There are so many resources available to patients online, but hearing from another patient offers a particularly clear window into what life is really like with chronic illness – as well as unique advice earned through experience!
The Mamas Facing Forward Featured Advocate series will connect you with real parents who are living with chronic illness – and share all the ways these parents find to keep facing forward! This article originally appeared on Lights Camera Crohn’s and is reprinted here with permission.
If you have an article you’d like us to consider for this series, please email us at info@mamasfacingforward.com! Articles that have already been published elsewhere are permitted, so long as you are authorized to give permission to reprint. Thanks!
Navigating IBD & Pregnancy:
Difficulty Deciphering Aches and Pains
by Natalie Hayden of Lights Camera Crohn’s
Pr
egnancy is a magical miracle. You witness the creation of life within yourself and see your body transform in ways you never knew possible. When you live with a chronic illness like Crohn’s disease and experience a pregnancy, there are added layers. A layer of worry. A layer of concern. A layer of wonder. When you have a chronic illness that can flare up at any given moment—it’s one thing to have the ticking time bomb feeling when it’s just you…it’s entirely different when you have a family to care for and a baby in your belly.
This Friday, I’ll be 27 weeks complete with my baby girl. My January due date is quickly approaching. Time is going both fast and slow. For the most part, my Crohn’s has behaved itself. But, there have been multiple times where I can’t seem to decipher if what I’m feeling is related to pregnancy aches and pains or my IBD. The burning and gnawing feeling in my abdomen often feels so reminiscent of the beginning of a bowel obstruction that I can’t help but fear the worst.
With my son, Reid, I was lucky enough to never have a contraction, never dilate or efface and went into my scheduled c-section without having any pain. This time around, I’m not so sure things will go as smoothly. How are we supposed to determine the difference between round ligament pain and Crohn’s? What about a contraction and Crohn’s? So many IBD mama’s who have gone through a flare and labor say the pain is very similar, if not worse than delivering a child. Yeah. Take that in for a second.
Even after more than 13 years of living with Crohn’s, I feel like a fish out of water at times with this pregnancy. It’s as if I’m re-learning my body and the relationship I have with IBD all over again. It’s difficult because every single pregnancy is different and so is every single person’s IBD. My OB tells me that with a contraction the pain will come and go, and I’ll be able to see a pattern and time it, whereas Crohn’s pain will be constant.
I’ve noticed a few times in the last week that the pain will exacerbate if I eat something while my abdomen is burning. To me—that would be more Crohn’s, than pregnancy. I know I can’t be the only chronic illness mom who feels challenged by pregnancy symptoms and disease symptoms.
All of this is happening now, then there’s the looming fear of the all-too-common postpartum flare. I was nervous after my first born and have luckily stayed out of the hospital his entire life (he’s 18 months!), but this time could be different. You just never know when the disease is going to rear its ugly head.
My advice to myself and to all of you who may be dealing with these same fears and thoughts is so listen to your body. Be mindful of when you hurt, why you may be in pain and how often it’s taking place. Don’t turn a blind eye to your aches and don’t feel like a bother to your GI or OB. Reach out to your healthcare team and alert them when you have a concern, so they are aware of what’s going on. This is not a time to internalize your pain. This is as time to be vocal, be your own best advocate and start being the strong IBD mama that you are for your unborn child.
