Pregnancy can feel a little exciting and anxious at the same time, often crossing several thoughts regarding bringing a new life into this world. However, if you have been struggling with IBD, specifically Crohn’s Disease, then thinking about conceiving might feel overwhelming. This leaves you thinking about the symptoms of Crohn’s Disease that might affect your pregnancy and your baby. Certainly, conceiving while struggling with Crohn’s Disease can result in painful labour, miscarriage and premature delivery. To prevent such complications, it is crucial to plan your family accordingly. 

Crohn’s Disease does not have any permanent cure; therefore, remission is crucial to conceive successfully. Your remission period must be three to six months to get pregnant, and that too without steroids. Your Crohn’s Disease pregnancy planning must be accurately curated by engaging with your gastroenterologist and obstetrician. 

Welcome to this blog post where you’ll learn about the right time to conceive while struggling with Crohn’s disease to have a healthy and safe pregnancy. 

Common flare-up symptoms of Crohn’s Disease!

• Experiencing abdominal pain and cramping. 
• Affected bowel movements such as diarrhea. 
• Bloody stool along with nausea. 
• Weight loss without even trying. 

Your guide for achieving a healthy pregnancy during Crohn’s disease! 

The remission period is crucial!

• Although Crohn’s disease remains lifelong, managing its symptoms is still possible to achieve a successful pregnancy.
• You can get pregnant; however, the risk of premature delivery and excessive labour pain is comparatively higher in such cases. 
• To reduce the complications, make sure to manage its symptoms for 3 to 6 months, which can significantly result in a healthy and safe pregnancy. 
• Remission matters when planning your conception with the aim of reducing the pregnancy complications associated with Crohn’s Disease. 
• If you plan your pregnancy during the flare-ups, then it might continue throughout your entire pregnancy, increasing specific risks. 

Consider your medication intake appropriately! 

• Crohn’s Disease symptoms can be managed with medications; few of them are safe to take before and during pregnancy. 
• You must be more careful regarding medication intake, such as methotrexate, which needs a doctor’s guidance.
• Also, you must coordinate well with your gastroenterologist and obstetrician in terms of getting appropriate guidance regarding certain drugs.

Coordinate with your experts!

• Being anxious about conceiving while struggling with Crohn’s Disease is understandable; therefore, taking professional help to manage everything is crucial. 
• Make sure to engage with your experts in terms of managing your diet and nutrition to ensure a healthy pregnancy. 

The Bottom Line!

Summing up the above-mentioned points, you might have understood the right planning for conception while struggling with Crohn’s Disease and ensuring your pregnancy results in a safe and healthy manner. If you have been planning to start a new life, but are a little afraid of your Crohn’s Disease flare-up symptoms, then make sure to engage with your gastroenterologist and obstetrician at the same time. Such comprehensive treatment would assure you in choosing the right path and the right time to begin your conception. 

We, the experts at Grover Gastro and Fertility Centre, have a wide range of management options for both gastro problems and pregnancy complications as well. Meet our experts. Dr. Rajiv Grover, a gastroenterologist highly qualified in analyzing digestive health, along with Dr. Vaishali Grover, a gynecologist, provides comprehensive pregnancy care to all the women out there. 

FAQs

1. Can Crohn’s disease recur during pregnancy? 

Yes, if you have Crohn’s disease flare-ups during the time of conception, then there are high chances that it will continue throughout your pregnancy. 

2. Can Crohn’s Disease go away permanently? 

No, Crohn’s Disease does not go away permanently; however, there’s a remission period during which your symptoms are managed.

3. Does remission mean Crohn’s Disease is cured? 

No, remission does not mean Crohn’s disease is cured; it is only associated with reduced symptoms, and flare-ups can occur again over time. 

4. Can IBD surgery affect the pregnancy results? 

Pregnancy results can be affected, causing scar tissue around the fallopian tubes or ovaries, resulting in preterm birth and low birth weight.