ic diet and pregnancy/breastfeeding

[ktdid]

Sadly, I can't brag about remission during pregnancy. I'm 25 weeks along and have had more sleepless nights the last few months than I'd had since starting treatment. Doesn't help that I haven't seen my urogyn. since just before I found out I was pregnant...changing health insurance and job status have made money pretty tight.

But I don't want to sound that negative...it took me almost 8 years to get pregnant and I'm savoring every moment of it, even the morning sickness and middle of the night bladder pain. My concern right now is dietary and nutritional. I'm worried not only about "little one" getting adequate nutrition now, but while I'm breastfeeding. It just doesn't seem nutritionally sound to not be getting any fruit (with the exception of pears and occasional blueberries) in my diet! (Although I am practically religious about taking my prenatal vitamins.) I would love to hear about others who have dealt with IC dietary restrictions during pregnancy.

[Dixiefireball]

first off let me welcome you to the icn family sorry you are having a hard time right now but very happy you are expecting a little one soon.
may i offer some advice. while you are pregant you can get on medicaid. it will cover you until you have the baby and pay for your first check up after that and the baby will be covered until he or she is a year old its so easy to get on medicaid when you are pregant. also sign up for wic that will help out alot also. if you need any information on this please pm me threw the icn all you have to do is click on my name up above my picture on the left hand side of the message board and send me a private message also as far as breast feeding goes i would ask your doctor. if inc is the problem right now and medicaid is too go to a free clinic in your area until you get things squared away with your inc. plus medicaid will pay 3 mths back on medical bills when you are pregant also take your prenable(sp?) vitams but i think if the doctor said you could take the medicine while you are pregant it might be okay when you breast feed also because if you are taking them now and he said its okay the baby has already got it in it's system too. but please get to a doctor asap and have it checked out
sending you hugs prayers and best wishes to the mother to be. grouphug

[ktdid]

Thanks for the info. Just to clarify, I AM getting prenatal care. I am currently self-employed and have independent health care coverage--even though things are tight, I don't believe I'd qualify for MedicAid. It's just that my new health insurance doesn't cover as much as my old insurance, and I just can't cover paying for BOTH the urogyn and my obgyn. (I'm actually still slowly paying off the urogyn for previous treatments, although I haven't seen him in months. ) And although I like and trust my obgyn a lot, he still seems fairly clueless about ic. I had to pretty much convince him to give me the referral to the urogyn by continuously going back to his office and saying, "I still hurt and this is NOT OK!"

OK, 'nuff of that, just didn't want anyone out there to be concerned I wasn't getting health care at all!

[YankeeCandle224]

A tip for you, not about diet, but about ob's. I worked as a RN with pregnant moms', new moms, new babies, and on the GYN surgical unit for years.

As far as doctors go, I would find out if there is a perinatologist where you live. A clueless OB is NOT what you want or need right now.

A perinatologist deals with high risk pregnancies, or pregnancies that have complications and other diseases, like IC, etc, so please check that out or ask to be referred to one.

I had one 3 times with all 3 babies, and I'd never do it another way. As a nurse, I have seen the difference in patient care that these highly trained docs give as well, and they CARE immensely, and they went through a lot more training to get that title.

Good luck, Sandy

[saptree]

ktdid,
To answer your question about breastfeeding and the IC diet: I follow a very strict IC diet and I am breastfeeding, and he is growing like a weed. Your body knows how to make the breast milk just right for your little one. I also followed the fruitless diet you speak of while pregnant and my baby is fine. I also made sure I took my vitamins.

The only thing I will caution you about while breastfeeding is thrush. Due to the non-acidic body we have made for ourselves, yeast tend to thrive. I have never had a vaginal yeast infection, but now my nipples and breasts are overrun with yeast and I can't get rid of it with traditional treatments. My baby showed signs of it once, but haven't seen it in many weeks.

But don't be discouraged. My drs and my baby's dr incouraged me to breastfeed and so far I have been keeping it up (and looking for other ways to get rid of the yeast).

good luck and congrats!
Sherry

[ICNLesa]

Hi KT and congratulations on your pregnancy!!

I also did not go into a remission during pregnancy so wasn't able to eat just anything. However, the prenatal vits really DO go a long way and many of the natural vitamins you get in fruit, you can also get in vegetables. I did find that I was able to eat canned pears without a problem or drink pear juice. I simply couldn't sit down and eat oranges ...as much as I wanted to. Folic acid is VERY important for your baby and you're getting that in your vitamins..... Also, water...water....water. Your body loves it, your bladder loves it, your baby loves it!! My only suggestion really would be to put your worries aside. Eat as healthy and well-balanced diet as your bladder will allow, take your vitamins and feel guilt free.

As far as your OB goes.....don't hesitate to keep communication open with him...even if you get frustrated that he doesn't seem to understand your IC. Don't give up...keep talking to him...keep asking for help when you need it. Unless you find a way to make a change, he's the doc you've got so keep at it!

And....uh.....throw a gentle little belly rub in for me will ya? The two of you are doing some amazing things right now!

ICNLesa

[Melly]

Hi,

I had the same thoughts and concerns with my first. Also people kept saying how small I was for my stage of pregnancy. It was very stressful. What I did was take a lot of prelief, drank low acid OJ, and ate a lot of green peppers (which never caused me to flare). I would usually eat a salad a day, no dressing. During this I was concerned about the use of prelief during pregnancy, and wondered if Ellen was growing, developing properly. My doctors never expressed any concerns. And luckily, I did go into remission during my third trimester, oddly when you expect that symptoms were at their worst, just the reverse for me, but that's how my IC has always been.

The good news is that Ellen was born healty at 8 lbs, 9.5 ounces. When the doctors told me how she weighed I said that she wasn't mine. Her apgars were good, 8 and 9.

And I breastfed her for about 10 months adhering to the IC diet once again because the flares returned after she was born.

She is doing beautifully now at almost 3. Healthy, not sick that often and people comment on her rosey cheeks. I think during and after pregnancy, babies get what they need.

I am sure you will have a healthy one too. Make sure to take care of you.

Hugs and well wishes,

Melly