Crohns and Pregnancy. Please Help!

[Sammiegirl28]

I.haven't posted on here before so this is all kind of new to me. I'm pregnant with my first at 22 weeks. I've had such a rough few months. Three years ago I was diagnosed with a very serve case of crohns, and was told that I would never be able to have children due to the amount of damage the crohns had done. Well, I went to the hospital several months ago with a crohns flare (horrible stomach pain, bloody stool, and severe dehydration) that's when the er nurse told me I was pregnant at six weeks. Since then I have had three more flares, and have been hospitalized all three times. The last time I was in the hospital they put me right into L&D, however the test came back that it was not a crohns flare. So, I'm guessing it was normal (ish) pregnancy issues. My problem is that the crohns signs are so similar to pregnancy issues. Such as bloody stool, bc of the hemorrhoids the blood could just be coming from those.  Stomach pain, could be just my belly growing or round ligimate pain. Nausea and/or vomiting, also an obvious pregnancy problem. Also, Cramping... with my crohns I have horrible lower cramping which makes me feel the need to run to the bathroom, feels like I have to push (usually a bowel movement), but cramping at this point in my pregnancy could also point to something being wrong with baby. I'm SO frustrated! I don't want to put my baby at risk if at some point it is my crohns acting up by not going to the hospital. However, I can't go to the hospital every time I have normal(ish) pregnancy pains/issues. How do I know what is what? Ugh :-( With everything going on I'm a high risk pregnancy already and I'm 22 weeks with three hospital stays already. Plus being a first timer I'm already scared of every ache and pain. Please tell me someone has advice for me.

[bfree1987]

I have crohns.. I was born with it and mayo clinic diagnosed me with it. I was under the impression I would have a rough pregnancy. I'm 11 weeks and I haven't experienced any problems. I know my dr. Had said he had a few other people he had seen over the years and no complications.  Before I found out I was pregnant I had morning sickness in the evenings and I thought it was a flare because of the cramping. I try to eat and take fiber and it has helped. I know crohns is different for everyone and what foods trigger it.

[a_FIERCE_mommy]

Hay! I have ulcerative colitis & this is my 1st pregnancy. I've been in remission for almost 2 yrs soo luckily I haven't had problems with it. Are you on any meds right now? Cus that should atleast get it under control but I agree with havincinco. If your crohns pain is unbearable then its probably not right with your pregnancy either. Who cares how many times you go to tha hospital .. this is you & your baby's health. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM! Lol goodluck tho mama.

[Sammiegirl28]

Thank you! Its so great to hear I'm not alone in dealing with this issue. That alone helps so much. Thank you for the advice I will def use it as well.

[havincinco]

A friend of mine has crohns really bad too. I think in high school she had a 10 inches removed and spent the better part of the year on steroids and in the hospital. All that aside, at 35 years old, she just had her 4th baby last month and is doing better, but each pregnancy has been hard on her- cant lie.  She basically "toughs it out" while pregnant and then deals with the crohns after delivery. Its difficult for her to tell the difference too, so she waits until something feels very wrong on her personal "crohns scale" and then goes in.
since this is your first pregnancy the normal pains will be foreign to you, but if your crohns type symptoms become unbearable, it's probably not right for your pregnancy either.
sorry I cant be more help. Crohns is such a personal thing and everyone feels it differently and with different severity.

[Sammiegirl28]

Thank you so much! When it come to the crohns i.feel like an expert. However, pregnancy is a different story. I'm still learning and have yet to learn so much! Thank you for the advice I will def use it!

[Tay9662]

& with vomiting my doctor said as long as you don't see floatys afterwards its ok, and normal. Although most womens morning sickness is gone by 22weeks, I will get it every once in a while and I'm 36 weeks

[Tay9662]

Well.. most obgyn's are open mon-sat(8am-5pm) if you could I would go into see your doctor instead like if your having pains at 5am I would wait and go in at 8.., idk what chrohns is so idk much to tell you about that but cramping during pregnancy will happen alot from dehydration, so if your cramping go get 2or3 bottles of cold water and drink them, then lay on your left side.. if its pregnancy related it will usually go away after that, but if cramping persists more than 2 hours and you've tried this go in cause something is prob wrong