Hi all,

I just found out I'm pregnant! My story: I had my pouch done 11 years ago. I've read other threads so to answer some of the questions I had:
I'm 36 and it took about 6 months to get pregnant without any help. We really tried the last 3 months. My fear now is hoping it sticks!

Now questions:

I'm looking for an OBGYN that could deliver at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston - anyone know any?

I've talked to a few different Dr.'s who feel I'm not really "high risk" with the JPouch or age thing. Anyone else have this experience?

The best thing so far is that my pouch has sllooowweed so much - what a joy! I'm also getting wicked hot flashes - normal?

THANKS in advance as I'm sure I'll be back with many more questions!

My wife used Dr. Paula Kolbas. She is a great Doc, easy to talk to and we cannot say enough good things about her. She delivered all 3 of our girls and is part of New England OBGYN in Brookline and delivers at Brigham and Womens. Its a big practice with around 8 Dr's so its easy to get in there if you need to see someone. Good Luck, Scott MC

Sorry, Forgot to say congrats!!

My original OB who was just a regular OB thought I was sort of a "special" case, but not only "high risk" because of my age. I think anything over 35 is "advanced maternal age" (eye roll). He suddenly went out of practice when I was about halfway through my pregnancy so I went to a high-risk practice at the recommendation of his nurse, since I wanted someone with relevant experience as I was having a scheduled C. The 3 doctors there told me they didn't "technically" consider me high risk just because of the pouch, OR my age, and described to me some REAL high risk people - PG women who get cancer or have to have some kind of surgery while pregnant, women who are morbidly obese and PG, women who have had 4 or 5 c-sections, etc. That being said, I did feel more comfortable with the high-risk practice because I felt the OBs as surgeons were much more experienced with dealing with complications that might arise, and I felt more "taken care of" in terms of the small questions and issues that came along as my pregnancy continued than I might have with a non high-risk OB. He also arranged to have a colo-rectal surgeon assist with my c-section, which we both agreed was a good idea, and I felt more at ease knowing someone with a lot of pouch experience was helping with the surgery.

quote:

The 3 doctors there told me they didn't "technically" consider me high risk just because of the pouch, OR my age, and described to me some REAL high risk people - PG women who get cancer or have to have some kind of surgery while pregnant, women who are morbidly obese and PG, women who have had 4 or 5 c-sections, etc.

Another patient of my perinatologist's at the time that I was pregnant was a quadraplegic!

Dr Bruce Cohen is absolutely fantastic. Though no one said I was high risk I felt better having a high risk and as it turns out during my first pregnancy I had a near total obstruction and needed the high risk. He only works out of Beth Israel, but he is just fabulous. I would go anywhere for him. He has also delivered multiple pouch patients and multiple ostomy patients like me.

Congrats!

Thanks for the rec's. My surgeon, from the Lahey, told me to go to Brigham and Womens. I have an appt. with NEOBGYN but they're having me see the only male doctor there because he has experience with surgery. Guess we'll see how it goes.

Thanks all and I'm sure I'll be here more as this progresses!

THat's interesting. My last GI surgery was at Lahey but they had no recommendations about OBs. My biggest reasons for chosing Dr Cohen were: he has previous experience with pouch patients and he has an unbelieveably calm and reassuring personality. I swear he could be telling you the worst news and you'd trust him taht everything would be okay. Also, there are several experienced j-pouch surgeons at BI, including Dr Peter Mowschenson who treated me from a GI perspective during my blockage.

YOu need to go where you feel comfortable, but I found Dr COhen and BI to be stellar.

Semicolonized, Funny thing is that the Dr that I think you are going to see delivered me 35 yrs ago, though I thought there were a couple men there. Is it Dr Riley?

Congratulations! So... sorry because I know these were posted several months ago, but I just joined the community today and going through all the posts... and couldn't believe there were other pregnant or recently pregnant j-pouchers in the Boston area on this website!

I am 14 weeks pregnant and going to the high risk practice at Brigham... so far I love everyone I have met.

Semicolonized, you are probably much further along now and hopefully happy with who you found, but did the high risk practice at Brigham actually turn you away? I didn't have any trouble getting in with my medical history if you call them... just in case you still aren't sold on who you have now.

Congrats again!