Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine
The Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine offer expert patient care, research programs, and education and training opportunities.
Gastrointestinal Diseases & Pregnancy
Care for ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and more
Expertise for Gastrointestinal (GI) Problems in Pregnancy
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) provides complete care for pregnant moms and their babies. Our maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) team provides care for high-risk pregnancies, including moms with gastrointestinal (GI) diseases.
Women with gastrointestinal conditions — such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease — can face unique challenges during pregnancy. Our team, which covers a wide variety of medical specialties, is here to help you manage your condition from preconception through delivery.
Preconception Planning
Whenever possible, we encourage those with preexisting gastrointestinal (GI) conditions to begin planning with your medical team before conception. During preconception planning, you can accomplish these things:
- Better understand the risks of pregnancy
- Optimize your health
- Review your medications
- Prepare to manage your condition safely
For many GI conditions — including Crohn’s — if you have your disease under control at the time of conception, you’re less likely to have complications. This reduces the chance of your disease becoming more active during your pregnancy.
Conditions We Manage
Preexisting gastrointestinal conditions that we treat and help you manage include these and others:
- Autoimmune liver disease
- Celiac disease
- Chronic (long-term) constipation
- Cirrhosis
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or acid reflux
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Liver diseases linked to pregnancy
- Viral hepatitis (A and B)
Comprehensive Management
Your team will put together a prenatal plan that may include changes to these or other aspects of your daily living:
- Nutrition and diet
- Medications
- Lifestyle
If you’ve previously had surgery for severe gastrointestinal disease, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, you may have special labor and delivery needs. Your MFM care team will let you know what to expect.
All of our MFM specialists are experts in taking care of those with complicated medical conditions before and during pregnancy. Together with clinic partners for a variety of medical specialties, we coordinate care with your primary obstetrician. Our goal is to provide the highest level of care for you and your baby.
