Community Forum

Hi,
I'm new to the forum.  I'm a mid 20's guy with Crohn's and thinking about having kids in the next 5-10 years.  According to CCFA's site there's a 9% chance that your child will have the disease (http://www.ccfa.org/about/news/pregnancy).  Have other people thought about whether they should have kids,  considering the risk of the child developing Crohn's?
Joe

 Reply posted for GI Joe.

Hi: I am a 43 year old woman with late onset Crohn's disease. I had three children before being aware of it. My two oldest are fine. My youngest gets 'tummyaches' but has not shown any other signs. I would like to have another child, but we will see what God decides. I think I am in remission, because I don't have many issues. I have an uncle and maybe cousins with UC, so it does run in my family, but I don't let that stop me from wanting more children. My age is probably more of a factor in not yet having any even though we are trying, but I'm not going to worry about when or even if. If it is meant to be, it will be. Don't be afraid of passing it on. By the way, my oldest daughter is going to marry her boyfriend, who also has Crohn's disease, and I know they eventually want to have children even though it's in both sides of the family.

 Reply posted for GI Joe.

I know this must be a tough decision for you, but want to second the other message from Loving Mother.  We also have NO family history of Crohn's or any chronic illness in our families, but my 9 year old daughter was diagnosed with Crohn's last year. If you want children you should not let that stop you.  There are no guarantees for anyone.  Good luck with your decision.

 Reply posted for GI Joe.

I don't think there is any right or wrong answer to this.   As a mother of two girls I can tell you I wouldn't trade it for the world.  

My 13 year old is a happy and healthy teenager and my soon to be 10 year old has been coping with Crohns disease from infancy.   I can tell you we have had our share of ups and downs, but what family hasn't?   

Be well.   Best of luck to you and your wife.

Lizzies Mom

 Reply posted for GI Joe.

Hi Joe,

I do not have Crohns.  My spouse does not have Crohns.  There is absolutely no history in my family or my husbands family of Crohns and exactly a year ago in October of 2008 my son was diagnosed with Crohns.  He is now 8.  I do not want to tell you what you should do, but there are people out there who develop Crohns even without a family history.  If you do decide to have kids and one of your children has Crohns, I would never want you to blame yourself.  It is a hard decision but family history is not always an indicator of what disease someone will develop.  Good luck to you.

 Reply posted for GI Joe.

Hi Joe:  I do not have an IBD, but my daughter does; she is 9.  I knew since we have it in every generation of our family I could pass it on even though I don't have it.  I know my cousin and uncle both with UC and what they have gone through, but in the end decided that we have a genetic make-up of many things.  Not just yours, but the genetics combined with your spouses.  Jim and I have lost 3 parents to cancer and heart disease and we are only in our early 40's.  My younger sister was diagnosed with MS a few years ago. 

The fact is, you never know what you will pass on, and for every drag of a disease that they 'could' get, there are incredible traits and gifts they have too.  A human being brought into the world have the power to make the world a better place because of it.   There are no for sures, there are no promises;  only life to embrace, treasure and if desired, pass on.  Don't let the fear of passing it on hinder you from bringing life into the world....it is an amazing thing. 

 Reply posted for GI Joe.

 HI Joe I have two kids but that was before I got Crohns. I just got married when I was told I had Crohns about 5 years ago and for awhile we  wanted kids but  after everything I have gone through I no longer want to take a chance of giving this to a  another child. I sometimes worry that my other two children will come up with this disease. So I just made a choice not to have anymore kids . There are other factors that I also considered like the cost to raise a child, my age and how hard it is to raise a child. But it is something you and your spouse have to talk about and its a risk that you may or may not have to deal with .Or just put it in GODs hands and let him decide