Flares of IBD can be more common after birth.
Controlling your IBD
Here are some steps to help reduce the risk of IBD flares.
- Continue taking your recommended medicine.
- Tell your IBD specialist team if you feel a flare is developing.
- Recognise flare triggers and take steps to avoid them. For example, make sure you get enough sleep.
IBD medicines and your baby
The medicines we prescribe for IBD during pregnancy are safe with breastfeeding.
Biologic medicines
If you took biologic medicines later in your pregnancy, you must delay giving your baby the Rotavirus vaccine and BCG vaccine.
The length of delay will depend on the type of biologic medicine you took during pregnancy. We will have discussed this during the antenatal period and advised you accordingly.
It is safe to give your baby all other types of vaccines, as scheduled.
Future pregnancies
We advise you to use reliable contraception so that you can plan your pregnancy for a time when your IBD is under control.
Speak to your GP or IBD specialist team if you are planning to get pregnant. They will offer guidance on whether the IBD medicines you use are safe for pregnancy.
They may refer you to a pre-pregnancy service in maternity or gastroenterology for advice.
Continue using contraception until you have had an IBD review, and have taken folic acid for 3 months prior to trying for a baby.
Folic acid (vitamin B9) helps form a developing baby’s spine and reduces the risk of defects such as spina bifida.
More information
Visit the Crohn's and Colitis UK website for more information on pregnancy and breastfeeding with IBD
Contact information
Maternity Triage
Telephone: