Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Follow Your Gut – We Have the Info You Need on IBD, Pregnancy, & Breastfeeding

Disclaimer: This page houses important information and resources pertaining to IBD during pregnancy and while breastfeeding, including links to our evidence-based Fact Sheets. However, the resources here should not replace the care and advice of a medical professional.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an umbrella term for conditions that cause chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The two most common forms of IBD are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Symptoms can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss. Most studies find that the risk of birth defects does not seem to be increased in people with IBD. However, people with active disease may have a harder time getting pregnant and may have a greater risk of pregnancy-related complications, like premature birth or having a low birth weight baby.

Reference: Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation: The Facts about Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

There are many types of medications used to treat IBD. The risk of taking them during pregnancy has to be weighed against the benefits of keeping IBD inactive, which is important because a flare can be associated with risks during pregnancy. Be sure to discuss treatment options with your gastroenterologist when planning your pregnancy, or as soon as you learn that you are pregnant.

“If you are a [person] with IBD, it is important to understand how the events in a [person’s] life- menses, pregnancy, and menopause-can affect the course of your disease, and how your disease, in turn, can affect these milestones.”

— Chrohn’s & Colitis Foundation

Please see our library of resources below on IBD during pregnancy and breastfeeding.