From Bump to Baby with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

This study explores the pregnancy and postnatal experiences of individuals living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD is an umbrella term for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Through one-to-one interviews, women with IBD shared their difficulties finding relevant health information during pregnancy, their experience of symptomatic IBD relapses immediately after giving birth and their challenges navigating both gastroenterology and maternity care. When supporting an individual with IBD, midwives should liaise with their IBD nurse specialist as soon as possible and be aware of how IBD symptoms affect pregnancy and the postnatal period. Midwives and health visitors should also provide additional support to breastfeeding mothers/parents experiencing a postnatal IBD flare-up.