Journey to Bump

The road to pregnancy was an odd one for me. Not that there's a normal route to being preggers, mind. But before you read on, I don't want you thinking that this post is about the birds and the bees. It's more...the birds, the bees and the bowels? Bowels being the key part.

Having Crohn's and knowing that at some point in my life I wanted to have a baby, was a combination that I'd worried about since I was first diagnosed; I was advised to look at freezing my eggs (as fertility in Crohn's patients wasn't the best). The thing is, the thought of actually having children was so far away in my mind at the time, that it was strange to potentially make that decision at the end of my teen years. Who knew how I'd feel in five, ten years time?

I decided not to freeze my eggs. I felt that if having a family naturally was something that I was supposed to do, then it would happen. If not, then so be it. I'm a strong believer in a family being a family regardless of its set up and how you all got there.

When I got to an age and stage in my relationship where talking about having a baby was a real thing, I had so many questions for my consultants...Can I have children? If I am fortunate enough to have children, are they going to get my Crohn's? How would Crohn's effect my pregnancy? Will I be able to have a natural labour due to all my previous operations?

In a nutshell...I'm pregnant. So it seems that in the first instance, yes I am able to have children (well at least conceive). Whether this baby that I'm currently growing gets my Crohn's? That I don't yet know. Crohn's & Colitis UK's info on Pregnancy and IBD says that "5 out of 100 children born to couples where one parent has Crohn's might be expected to develop IBD. Even with genetic predisposition, other additional factors are probably needed to trigger IBD." We will just have to wait and see and hope that our baby is as healthy as can be.

With regards to Crohn's during my pregnancy - this has been a complete turn up for the books! It seems being with child is the best medicine! Who knew pregnancy would be so beneficial to my bowel?! As it stands my Crohn's has calmed down immensely; for the first time in years all my levels are settled and I'm not worried if I sneeze, I'll poo. If anything, it's quite the opposite. It's like my body has forgotten how to go to the toilet-toilet and that's the oddest sensation for someone that has, on average, probably shat 10-15 times a day for the last 7 years. If TMI, sorry. But, you know...Crohn's.

Fiancé and I are in the midst of talking to the antenatal team about my staying on Azathioprine and whether we go back on Humira. As unlike Aza, they're not yet sure on the use of Humira in the third trimester (although if urgent/required then they'll let you. Pros and cons, etc.) But it looks like I may not need Humira after all if things stay the way they are!

Then that leads me to the last question in my little list of worries: labour. The grand finale to this whole musical that is pregnancy. Actually getting the miniature person out of me. Gosh.

I won't be allowed to do any pushing as - to quote my Crohn's surgeon - "my arse would fall out" and I for one am not ok with that and neither are they. We're all also keen to make sure that me and baby are safe, however that needs to be done. So elective cesarean it is. Scary thing is, is that our c-section date is already booked in! I now know categorically that I'll have babe in arms at 38 + 4.

Unless the little human makes an early arrival.

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#MaternityStyle

This is a whole other ball game.

Now I like clothes. In fact, I bloody love them. And as I've said before, I've had my fair share of sartorial challenges with my ever-changing body shape due to Crohn's.

Maternity style however?! Apparently if you're pregnant you can only buy clothes that are in the outline of a small marquee. And Summer fashion isn't a thing as everything seems to have to have a sleeve. It's not like your body temperature is already higher than normal or anything.

Unless you're Blake Lively at Cannes 2016. HELLO MAMA. She absolutely killed it. What a selection of clothes. Effortless in looking glorious in her pregnancy.

Slay...

I decided that for my maternity look, or #MaternityStyle if you will, that I was going to fall more in the camp of unitards than Peter Pan-collared matron tents. Seeing Blake's outstanding selection of outfits (which would have looked just as marvellous without the bump) makes me determined to have fun with dressing my new bump, as I enter my second trimester and maternity clothes shopping is now a must. Plus the second trimester is by all accounts the nicest of the three...my time to 'bloom'. Blooming wonderful.

I imagine that the further along I go in pregnancy, the more I will embrace anything loose because all I will want to be is comfortable. But I'm not going to be heavily pregnant until Autumn. And that's when everyone wants to layer up and look like a potato anyway.

Outfit Goals. Not so much.

So now to today, where I have a day off from work and I head to Oxford St to tackle this whole new world of clothing. What fabulous creations can I come up with? If it all goes to plan then a post full of pictures will naturally follow. And if it doesn't and I end up having a full pregnancy meltdown because my waist isn't a thing anymore, then a post of my emotional situation will follow instead.

Wish me luck!

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Fit to Burst

I've started writing a couple of posts over the last week or so. And then stopping. And then revisiting. And never finishing them. This was one of them for a good while.

It's because I've been BURSTING WITH NEWS that I couldn't talk about. Not just yet. I had so much running around in my head that I needed to write down all my thoughts...But now I can talk freely about the most exciting thing that's happened to me. That's happening to me. To us, as a couple.

The fiancé and I are expecting a mini person.

We are having a baby!

Even typing out that sentence is the most amazing thing. We've made a tiny person; a miniature human growing inside me and that is bloody incredible.

#BumpWatch begins as I can finally be loud and proud at work. BABY.

I'm aware that it is Biology 101, but the whole science of how a person is made and the things I've learnt even in these first 13 weeks blows my mind. It's fascinating. And it's just the start of the journey into parenthood for us both. It's also another reason why I wanted to start blogging again really! I'm keen to share my experiences with pregnancy, but also pregnancy with Crohn's.

