IC better with pregnancy

[FrankieBee]

I am 8 weeks pregnant with my first child after undergoing in vitro fertilization and I wanted to let women who are nervous about pregnancy with IC that my IC symptoms are better with pregnancy. My ob said that their are lots of estrogen receptors in the bladder and maybe the high levels of hormones that pregnancy brings helps coat and protect the bladder some.
I am able to tolerate some citrus which is awesome because I missed it so much and I need the vitamin C more than ever now.
Hopefully, this moderate remission in IC will stay with me throughout the whole pregnancy and afterwards!

[ICNDonna]

That's great! I hope it continues through your whole pregnancy.


Donna

[kuntrygurl78]

Glad to hear you are doing well! My IC was in remission during my pregnancy and many months after. It is still behaving except for the occasional flare up Congrats!

[naturegal]

That's great news! The same thing happened to me; during pregnancy and for eight years after, I was in remission! Yes, that's eight years, you read it right. It was fantastic.

[ICNLesa]

That's wonderful news! I also hope it continues for you throughout the whole pregancy and beyond. Take care of you both and congratulations!

[Judith56]

That was also my experience-. It helped that I nursed my babies too , but when I finally stopped my symptoms came back. It was nice while it lasted!

[h808]

i'm relieved to see that people feel better during pregnancy and sometimes even after. i was afraid that symptoms might be worse because of all the pressure on the bladder. i'm not planning on getting pregnant anytime soon, but i want children very much, and sometimes i worry that this disease will prevent me from being the best mom i know i can be.

[Emme 1210]

How did you feel after pregnancy???
And this question is for everyone who felt better during pregnancy---how bad was your IC---mild, moderate, severe?
I'm considering trying starting in December. This will be my second baby, but I did not have IC on the first pregnancy. My symptoms began in Jan of this year and I was diagnosed in April. I have been able to manage pretty well with medication. Recently, I have had some bad flares, but I'm usually at 85% most of the time. I still would love to be in full remission during pregnancy and after, but am wondering how bad everyone's IC was before hand!
Many, Many thanks for this great information and I'm so glad you guys had great pregnancies!
--EMME

[paigertexas]

I am 3 months post baby number 3. The first two babies my IC was awful the first two weeks for some reason then it went away until about the last month. I don't know if it was the pressure of the baby. Then after I had the baby my bladder went nuts and this has been the worst. BUT I HAVE to tell you I just joined and I saw other girls saying their IC was great when they were breast feeding which I didn't produce milk and the big #2 I had to have csection with all 3 and they say that can make IC worse. SO THIS IS just me maybe. Also my IC has gotten worse over the years which might explain why it worse this 3rd time around. The other blessing was my IBS was also gone. I wish I could bottle up those relaxant hormones and store them for the future!!

[AddiJoy]

Re: IC better with pregnancy

that's great, can you post throughout the pregnancy? I'm dealing with infertility and endometriosis so I'm curious the road ahead!

[shortstuff]

Re: IC better with pregnancy

I'm within 6 weeks of delivering twins, my #3 and #4. My IC was very manageable before this pregnancy for about 3 years without medication. It's been relatively good during this pregnancy but over the past few weeks I've been having some bladder irritation. I've been able to drink coffee for at least 3 years but some days this irritates me, or iced tea, and some foods that I haven't been able to isolate. Since I have two older kids and a crazy schedule I probably won't breast feed my twins. I will give everyone an update on how things go after this experience. If I have a c-section I will probably also get a tubal ligation but now I am wondering if being on the birth control pill regulated my hormones and that's the reason my IC was so manageable....Totally nervous about everything because delivering two more babies vaginally will cause trauma to my bladder but a C-section will leave me vulnerable to adhesions to my bladder as the scar tissue heals. Hoping for the best.

[carolynyeo]

Re: IC better with pregnancy

That is great that your IC is in remission. Mine is the opposite, I was in remission before pregnancy but my IC is terrible right now - 15 weeks pregnant. Just horrible. I cannot take any medication for it so I am doing strict diet.

[Jinny Jean]

Re: IC better with pregnancy

shortstuff! How are you doing now! You have not been on in awhile! ( which I hope is a really good thing!!)

Hope you are feeling well after your twins!!

Jenn

I'm within 6 weeks of delivering twins, my #3 and #4. My IC was very manageable before this pregnancy for about 3 years without medication. It's been relatively good during this pregnancy but over the past few weeks I've been having some bladder irritation. I've been able to drink coffee for at least 3 years but some days this irritates me, or iced tea, and some foods that I haven't been able to isolate. Since I have two older kids and a crazy schedule I probably won't breast feed my twins. I will give everyone an update on how things go after this experience. If I have a c-section I will probably also get a tubal ligation but now I am wondering if being on the birth control pill regulated my hormones and that's the reason my IC was so manageable....Totally nervous about everything because delivering two more babies vaginally will cause trauma to my bladder but a C-section will leave me vulnerable to adhesions to my bladder as the scar tissue heals. Hoping for the best.