Gastroparesis & Pregnancy

• By Gajudy
• Posted April 14, 2009 at 10:30 pm
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Welcome to the group. I know that at least 2 other members are pregnant and have GP. So sorry I can't remember the names. I'm hoping that by keeping your discussion 'alive' you will get more responses. Good luck. I've have 5 babies myself but I didn't have GP at the time. I hope things go well for you.
Gajudy

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• By Alisha
• Posted April 15, 2009 at 5:56 pm
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I am so happy to know that I am not the only one feeling like is motherhood even an option for me. After my niece was born about five months ago it made me want to overcome the odds and try for a baby but have been scared to do this because of the risks that I am not sure about. I am afraid that I won’t have a healthy baby. My sister keeps telling me that I should just let it go and not worry about it and let what ever happen just happen. I am not sure that this is a realistic decision. I feel that I have been the healthiest that I have been for a long time and just want to see what happens and then go from there. It is funny because I called my doctor this past week and told her that I want to start a family and she said that she thought that I might have been thinking about it lately. She talked to doctor in charge of my tpn and said that she needed to consult with other doctors that are more familiar with this. So I kind of feel like there is hope for me in that I just like my sister will be able to hold my son or daughter in my hands as well. I see all these amazing stories on the discovery channel that inspire me to want to take the risks and let what ever happen and go from there after all I have always been the Ginny pig so to speak. My condition is unheard of in my community. I feel like I live a life where no one understands what I go through. So it is so nice to know I have my own little family that understands. I am interested in any information out there related to this issue I am looking for all the information I can get to educated myself. I would love to learn about anyone who has been through this or knows someone else that has gone through this.

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• By chewy1
• Posted April 15, 2009 at 6:46 pm
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I was trying to remember who had recently posted about having GP and currently being pregnant. I did a
search and found that it was hwilson8 under the "finding encouragment" discussion. You might want to see if you can find it, or try sending her a friend request.
Judy

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• By Kimberlysue
• Posted April 16, 2009 at 8:34 am
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Alisha, I'll let you know what I find out. :)

Judy, thank you so very much for your help! I sent a friend request. Thank you Thank you!

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• By Gajudy
• Posted April 17, 2009 at 9:45 pm
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The other lady who is pregnant is 'feeling strangled'. I'll bet she would be happy to compare notes with you.

I wish you all the best with your pregnancies. Stay healthy.

Love & prayers, Gajudy

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• By Katie1978
• Posted April 28, 2009 at 8:18 pm
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I am also interested in becoming pregnant. GI doc keeps encouraging me to wait to see if GP clears up but it has been a year.

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• By mum_77
• Posted October 4, 2009 at 1:17 am
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Hi,

I have had gastroparesis for the last 7 years. I fell pregnant last July and had my baby this year in March. Although it was tough at times throughout the pregnancy I must say I didnt notice if I had morning sickness as I was used to being sick because of the gastroparesis.

I had no real issue and my baby is a big beautiful healthy baby boy who is now 6 months old.

The fear of the unknown is always going to be present for someone with gastroparesis but I decided I had let this illness take to much of me so I just bit the bullet.

There are so many liquid supplements out there if you are worried about not getting enough vitamins and minerals to your baby. I also use a protein shake called rejuvenx. My doctor also said that babies are like parasites they will take what the need so dont be worried about them not getting enough in the womb.

Goodluck I wish you all the success in the world.

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• By Ingride1
• Posted October 29, 2009 at 3:11 am
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Hi All.. am new here so I'm not sure if I am responding to all of you or just replying to MUM77?? I was hoping to ask mum77 a few questions, and if this is public for all to read am happy to help anyone else if I can!

I had had an interesting 7 odd years of suffering from Gastroparesis.. when I first got sick it only lasted around 12 months, and I was completely well again.. thought I had seen the last of it much to all of my Doctors' suprise. I fell pregnant in 06 and still no sign of the GP had a great pregnancy and an emergency c-section with the results of a perfect bub. Had trouble breast feeding, then the GP reared it extremely ugly head about a months after weaning. It has been a tough road since with the illness which took it's toll the most especially being a new mum! Have had a lot of improvement with the symptoms in the last two years and have been managing it quite well only taking 10mg of Nexium, which is a quarter of the normal dose (Aussie Drug - not sure of the generic name)

So now we have found out recently that I am pregnant again, which is a complete miracle as my first child took 6 years of trying and was an assisted pregnancy, so what are the odds!? Took myself off the Nexium and now my GP has kicked in hard!! It is really tough. I am 8 1/2 weeks along and the mixture of morning sickness and GP discomfort is at times unbearable. As you said mum77 the fear of the unknown is a really hard thing to fight. My obgyn doesn't understand a thing about GP and my Gastro Doc has no idea about pregnancy, and my GP doesn't seem to know anything about either.. so I feel somewhat nervous, and responsible as I need to be a good advocate for my baby and my own body! So hoping between all three docs, but no one seems phased.. so I am just plodding along, and praying for the best.

