Crohn’s disease, fistulas and giving birth

I just wondered if anyone on here has given birth naturally with fistulas?
With my first pregnancy I had Crohn’s disease but no fistulas and gave birth naturally but with this pregnancy I have been offered a C section due to having complex fistulas with my Crohn’s disease
No one seems to want to recommend which I should go with so I just wondered if anyone had experienced this?
I am booked in for a C section in August but they have advised I can change this if I wanted to
Thank you

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Hello my sister had a large fistulas she was advised she had to have a c section. All went well but her scar did get infected. Hope that helped. Best of luck :)

I have a healed fistula and had a planned c section with my first and having another this time too

I’ve had fistulas and peri anal abscesses in the past and my obstetrician advised me to have an elective section due to risk of 4th degree tears from both passages. I was so scared of having a section but I’m so glad I went with it now, the team were amazing and it’s a really calming atmosphere, you genuinely can not feel a thing! X

Thank you guys! I think with all the risks the dr went through with me it really scared me! X

Hi I have ulcerative colitis and no fistula but had active disease and was recommended not to go ahead with a natural birth as the risk of complications is obviously far greater than someone without. They basically said if you were to tear you would could suffer from life long complications like faecal incontinence. I had two natural births before I was diagnosed and then c section with my last baby. If you have a fistula I would personally go ahead with c section.

I cried in one of my surgical appointments because I was just so overwhelmed by the info, I had a different consultant covering my appointment and he was so matter of fact and spent ages on the phone trying to book in my date and I just sat there like 😬 but my c section was very chilled and actually a lovely experience, I was very scared and still think I will be this time but the medical staff were so lovely and professional x

hi Olivia - sorry this is an old post but you might be able to help. I have an abscess with a seton which was healing really well, but the abscess has come back. I’m 18 weeks and worried they will have to operate again. Did you have an abscess while pregnant? Thanks so much! Xx

Hi there Alice, so sorry I’ve just got the app back! Have you let your IBD team know and are you on any meds currently? If it’s caught early perhaps they could give antibiotics which will be safe for you to take during pregnancy? I’m not 100% sure as it never returned when I was pregnant, sorry I couldn’t be of more help xx

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