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VBAC and colitis anyone?
Hi everyone.
Looking for some support if there's anyone out there.
Looks like my VBAC is off the cards.
I was so determined for VBAC this time but been to see my gastro consultant today as I suffer from colitis and not well at the moment.
Looks like I am quite likely heading for surgery at some point and if I deliver naturally I may damage things and that would mean one form of surgery out the question, so have lots of reading and thinking to do now but looking very likely I will have to opt for another C-section, so upset.
Has anyone delivered naturally with this illness after previous c-section?
Emx
Looking for some support if there's anyone out there.
Looks like my VBAC is off the cards.
I was so determined for VBAC this time but been to see my gastro consultant today as I suffer from colitis and not well at the moment.
Looks like I am quite likely heading for surgery at some point and if I deliver naturally I may damage things and that would mean one form of surgery out the question, so have lots of reading and thinking to do now but looking very likely I will have to opt for another C-section, so upset.
Has anyone delivered naturally with this illness after previous c-section?
Emx
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Replies
Thanks for your reply
snap - been diagnosed around 13 years
I wasn't told any of this first time round that I could risk damage to my sphincter but as I ended up with em section due to non progression of labour consultant thinks this may have happened due to possible having a smaller pelvis and this would put added pressure on.
Did you have any flares with your previous pregnancy? I flared around 20+ weeks last time and it took ages to get it under control with steroids.
So take it you are looking to add to your family, good luck hun. Hope you don't wait too long either. x
not sure if you ladie felt the same as you both seem to have been given different advise but my consultant did not seem to know much about colitis. i had to explain it all to her.
emmum2b, how were you after your c section?
having the colitis has left me so confused with what choice to make birth wise.
in the nicest possible way it is a reassuring to see other ladies out there who have experienced the same situation
thanks
wow Carly
you are lucky your colitis settled in pregnancy enough for you to come off meds too, that is brilliant, what were you on? I take azathioprine x 150mg once a day + asacol x 3 tables twice a day and now on prednisolone to combat the flare (30mg) azathioprine is quite a controversial drug if you look it up on internet for use in pregnancy however it's much worse for you to be ill in pregnancy and I was adviced by several consultants to stay on all my meds.
You were diagnosed at 5! you poor thing! You must have really gone through a lot, I was told at beginning I would need growth scans due to meds to monitor growth but I too think colitis itself can have a slight effect on growth, no probs for me I had an 8lb 1oz baby! Great they spotted the position though.
Hi K27 fudge
What support have you been given with your elective section are they taking you seriously? I too had mw and consultant shared care but the consultant didn't seem to know much about colitis either and although both obs consultant and gastro consultant were in same hospital they never actually talked to each other to discuss my situation! typical!
As for em section, I think because of how the week prior to the section went ended up with section after being in labour for almost 48 hours and 5 days in slow labour and other things on and off it was all so much for me and just didn't even cross my mind i might end up with section, was still hoping for water birth in induction suite! So the actually recovery was ok, I was up and about with catheter in the following day with some pain but was able to do everything to care for my baby after the first night. Because of where I live though (on a steep hill in a remote village with no shops) I found the isolation very hard. One of my main reasons for VBAC this time was for the sake of my DD who will be 2 and 8 months and should be attending pre-school, she is very clingy and I can't imagine what she would think if I couldn't pick her up or she couldn't jump all over me like she usually does but I have realised I just have to rely on others now and she will cope if my mum stays for a while anyway she'll get so much attention from her anyway.
Carly I have tread so many positive stories about elective sections that I think it will a whole different experience so I am slowly coming round to it now.
I wonder if I go into labour naturally before a planned section they will whizz me down to theatre or just let me go au natural?
Great to chat to you both.
K27 not long for you now, are you well at the moment with your colitis?
Emx
to be honest i dont feel like there is much support. consultant wise she told me colitis is not a reason for a c section, but int he end she has said as long as i know the c section risks they will go ahead with it as the basis of my reasoning is a medical condition and if my condition was to worsen after a natural birth i would blame them.
my gastro doctors just seemed tho through statistics at me saying natural is better, c sections can cause bowel problems. but to be honest i think it comes down to each specialist not knowing much about each topic and me being stuck in the middle to make the desision!
at the end of the day i feel a c section is more controlable at the time of birth, less stressfull for me as my colitis is triggered by stress an just less of a strain on my and my bowel. which for having the diease for so long i worry is not in great condidtion.
no not long! 10weeks if my c section is 39 weeks. since being pregnant i have been much better, not 100% but for me its the closest to normal i will get.
so you took azathioprine during your pregancy? my hospital will not perscribe it for pregnant women.
i have never been able to take meds for my colitis. only thing that works is steroids. but so far so good!
Yes i took azathiorprine through my first pregnancy too, they will not recommend you start the drug while you are pregnant but prefer you to continue treatment if you have been on for a while.
I have been on it for several years and it completely changed my life, could eat anything, it was like a wonder drug, just lately i seem to be having lots of flares, so i don't know what it triggering it or if i am not responding to meds anymore.
The main risks of azathioprine are a small chance of a cleft palette to the baby that can be corrected but it is very low risk.
If they are willing to give you the section and you are happy for that then that's great for you.
Emx