For someone who can talk the hind legs off a donkey and hold a conversation with myself, not being able to talk openly about ALL THE EXCITING THINGS I'M FEELING AND THE CHANGES THAT ARE GOING ON has been torture. But we're in the safe zone now. We've got a few midwife appointments in the bag and we've had our first scan. It's real life people. It's happening.

We've shared the news now with all our family and friends and the response has been overwhelming in the most loveliest of ways. So much love. It really is astounding and makes you realise how many special people you have in your life and how lucky you are to have them.

I just feel like I'm floating with joy. Christ. Will you listen to me?! All hormonal and emotional and rambling about love. I'm such a happy mess right now.

I am pregnant.

And we are completely and utterly over the moon!

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World IBD Day

Today is the 19th May and that means one thing...it's World IBD Day!!

This year Crohn's & Colitis UK have made it their mission to highlight the importance of Specialist IBD Nurses, as they make such a great difference to patients' lives.

I remember when I met my first IBD Nurse back in 2009 at Chelsea and Westminster. Her name was Stephanie and she was the support I needed at a time when it seemed like my whole world was about to change. She spoke to me like a person - not just a hospital number - and understood that there was an emotional side to my diagnosis and that it was important to know she was there if and when I needed her. Her role for me at the time included everything from a long conversation at my appointments, ending them with that reassuring squeeze; right up to sending her a text message when I wasn't sure if I was A&E worthy with one of my many abscesses.

I'm now in a fortunate position again where at my current hospital there are a team of Specialist IBD Nurses, with a dedicated phone number should I have any queries about my care or condition. But I know I'm one of the lucky ones to have these amazing people at my disposal. There are countless IBD patients who are yet to experience how beneficial Specialist IBD Nurses can be.

According to the Crohn's & Colitis UK website, across the UK there are at least 100,000 people with IBD that don't have access to a Specialist IBD Nurse. With 63% of IBD services in the UK unable to meet the needs of everyone affected.

"[Specialist IBD Nurses] are a lifeline, providing vital information and support in the most appropriate way for each patient. The care they deliver is invaluable and they help hundreds and thousands of people cope with this devastating disease. We need to shout loudly the importance of Specialist IBD Nurses to ensure more patients have access to them."

Their campaign 'More IBD Nurses - Better Care' still needs a few signatures to reach their goal of 1000 people. Please take a look and if it matters to you, please sign!

There are around 300,000 of us in the UK, and millions more around the world living with IBD: we need to use #worldIBDday to continue to spread awareness and make a difference where we can.

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Across the UK, at least 100,000 people with Crohn’s and Colitis don't have access to a Specialist IBD Nurse and 63% of IBD services in the UK don't have enough Specialist Nurses to meet the needs of everyone affected. - See more at: https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/get-involved/world-ibd-day#sthash.VPtKm7VK.dpuf

That’s why we’re asking you to go purple on World IBD Day, Thursday 19 May, to help raise awareness of the 300,000 people in the UK, as well as millions more around the world, who are living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
This year we also want to tell everyone about the importance of Specialist IBD Nurses who make such a big difference to patients’ lives.
Across the UK, at least 100,000 people with Crohn’s and Colitis don't have access to a Specialist IBD Nurse and 63% of IBD services in the UK don't have enough Specialist Nurses to meet the needs of everyone affected.
They are a lifeline, providing vital information and support in the most appropriate way for each patient. The care they deliver is invaluable and they help hundreds of thousands of people cope with this devastating disease. We need to shout loudly about the importance of Specialist IBD Nurses to ensure that more patients have access to them.
By joining our 'More IBD Nurses - Better Care campaign, you'll be lending your voice to call for better access to Specialist IBD Nurses, meaning better care across the UK.
- See more at: https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/get-involved/world-ibd-day#sthash.VPtKm7VK.dpuf

That’s why we’re asking you to go purple on World IBD Day, Thursday 19 May, to help raise awareness of the 300,000 people in the UK, as well as millions more around the world, who are living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
This year we also want to tell everyone about the importance of Specialist IBD Nurses who make such a big difference to patients’ lives.
Across the UK, at least 100,000 people with Crohn’s and Colitis don't have access to a Specialist IBD Nurse and 63% of IBD services in the UK don't have enough Specialist Nurses to meet the needs of everyone affected.
They are a lifeline, providing vital information and support in the most appropriate way for each patient. The care they deliver is invaluable and they help hundreds of thousands of people cope with this devastating disease. We need to shout loudly about the importance of Specialist IBD Nurses to ensure that more patients have access to them.
By joining our 'More IBD Nurses - Better Care campaign, you'll be lending your voice to call for better access to Specialist IBD Nurses, meaning better care across the UK.
- See more at: https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/get-involved/world-ibd-day#sthash.VPtKm7VK.dpuf

That’s why we’re asking you to go purple on World IBD Day, Thursday 19 May, to help raise awareness of the 300,000 people in the UK, as well as millions more around the world, who are living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
This year we also want to tell everyone about the importance of Specialist IBD Nurses who make such a big difference to patients’ lives.
Across the UK, at least 100,000 people with Crohn’s and Colitis don't have access to a Specialist IBD Nurse and 63% of IBD services in the UK don't have enough Specialist Nurses to meet the needs of everyone affected.
They are a lifeline, providing vital information and support in the most appropriate way for each patient. The care they deliver is invaluable and they help hundreds of thousands of people cope with this devastating disease. We need to shout loudly about the importance of Specialist IBD Nurses to ensure that more patients have access to them.
By joining our 'More IBD Nurses - Better Care campaign, you'll be lending your voice to call for better access to Specialist IBD Nurses, meaning better care across the UK.
- See more at: https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/get-involved/world-ibd-day#sthash.VPtKm7VK.dpuf