Hi Julie:

I am not sure about the pregnancy queries. I had three children after my surgery...with the first one I had a couple of minor obstructions. With the second, I had a major obstruction resulting in surgery when I was two months pregnant...mother and baby were ok. With the third one, I was on complete bed rest as the stoma did bleed, actually looked about like a piece of liver, if you can picture that. I was put in hospital and they were trying to crossmatch my blood for transfusions, but due to antibodies, couldn't get a match. While they were waiting for a surgeon to be consulted, I went into labor at 7 months...then everything went back to normal. Baby was in hospital for two months due to his weight...but was ok. At that time the Dr's didn't know what the cause of these things were, other than perhaps the pressure on the bowel. This was in 1970...I am sure they must be more informed today. I had my ileostomy when I was 18, having had UC for two years prior to that.

You keep thinking positively...things will be fine.  We are a hardy bunch. Just ask Sandara.

Love, Cathryn

From: "julie" <dewdrop10@...> Reply-To: ukostomysupport@yahoogroups.com To: <ukostomysupport@yahoogroups.com> Subject: [UK Ostomy Support ] Re: hello Date: Sat, 8 May 2004 10:43:04 +0100 i know this might sound silly as i have had my family before the illiostomy. I have read and heard people saying that it is difficult to get pregnant, why is that. Is is because of the stoma and when the stomache gets bigger with pregnancy does this put pressure on the stoma area. julie ps thanks for replying to me as thought the bleeding from my stump was abnormal and now i know most people suffer from this i am just to frightened at the moment to have more surgery ----- Original Message ----- From: mndchap@... To: ukostomysupport@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, May 08, 2004 12:13 AM Subject: Re: [UK Ostomy Support ] Digest Number 574 Good Evening Everyone, Welcome to the group to all of our new friends. To those who are new, my name is Dawn. I am thirty seven years old and live in Maryland. I have had an illeostomy since birth because I have a birth defect called Spina Bifida and am in a wheelchair and a "spastic bladder." I hope that each and every one of you have a very pleasant evening. We are getting ready to get a horrible storm. Sincerely, Dawn :) Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ADVERTISEMENT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links a.. To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ukostomysupport/ b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: ukostomysupport-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.