Hi everyone, I’m back with my final pregnancy update blog post! How time has flown! Today I thought I’d give you an update on my C-Section plans and my mental health; as well as sharing some (painful!) mobility issues and chatting about my intentions to breastfeed with Crohn’s as well as my treatment plan post-birth.
Quick disclaimer, a section of this post contains a paid for advertorial with Fenetic Wellbeing, who share lots of useful info for those with mobility issues.
A pregnancy and mental health update
So, a few weeks ago I shared an honest blog about my mental health issues during pregnancy. I’m really pleased that since then, my NHS appointment came through and I thought I’d share some advice for those potentially going through the same thing. At my appointment, the counsellor explained they operate a ‘pink sticker’ scheme for pregnant women and I think it’s such an amazing idea.
Basically, a pink sticker is placed on your notes which lets your midwife/scanner and medical team know that you are receiving support for your mental health issues. Rather than having to explain this each time from scratch, the person seeing you will simply log on to read your notes. My notes have some quick and practical tips to help me: such as explaining to the medical professional that I tend to ask a lot of questions for reassurance and can sometimes distrust doctors due to my Crohn’s misdiagnosis. I’ve found my future appointments have run much more smoothly since the sticker has been there and staff have just taken a little more time to make sure I understand everything before I am sent away. So if you are struggling, please do ask for a referral.
Preparing for a C-Section
So you might remember from my earlier updates that I am having a C-Section. I’ve finally got my date (but won’t say when just yet!) and they’ve explained how everything works. Our antenatal class were really positive about C-Sections and explained how you can make an elective section as gentle and natural as possible. For example, by delaying the cord clamping and having skin to skin. Our course leader also suggested me sleeping with a muslin cloth on my pillow to collect my skin bacteria (bit gross but hey ho!) and then wrapping baby in this-so they’re surrounded by good bacteria from day one. I’m going to give this a go!
Because of previous surgeries, I think the part I’m least anxious about is being in the operating theatre weirdly! But I am a bit worried about the recovery afterwards so any tips on that would be great? I know some people can struggle with digestive issues after a c-section but the risk of not having one with past perianal disease is too great.
Mobility Issues during my last few weeks (contains AD)
Up until a few weeks ago, I’ve been pretty active and happy to be out and about. However, literally overnight at 36 weeks, I started struggling with excruciating pain in my left buttocks and thigh when I walked or bent down. I shared on my Instagram and lots of you thought it is Sciatica but I’m not an expert! This is so frustrating as it seemed to kick in just as my nesting urges to tidy and organise did-and I wanted to bend down to pick things up!
I had purchased a pregnancy belt but the thing that seemed to be helping the most is my birthing ball! I got this one off Amazon (Affiliate link) as it’s specific for pregnancy, comes with exercises and comes with a foot pump so was dead easy to blow up. Every time the pain starts, I’ve been rocking back and forth on it! It really does work!
I know that some people struggle so much with mobility during the final weeks (I’ve known people who need crutches, wheelchairs and were bedbound) so I shouldn’t moan too much but it is hard to not feel uncomfortable at times- especially when you work from home and can feel a bit isolated. If you are suffering from mobility during pregnancy or any other period of your life, do take a look at Fenetics Wellbeing who have a great blog with lots of resources on mobility.
Breastfeeding with Crohn’s: My Thoughts
I’ve gone back and forth on this issue so much and really hope I will be able to offer some insight to you when the baby arrives as I couldn’t find much first-person insight on breastfeeding with IBD. At first, I was adamant I wasn’t going to breastfeed as, although I stopped Humira at 25 weeks, I still take Azathioprine and was also conscious that the last time I tested my gut bacteria, it wasn’t great.
However, my antenatal teacher put me in touch with a breastfeeding counsellor who has really helped me talk things through. She even found a fellow IBDer who works for the NHS to write breastfeeding guidelines. She shared a great resource with me about IBD and breastfeeding which I’ll link here.
The counsellor also put me in touch with two local women who had IBD and breastfed; which was a huge help. I also had a long chat with my doctor.
Basically, breastfeeding is a very personal decision and it is hard with any chronic illness not to feel like your body isn’t healthy enough or good enough. That’s certainly one reason that was stopping me from doing it-I was worried I didn’t have any nutrients to offer!
However, my doctor explained that Aza is usually safe for breastfeeding and that I could still offer baby plenty of goodness. In fact, one of the breastfeeding moms I was put in touch with breastfed during a flare and surgery and the baby still thrived.
On the other hand, there are some schools of thought that think that bottle-fed babies are more likely to have Crohn’s so the formula isn’t win-win either.
In the end, I decided I would give it a try for the first few weeks and assess how we are both doing after that. I have heard anecdotally that breastfeeding even helped keep a post-pregnancy flare-up at bay so that’s got to be worth a try! I’m considering getting some baby probiotic (Apparently Biokult do this). I’ve heard you can add this powder to your breastmilk as another way of ensuring baby gets all the goodness they need.
So that’s hopefully my last pregnancy update and possibly my last blog post before baby arrives! I’ve got a few posts scheduled already for Coeliac awareness week and World IBD Day in the middle of May and I’m sure I’ll be posting regularly on my Instagram-but, for now, I am signing off for a few weeks and hope to have an exciting update soon!
Sciatica during pregnancy can be absolutely so tough. There isn’t much to do about it other than wait it out and try to make yourself as comfortable as possible.
Thank you for sharing your journey with us!
What a beautiful and honest update! Reading pregnancy journeys this close to the finish line always feels so special because there’s such a mix of excitement, anticipation, and emotion. I really appreciate how openly you shared your experience at 38 weeks—the final stretch can feel both exciting and exhausting at the same time. Wishing you a smooth delivery and a healthy, joyful transition into this next chapter. It’s amazing to think that your little one could arrive any day now!