Category Archives: Motherhood

Epidemiology, Big Data, and Biologics in Pregnancy — About IBD Podcast Episode 198

What does a pregnant woman do when they need a biologic medication, but pregnancy isn’t included in drug trials? Dr. Sonia Grandi and Dr. Cristina Longo talk to Amber Tresca about the BIONIC study, a groundbreaking project using decades of real-world data to understand how biologics affect a pregnant woman and her baby. The BIONIC study is designed to empower patients to make confident, evidence-based decisions about their own health and their children’s future.

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Why the Advice on Acetaminophen in Pregnancy Hurts Women With IBD

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Pregnancy can be a time of hope and excitement; it can also be fraught with fear, doubt, and complex decision-making. For women with chronic illness, it may be all of these things — and more.

Instead of offering support, evidence, and knowledge for pregnant women, the comments regarding acetaminophen (Tylenol) from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and others are nothing short of confusing. This situation affects women with chronic illness disproportionately because it perpetuates the stigma around taking safe and necessary medications during pregnancy.

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The Truth About Surviving IBD and Incontinence – About IBD Podcast Episode 190

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Katryna Loewen, a registered nurse diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2020, shares her journey through severe flare-ups, incontinence, and her decision to have a colectomy and ileostomy in 2024. She discusses the emotional and physical challenges of living with IBD, the stigma of ostomies, and how these experiences shaped her life, relationships, and career. Katryna also describes managing her mental health, planning her wedding, and preparing for motherhood, offering hope and practical advice to others with IBD.

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The Truth About Stigma and Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy Featuring Mariah Leach, JD, MS

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Amber and Mariah discuss how women with chronic illnesses cope with advice on medication use in pregnancy—especially in light of the confusion around acetaminophen. Mariah shares her experiences with rheumatoid arthritis and pregnancy, focusing on changes in medication safety data. They talk about the pressure, stigma, and lack of support for pregnant women, the need for nuanced guidance, and provide resources.

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How Storytelling Fosters Compassion for Kids with Chronic Illness – About IBD Podcast Episode 181

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A children’s book leads to this conversation, which bridges the worlds of chronic illness, creativity, and connection. I talk with MB (Britt) Mooney, author of “The Mouse Who Couldn’t Eat Cheese,” a children’s book inspired by a young woman named Alex who lived with severe Crohn’s disease. MB, a science fiction and fantasy author, stepped outside his usual genre to create a story that helps kids and families understand invisible illnesses and the power of friendship. You’ll hear behind-the-scenes insight on MB’s creative process, the lessons learned from working with Alex’s family, and the message he hopes every reader takes away—whether they live with inflammatory bowel disease or not.

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From Privacy to Advocacy: Balancing Faith and Chronic Illness Featuring Hindy (Tauber) Klein – About IBD Podcast Episode 179

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Amber speaks with Hindy Klein, a member of the Orthodox Jewish community living with Crohn’s colitis. Hindy shares how she manages IBD while observing Jewish laws, discussing challenges with diet, fasting, and hospital care during Shabbat and holidays. She also talks about overcoming stigma, the importance of community support, and how her faith helps her cope. The episode highlights the need for cultural sensitivity in healthcare and the value of sharing personal stories to support others with chronic illness.

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Thriving as a Parent with Chronic Illness: Tips for Managing Guilt and Fatigue

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For those of us living with chronic illnesses, parenting comes with challenges that are different than those of our peers. On About IBD Podcast Episode 167, Jaime Holland and I share how we manage guilt and fatigue from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Here are some key takeaways and practical tips from our conversation for parents with IBD who find themselves making their way through similar challenges.

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How to Thrive as a Parent with IBD – About IBD Podcast Episode 167

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Amber hands over hosting duties to Jamie Holland, a patient advocate with Crohn’s disease. They discuss their personal experiences with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). They focus on Amber’s decision to have j-pouch surgery after being diagnosed with dysplasia and the effects it had on her fertility. Jamie asks Amber to share about the emotional and physical challenges of motherhood with IBD, including fatigue and guilt. They also touch on the possibility of passing IBD on to children and the importance of community and support.

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“Boo Can’t Poo!” With Iris Wang, MD – About IBD Podcast Episode 153

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Dr. Iris Wang, assistant professor in the division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and the Associate Program Director of the GI fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and Amber Tresca discuss the stigma surrounding gut health and poop. Dr. Wang shares the experience of writing a children’s book focused on preventing and managing constipation titled “Boo Can’t Poo!” They also discuss the challenges of publishing a book on gut health and the potential benefits of talking about poop and toileting, emphasizing the importance of open communication and personalized treatment. Listen to learn about where you can get “Boo Can’t Poo!” and how parents with IBD can manage their anxiety around the idea of their kids developing IBD.

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Pregnancy and IBD: The PIANO Study With Uma Mahadevan, MD – About IBD Podcast Episode 136

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Pregnancy while living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) feels scary. But thanks to the groundbreaking Pregnancy Inflammatory bowel disease And Neonatal Outcomes (PIANO) study, there is now so much more data and information to help moms and their doctors make decisions. Dr Mahadevan began the PIANO registry in 2007, which followed women and their babies through pregnancy and after. What was learned from this registry was how IBD medications, and especially biologics, affected pregnancy, birth, and infants. Learn how Dr Mahadevan has grown PIANO over the years, the most important findings so far, and how pregnant women can join the study and help the next generation of moms with IBD and their babies.

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