Do symptoms decrease during pregnancy?

[hatmagic]

I went to see a urogynecologist for the 1st time yesterday. I am concerned about getting pregnant with IC. He said that a lot of womens symptoms go away during pregnancy due to hormones and the bladder/hips spreading. Does anyone have first hand experience with this?

[sharon429]

My symptoms almost completely went away when I was pregnant. Mine really has a lot to do with hormones. Now that my baby is turning one and she's not nursing as much as she used to I'm starting to have all my old problems back.

Sharon

[Judith]

I have to say it also got better for me during pregnancy and while I was nursing. I still wasn't normal, but at least the symptoms didn't get worse! Judith

[Amanda]

I have heard first hand experiences about this as well as reading it in literature. This same is true for other diseases that tipically co-exist with interstitial cystitis, such as fibromyalgia. For the women who get better during pregency, like Judith, they tend to have lessening symptoms until after breastfeeding.

A funny (in a way) story--- I was at a lecture by a physician who specialises in fibromyalgia. He has a paitent who in on her eighth child, she is completely symptom-free during pregancy and breastfeeding. I have many times thought of her, hoping that those children were not concieved for reasons other than for their mothers' health.

Amanda

[vm]

Boy, if I was that lady I think I would just pump breastmilk the rest of my life. Wouldn't have to have a child to keep giving it to, but I'd pump to keep it up so I'd keep feeling better if it worked. lmao

[sharon429]

It's funny that you should say that about the woman with 8 kids because I have four and I'm always jokeing(kinda) about the fifth. When I do I always think everyone thinks I want another child because it would make me feel better.
I also heard somewhere that you can get paid for selling your breastmilk and thought - Wow, that would be great - I can keep my IC under control and make money at the same time!!! My IC isn't half as good though when I'm breastfeeding then when I'm pregnant.
Sharon