Nutrition is my biggest worry, as I have lost so much weight in the last few years, I feel like I havn't got much to play with! I am trying to drink as much Ensure (hospital strength dietary supliment drink) as I can, and eat as health as posible avoiding the high fibre and fatty foods that us GP sufferers must avoid.

My questions to you mum77 (if your still reading and not to bored by my prattling on!!) are.. did things improve for you at any point in your pregnancy? Also how was your care by doctors.. were you just treated like any other patient, or was there certain things your doc's kept a close eye on? Also wondering how your labor/ delivery was.. if you managed a natural labor or were you recommended to have a c-section?

I am surviving, and have become fascinated by pregnancy in people with serious health conditions. To the point where I asked my Gastro Doc if he knew of anyone who might specialize in motility and who might want to use me as a subject for any research or study.. I would so love to help others who want to know more about pregnancy and GP. I realise everyone will be different in how they cope and respond.. so here I go on the journey, feeling like a bit of a lab rat as no one knows how it will all go!

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• By mum_77
• Posted November 1, 2009 at 5:47 am
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Hey Ingride1,

Congrats on the pregnancy sorry to hear you havent been well.

In answer to your questions, yes my gastroparesis did get better during my pregnancy. It was the most I had been able to eat in years and it felt great knowing that I was able to provide my baby with the nutrients he needed. Unfortunetly my gastroparesis has really kicked bad over the last eight weeks again which is really frustrating.

In answer to the care I recieved I had no care on the GP aspect my doctor seen me every month or so up to the last month then it was every week but that is no different to a person who is pregnant without GP.

Labour was great has a natural birth with no drugs. But again everyone is so different. At this moment in time I feel another pregnancy is out of the question which is sad. But I feel blessed that I was able to have a pregnancy which was good and I have an adorable son.

By the way do you live in Australia? I havent met anyone who suffers GP in Australia and I feel very alone that no one understands what GP in like.

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• By JenD
• Posted November 1, 2009 at 8:59 am
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I had my son in 2005 while my GP wasn't quite as bad as it is now. (I was diagnosed in 2002). I was able to eat fairly well for most of my pregnancy. There were times when the GP was bad and I just drank ensure or boost for a while until I felt well enough to keep food down again. After I had him things went fairly well for me until I stopped breast feeding him and then it was like the GP just got bad quickly. I have since been TPN dependent for 2 years. My son is now 4 years old and is the light of my life.

I think it is doable to get through pregnancy with GP. It helps to have good doctors, a good support system and even a nutritionist if you can. I also came off all my meds while pregnant so that was difficult too, but I felt like it really helped my baby be healthy.

I hope this helps.
-Jen

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• By GinaB
• Posted November 2, 2009 at 1:38 am
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Dear Kimberly, I have no info, but just wanted to wish you a healthy and succesful fullterm pregnacy! Congradulations Gina

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• By Ingride1
• Posted November 2, 2009 at 2:31 am
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Thanks for your replies girls. It really is great to have people out there who have experienced many of the things I live with every day! One of the things I have found hard in searching for info about GP and GP relating to pregnancy is there are so many people willing to share the tough stuff,and negative stuff, which is fine, and absolutley I will vent when I need to, as all of us here can sympathize. But how uplifting is it to hear some positive responses too! They are far and few between, so I will take all of the positive encouragement I can!

To Mum 77. Yes I do live in Australia, and it seems there is such little known about this illness here, or at least in my home town (Toowoomba, Qld) Where are you in Aust?

Jen D - it seems to be a common thing that GP flares up after breast feeding! When I was first diagnosed on 02 my GP lasted only a year or two, then my health miraculously returned to normal! Fell pregnant had a perfect text book pregnancy, and not so perfect delivery!! But a very perfect baby, and it wasn't until exactly 4 weeks after weaning and my cycle started again that GP came back in a big way. Amazing really, wish docs could sort this out? It must be hormonal. My gp told me that when you fall pregnant and are breastfeeding, that the extra progesterone can cause a slowing of the digestive/and or bowel system, so with people with underlying health issues in that area the hormones can do all kinds of things - it seems in a lot of cases, pregnancy gives some relief to many, but then it can get worse after. So far for me, it got worse when I first found out, and is still not great.. but hoping for it to improve as I go along.

Chin up sufferers!! I have personally experienced periods of time where I am completely symptom free, even though I have also had moments where I thought I was to fade away into non-existence. So for all of you wanting to know if it can get better.. it has for me at times, even for up to 3 years.. and I hope and pray that you can all experience better quality of life even if it just a better day here and there.xx

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