Postpartum Archives - IBD Clinic

Pregnancy IBD Decision Aid helps women with IBD make decisions regarding pregnancy

Canadian and Australian gastroenterologists, obstetricians, and nurses, along with patient partners, developed and validated the Pregnancy IBD Decision AID (PIDA) the first personalized online decision support program for IBD. Making decisions regarding family planning can be challenging especially for people living with chronic illnesses, such as IBD. Uncertainty regarding how…

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Postpartum | Breastfeeding

I am on a biologic medication, can I breastfeed?

Yes, you can breastfeed while on biologic medications for IBD (e.g. infliximab, adalimumab, ustekinumab, vedolizumab). Very tiny amounts of these biologic medications cross into the breastmilk, and as they are proteins, they would be digested by the infant’s stomach acid.

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Sex & Intimacy | Prepregnancy | Pregnancy | Postpartum

Identifying Barriers in Addressing Sexual Dysfunction Among Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

We are looking for individuals with inflammatory bowel disease to participate in an anonymous prospective cohort research study assessing the associations between inflammatory bowel disease and sexual health and dysfunction. To learn more about the study please see the poster below: Click here to participate…

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Postpartum | Medication | Breastfeeding

IBD and Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is beneficial to the newborn as breast milk contains nutrients, immune proteins, and other beneficial factors. Some studies suggest that breastfeeding may have a protective effect against developing IBD. It is thought that breastfeeding may help the newborn develop a healthy gut microbiome and immune system by helping newborns…

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Postpartum | IBD disease activity

IBD disease activity and postpartum

It is important for women to monitor their IBD during and after pregnancy, as physicians are currently unable to definitively predict which patients will flare postpartum. It has been reported that ulcerative colitis patients may be at increased risk for postpartum flares. In general, the risk for postpartum…

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Pregnancy | Postpartum | Breastfeeding

Breast Milk and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

WHAT ARE THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN NUTRITION, GUT HEALTH AND BREAST MILK COMPOSITION? HELP US FIND OUT MORE! About Breast Milk Breast milk has many nutrients and immune factors that are important for the baby’s health and growth. These include lipids, proteins/peptides, growth factors, antibodies, and Human Milk Oligosaccharides. in this…

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Research | Postpartum | Breastfeeding

Mothers with IBD report discontinuation of breastfeeding before 6 months

Breastfeeding practices in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remain unknown. We aimed to characterize these practices and describe factors that may lead to early discontinuation in a pilot, prospective, longitudinal survey study conducted at the University of Alberta Pregnancy IBD clinic. A total of 74 mothers with IBD completed…

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IN PROGRESS- Novel Insight into the Immune System during pregnancy for those living with IBD

Researchers from the University of Toronto and the University of Alberta provide insight into the interaction between inflammatory bowel disease and pregnancy. Cytokines are immune response molecules that are released when inflammation is present within the body. In a research study following 11 healthy pregnant women and 76 pregnant women…

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Prepregnancy | Pregnancy | Postpartum | Medication

IBD Medications and Pregnancy

Most IBD medications are safe for use while trying to conceive and to continue during pregnancy but certain medications may need to be adjusted. Please read below for a summary of IBD medications. Aminosalicylates: Most formulations of 5-ASA are considered safe to continue into pregnancy1,2 Studies have found no significant association…

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Pregnancy | Postpartum | Delivery method

IBD and delivery method

In general, having IBD does not affect delivery method. The decision about delivery method for an IBD patient should be made on an individual basis by the patient and her obstetric provide. The decision should be based on obstetrical reasons, while also considering the patient’s IBD condition. While some studies…

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