely solely on my Asacol.  This completely terrifies me b/c of all the warnings that the drugs come with, I'm not comfortable with the idea at all.  Though I've got a million questions and concerns, right now I am looking for anyone that has advice or a similar story to help me figure out where to begin.  I don't have anyone immediately around me that has UC let alone has tried to go through a pregnancy with it - so any and all help is welcome! 

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Since you aren't planning to TTC until the end of the year, I would wait and see how this year goes. I would be scared to be on 6MP while pregnant too. My battles with UC started as c.diff when I was pregnant so the only meds I had to be on were antibiotics and they were safe to take while pregnant. You might be one of the lucky ones that doesn't flare during pregnancy. My GI's have always told me to TTC when healthy and my chances of a health pregnancy were better. If you get pregnant while flaring, it's hard to get under control.

I've decided that one child is enough for me and I don't want to risk my health or the baby's health so I've decided to not have anymore kids. I feel for you though since you are just wanting to start your family. I would seriously just see how this year goes and if you're feeling healthy off of 6MP, I would go for it.

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Female, Age 37

I am glad you mentioned going into the pregnancy healthy, I have read that when going into a pregnancy that if you are healthy you are more likely to stay that way.  Same for vice versa, going in during a flare often leaves you in a flare.  Its definitely in my plans to go into a pregnancy only when I am 100% healthy.  Thank you for the encouragement

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I wouldn't want to risk the pregnancy with 6MP. They *know* that one can harm the fetus, I'm surprised your doctor would be for it. If you get pregnant and your not on prednisone at the time, they can use that to control the flares.

When I was pregnant I was on Salofalk (12 pills) and when I started to flare my doc knew not to give me 6MP so he gave me Entocort--"baby pred". It controlled my flare and my baby is fine.

I realise when you're pregnant *YOU* need to be relatively healthy for that baby, but 6MP sounds too dangerous.

How are you feeling now that you're off 6MP?

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Diagnosed with UC in August 2005. 

Taking 6mp during a pregnancy is pretty much just not an option for me, same with any other of those types of drugs. Truthfully the whole suggestion made me call my doctor into question and makes me want to find a doctor that has more experience with pregnant patients.

I have been feeling well off of 6mp so far, I am in a little flare right now, but that is my own fault for working too much during busy season at my job. I know getting worn out is the worst thing for me to do and I let it happen. This is the first time I've been on prednisone in 7 years and I'm luckily responding very well so far - so I'm hoping for a short cycle on it.

It's very good to know that the Entocort is there as a safe back up plan in case I would start to flare during a pregnancy.

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hello!
there are a few of us here right now that are pregnant. i'm 16 weeks now and doing great. you can read my signature below to see what i'm on at the moment.
i was healthy when we conceived and have gotten better. my BMs are never like back to normal, but things are great at the moment. i'm only going like 1-2 times in the morning and that's it. still have to be careful with certain foods.
there are some women who flare during pregnancy but if you do, even pred is relatively safe. especially if you are out of the first trimester.
you could also try rectal meds if you aren't already.

and it may be a good idea to find a new doc if this one doesn't really have yours AND baby's best interest in mind.

are you on birth control now? i don't have experience going off the pill while having UC, but i would think that may mess with your colon a bit, so if you are, you may want to allow plenty of time for that to get out of your system.

anyway, hope that answered some of your questions. :)
aloha

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29, happily married, stay at home mom to 2 year old son. due to have baby #2 9/17/08
UC (probably pancolitis, but no c-scope yet), diagnosed June 2006, started having major symptoms sometime in January 2006, about 3 months after childbirth. 2nd flare (minor) may 2007 after taking caprylic acid for 2 weeks.

-Prednisone 8/28/06-2/28/07. and again may '07, 8 week course.
-Prayer! asacol, probio, ground psyllium husk, prenatal, folic acid, cal-mag

may you live all the days of your life.