Community Forum

Hello, I am 38 years old and lived with UC for a short time.  I had surgery at age 28 and at that time I already had three children.  I am now remarried and my husband and I would like to have a child together.   I am really nervous about the delivery and getting enough vitamins during pregnancy to keep the baby healthy.  It has been 10 years since my surgery and my primary doctor and my colorectal surgeon said that I will be fine.  It would just be nice to talk to someone that has been through this.  If there is anyone out there that has had a baby after surgery I would really like to correspond with you.  GS

 Reply posted for newcake1970.

Hi,  I AM 37 YRS OLD AND THREE YEARS POST SURGERY WITH A J-POUCH. I AM ALSO 24 WKS PREGNANT AND ALL IS GOING VERY WELL. I HAVE GAINED WEIGHT ACCORDINGLY (1LB A WEEK SINCE I HIT 20WKS) SO WE ARE LOOKING AT ABOUT ANYWHERE FROM 25-30LBS WHICH WAS WHAT WAS RECCOMENDED SO FAR ALL MY ULTRASOUNDS AND OTHER TEST CAME BACK VERY POSITIVE. THE ONLY COMPLICATION I DID HAVE WAS A BOWEL OBSTRUCTION IN MY 9 WEEK WHICH PUT ME IN THE HOSPITAL WITH AN NG TUBE ,WE FEEL IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE FACT THAT I SWITCHED MY REGULAR MULTI VIT. TO PRENANTAL AND THAT THE IRON MAY HAVE CAUSED CONSTIPATION (WHICH WE KNOW IS NOT A GOOD THING) MY OBGYN'S STATE THE REGULAR MULTI IS JUST FINE AND I ALSO TAKE A CALCIUM SUPPLEMENT AND A B COMPLEX AS WELL AS PROBIOTICS AND A DIGESTIVE ENZYME AND AN OCCASSIONAL COLACE(TO KEP THINGS FLOWING) WHICH HAVE ALL BEEN MORE THEN APPROVED BY MY DOCS.  I DID NOT HAVE MORNING SICKNESS, JUST MAYBE A LIITLE NAUSEA IN THE FIRST TRIMESTER. I NOW HAVE GOTTEN BACK TO A GOOD ROUTINE OF EXCERCISE (WALKING, YOGA, PILATES, LIGHT WEIGHT LIFTING)  I HAVE NEVER FELT BETTER. I WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED IF YOU ARE INTERESTED. AND IM GOING TO CHECK THAT J-POUCH WEBSITE OUT MYSELF SOUNDS GREAT.  THANKS TARA

 Reply posted for jb85.

I too want to ask my GI doc about pregnancy after JPouch surgery as I recently read some research saying that 25% of women who have a total colectomy are infertile due to scar tissue.  I want to know more, though after having been opened up twice so far and still having my ileostomy takedown to go, I don't think I want to risk having to have a C-section - I might take the adoption route if I ever feel like I have the energy to try to get pregnant again (I recently lost my first baby at 5 months). 

But so many people do okay and live "normal" lives with all of this going on.  I find that most of the people on this site are writing because they are worried or are having things go wrong - so you don't always hear about the success stories here. 

Good luck to you!

 Reply posted for tpusedup.

Thank you soooo much for sharing your story.  I think I will start trying at the beginning of the year.  I'm starting to get more excited and leave some of the worrying behind.  Thanks again!!!

Newcake

 Reply posted for Linda55.

Thanks Linda - I checked that website and now I am definitely not as worried as I was.

Newcake

 Reply posted for jb85.

I was thinking the same thing.  Go to JPouch.org and click on the discussion board.  There is a section for Women and Pregnancy.  There are tons of womens stories on there (very recent) stories.  I am definitely not worrying as much as I was before.  It's a great website!  And the JPouch surgery - best thing that has happened to me since UC.  Good luck and stay in touch. .

 Reply posted for newcake1970.

I had a total colectomy in September, and I am considering having the j pouch surgery, but i am very worried i won't be able to concieve as a complication of the surgery.  I cry every time I think about it.  Has anyone else been able to get pregnant after a j pouch?

 Reply posted for newcake1970.

Hi- I did not have my jpouch surgery until I was 56 years old- but have you ever checked the j-pouch.org site.  There is a section on pregnancy- they have lots of women who are going through pregnancies etc.

Good luck.

Linda

 Reply posted for newcake1970.

Hello and congrats on deciding to have kids after a j pouch reconstruction.  I am a 44 year old woman who had my surgery after 2 years of fighting ulcerative colitis.  I was 22.  I'm happy to say I've had three kids since then, and they're 12, 14, and 15 now.  There really were absolutely no problems with getting pregnant or the pregnancies themselves - don't get stressed about it.  My surgeon, who I adore because she always gave me news right up front, said I may have trouble having normal kids because of all the x-rays (2 years of them), but she said there's actually more room in us than a woman with a large intestine.  I got morning sickness in my second trimester because there was nothing in me to squish until then. My kids are happy, healthy, and driving me crazy.  I did have 3 c-sections, because my first was two weeks overdue and the doctor didn't want anything to happen to the scarring during childbirth.  The second two we scheduled c-sections because he didn't know what would happen to the scarring inside.  The c-sections were a piece of CAKE compared to anything  else I'd been through, plus I got a "surprise" at the end!!  Go for it, and don't worry!  But be strong and know your body is capable of so much.  Make sure your ObGyn knows what you've been through - I gave my surgery reports to mine, and he had a gastro doctor attend every c-section.Good Luck!!!!