Pregnancy and Remicade
Fri, November 06, 2015 12:36 PM
Has anyone gone through pregnancy while on Remicade?
I am probably going to be starting Remicade soon.
I am also wanting to have a baby in the near future.
I wanted some other people's experience with this medicine and pregnancy.
Thanks
Joined Jun 17, 2015
Wed, June 22, 2016 10:23 PM
Reply posted for mrshuffy.
Yes, I have had two babies while on remicade. I am happy to say both were healthy pregnancies and babies.
Joined Oct 13, 2008
Tue, January 12, 2016 1:13 PM
Reply posted for annaharrington.
Hi All - These are all great responses. I am 12 weeks pregnant and on Remicade. I have a few questions for those who went through or are currently taking Remicade and pregnant.
1) Did you stop the infusions at a specific gestational period or did you go straight through your entire pregnancy? My GI recommended that I stop at 30 weeks as it supposed to cross the placenta at the point. Does anyone know when it actually passes through the placenta - is it much earlier than 3rd trimester?
2) If you stopped mid-way through your pregnancy, how long afterwards did your symptoms start back up again? Or did they subside due to your overactive immune system preparing for baby? I've always heard that pregnancy causes natural remission of UC/Crohns.
3) Did you breastfeed while on Remicade? This is important to me. I'd really like to breastfeed but have heard that it passes through the breast milk?
4) if you did any of the above with Remicade, was the baby at higher risk for infection? I read that you can't vaccinate until at least 6 months because baby's immune system is compromised.
Ultimately, I just want to make the right decision for me and the baby, I want him to be the healthiest, happiest baby possible. I feel like my OB and GI don't always have enough knowledge to provide all the answers and best people to ask are patients themselves.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Betty
cooltampachicJoined Nov 17, 2008
Sun, January 03, 2016 7:06 PM
I was on remicade while i was pregnant and i have a normal healthy happy baby. When i started getting remicade was already about 8 weeks pregnant. the nurses had we wait an extra hour before they would start my remicade because they wanted to talk to the doctor and the pharmacist to make sure it was ok. they were a little concerned before the first dose but everything turned out fine.
kenya2002Joined Jan 3, 2016
Fri, December 18, 2015 10:23 PM
Reply posted for annaharrington.
Thank you so much for that! That is very encouraging for me! Good luck
Joined Jun 17, 2015
Wed, December 09, 2015 12:06 PM
Reply posted for mrshuffy.
I am in my third trimester and have been on Remicade for the whole pregnancy. My GI said that once I achieved remission, it would be much safer for me to become pregnant. As soon as we were told I was in remission, we started trying for a baby. So far I have maintained remission and the baby is growing properly. In the beginning I was wary of staying on the Remicade through the pregnancy, but it has worked out. The only thing we had to plan specially for was to not have an infusion too close to the due date of the baby. I'll be having an infusion on 12/21 and then my due date is 1/24, so as long as the baby doesn't come early, I will be about 1/2 way through my 8 week cycle. They don't want the levels to be too high when the baby is delivered.
Keep in mind, people can be very judgmental about medicines like Remicade in pregnancy and as long as you feel you have all the info you need from your GI and your OB, then you should do what feels right for you. My first infusion after I was pregnant, the nurse was very rude to me and I felt attacked for my choices. You have to remember to stay strong and do what you feel is right.
Joined Mar 13, 2014
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