Pregnancy and medicine

Hi Megan.  First, best of luck to you if/when you do try to conceive!  I have chronic pouchitis so I was on Augmentin to treat that my entire pregnancy.  If you just have random bouts of pouchitis, you can take Flagyl no problem 2nd and 3rd trimesters.  I think 1st trimester, if needed, you'd likely be prescribed Augmentin.  I didn't take any bowel slowers during pregnancy for 2 reasons.  First, your digestion will slow down a lot in the first trimester.  I was only going once a day sometimes.  Secondly, since I was on antibiotics the entire time, that helped reduce the frequency and thickened everything up.  The last few weeks, there is significant pressure on the pouch so frequency will pick up.  I don't think I took anything other than Unisom to help me sleep through the urges so I wasn't up every 1-2 hours in the bathroom.  I never had any leakage issues.  Just once a few hours after my son was born since I was so numb from the epidural, I didn't realize I went to the bathroom :/ 

As for adhesions, they did not affect our ability to conceive, although they do for many.  We conceived 6 months after my takedown, our first month trying.  I recently learned that I have/had a lot of adhesions since I just had surgery, but none affected my reproductive parts.  Just caused me bowel obstructions (not during pregnancy, but a few years later).

If you have any other questions, I'd be happy to answer them!

Oh, and to your question regarding pregnancy pre and post pouch, I did have a baby both pre and post pouch.  My daughter (pre-pouch) was the easiest pregnancy ever, but I was in incredible shape then so being pregnant was no biggie for me at all.  Having great abdominal muscles and a solid core really helps with the back pain and posture issues most women suffer with.  Post pouch pregnancy was harder toward the end for sure with the frequent bathroom trips.  But most of the first 7 months weren't really all that different.

Thank you so much for responding! There are so many things to consider! I had my pouch constructed when I was 16 so things like this were so far off my radar!!! I'm sure I will have more questions as I start Researching more! ��

I was just when I had my pouch surgeries, so it was off my radar also!

I have been very blessed to have two babies.  I didn't need any fertility treatments, but it did take a little while to conceive (maybe about 8 months then well over a year the next time).  The reason is took a while is certain months I was on Flagyl and not able to try.  The recommendation to me was NO Flagyl first trimester.  I desperately needed it with my 1st pregnancy, so they allowed it 12 1/2 weeks, but really wished I was the full 13 weeks and into the 2nd trimester.  Then I was on Flagyl off and on the whole rest of that pregnancy. Overall, I felt pretty good during my pregnancies.  I was so happy to be pregnant that it really was like looking through rose colored glasses for me!

I had c-sections both times.  And I say, no better time than this present time to be pregnant!  They can handle so many things while you're pregnant and take really good care of you (and baby).  Still, you're wise to talk to your doctor ahead of time.  My surgeon said "go for it!" every time I felt well because I never knew how long that would last!  

That's great to hear! Would you all recommend talking to a surgeon or a GI doctor, in addition to the ob-gyn?

Oops, I meant to say 19 when I had my pouch.

I think I would say yes, talk to your GI or surgeon.  The reason is that an OB will handle their side of things, but they are not the one to prescribe your medications.  Therefore, you might want your GI in the loop, esp if they need to adjust medications if you're trying in the near future.