Category: IBD

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advocacy empathy IBD pregnancy

When pregnant women need medicine

Image by Maria Fabrizio via NPR
Image by Maria Fabrizio via NPR

A coordinator from UCSF let me know about this piece on National Public Radio (NPR) that talks a bit about the study I’ve been involved with for years. As with even the most healthy of pregnancies, there is always a level of uncertainty and anxiety that comes with the territory. It’s very refreshing to see that this is becoming a bigger part of the discussion when it comes to the complications of staying healthy when pregnant while still on medication.

As someone who was in remission and able to give birth to an incredibly healthy and thriving boy (while staying on my medicine), I couldn’t be prouder of the work Dr. Uma Mahadevan is doing. Listen to (or read) the full piece here: When Pregnant Women Need Medicine, They Encounter a Void.

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health IBD pregnancy

IBD Treatments + Pregnancy

Finally, some good news for women with IBD: a study of 1100 women taking both biologics and immunomodulators found that the treatments are safe to use during pregnancy.

“This is very exciting news for women since we know the use of medication during pregnancy garners great concern for both the patient and the physician,” said Uma Mahadevan, MD, member of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America’s Clinical Research Alliance and Associate Professor of Medicine, University of California, Center for Colitis and Crohn’s Disease, San Francisco. “We need to educate women and the physicians that care for them that the biggest risk during pregnancy is a disease flare, not the medication.”

I don’t know what makes me happier, the outcome or the fact that Dr. Mahadevan works with my doctor. I think both. More at CCFA.org/news.

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crohn's disease IBD

Crohn’s never sounded so good.

My favorite Pearl Jammer—Mike McCready—will play the national anthem at the Seattle Mariners game on May 19.

McCready has had CrohnÂ’s disease for over 20 years and is quite an active fighter for both CrohnÂ’s disease and ulcerative colitis. For every ticket sold through the CCFA to the game, the Mariners plan to donate $7.00 to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.

Purchase reduced price tickets here and play ball!