Before you conceive consider the following recommendations:
- Take high dose folic acid 5mg for at least 3 months prior to pregnancy and during the first trimester of pregnancy.
- Discuss the medications you are taking with your general practitioner or gastroenterologist*
During pregnancy:
- You will be cared for by an obstetrician, your general practitioner and a gastroenterologist during pregnancy.
- IBD flares occur less frequently during pregnancy if your disease is in remission at the time of conception.
- At your first hospital visit you will have blood tests performed, a baseline blood pressure measurement and urinalysis, and an ultrasound scan.
- An anomaly scan is performed for all women between 20 and 22 weeks of pregnancy.
- A glucose challenge test is usually performed around 28 weeks of pregnancy to check for diabetes in pregnancy, especially if you are taking steroid medications.
- Most women with IBD will have a vaginal delivery. A caesarean section may be recommended for women with perianal disease.
Medications that are used in pregnancy and breastfeeding include*:
- Paracetamol
- Prednisolone
- Sulfsalazine
- Azathioprine
- cyclosporine
- Infliximab
