Community Forum

I've had Crohn's for about a year and half now and right before I was diagnosed I became extremely underweight and through the process of meds and every health food/vitamin thing I could possiably waste money on I have been managed a steady size 2 since. I became pregnant mid December and before I even knew, I found myself buying a size 4 New Years Eve dress.

Within the first 2 months of being pregant I gained 20 pounds right away. It's as if everything I eat immediatly sticks to my body. After those 2 months now I'm gaining weight at the pace I'm supposed to. I'm 16 weeks preggers now and I've gained 30 pounds in total so far.

 I want nothing more than to have a big fat healthy baby but nervous bc I was reading everyone else's pregant with an ibd story and they lost weight or gained not enough weight. So has this happened to anyone else out there? Is my body freaking out bc it's my first pregnancy or bc I stopped all my meds? Thanks for the help!

 Reply posted for GlamLush.

I was told by my GI that it was a possibility my Crohn's may get worse while I was pregnant. But for the whole 8 months I was pregnant (my son was preterm due to complications) it was if I didn't even have Crohn's. All of my symptoms were gone, and I don't even remember having any diahrrea. The hardest part was after I had my son, and my symptoms started coming back.

 Reply posted for Feliciareynolds.

From what I have read- women are more healthy during their pregnancies than normally, I haven't had much crohn's problems so far, only not being able to go problems. good luck!

 Reply posted for GlamLush.

HI, I'M NEW TO THIS SITE, AND I WAS WONDERING IF I WERE TO GET PREGNANT WOULD IT CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH ME AND THE BABY.. I'M 21 AND I ALREADY HAVE 2 BEAUTIFUL KIDS.. A BOY AND A GIRL.. THEY R VERY HEALTHY.. I WAS DIAGNOSED IN 2008 AFTER MY LAST CHILD WAS BORN, SO I DONT KNOW HOW THINGS WOULD FEEL IF I END UP PREGNANT WHILE HAVING CROHNS.. MY BOYFRIEND IS 27 WITH NO KIDS AND WE PLAN TO GET MARRIED AND HE WANT A CHILD, HOWEVER I TOLD HIM I WAS SCARED BY BEIN SICK... 

 Reply posted for JenB2004.

(accidentally hit return and it posted my reply before I finished it!) I lost about 10 lbs during the first trimester and it came back on slowly during my second. At my last appointment 3 weeks ago I calculated that I had only gained 10 lbs since the start.  I'm sure it's more than that now though as my stomach has gotten much bigger (for a better reason than being distended from CD! )  I am eating more and the baby is growing too (gained a pound in the past four weeks.)  The beginning was rocky due to all of the hormonal changes (I was off birth control for only one month before becoming pregnant so my body was handling a lot of change in a short time).  I've felt great with my Crohn's and some days I don't even have a bm!

I think womens' bodies try to create the healthiest environment possible for growing and carrying our babies.  The onset of weight so quickly might have been your body's way of balancing malnourishment from your Crohn's.  I'm continuing to take all of my meds that I was on before being pregnant.  I worked closely with my GI dr. to make sure I was healthy before trying to get preggers. 

I hope you and your baby continue to a healthy growth during the remainder of your pregnancy!

Take care, Jen

 Reply posted for nickrystal.

Hi!  Congrats on your pregnancy!!  I'm 27 weeks pregnant with my first child. I've just turned 30 years old, was diagnosed with CD when I was 27 but probably had it since I was 14.  Like you, I had always been on the skinny side and not more than a size 3 or 5 at about 110 lbs.  I've seen my weight change throughout my treatment...from leaving the hospital at 97 lbs to being on steroids and weighing 140+.  After coming off steroids I evened out to a heathy looking 130 lbs.  That was about what I weighed when I got pregnant in Oct. 

 Reply posted for GlamLush.

I always felt the best when I was pregnant - gained weight like nobody's business.  I always lost it relatively quickly (symptoms returned after delivery).  So, if you're gaining weight and you feel good, please just use that to your advantage.  Your baby will be healthy and you'll have a little reserve for the next flare.

 Reply posted for GlamLush.

Embrace your baby and your baby bump!   Some people actually feel better when pregnant than they had felt in a very long time. It probably has a lot to do with hormones and increased blood flow/circulation.   Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.

Lizzies Mom