Pregnancy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Authors

  • Vivian W. Huang, MSc, MD, FRCPC Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Astrid-Jane Williams, BSc, MBBS, FRACP, MHSc Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, St Paul’s Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada IBD Centre of BC, Vancouver, Canada

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58931/cibdt.2025.3349

Abstract

Key Takeaways

• Preconception assessment and counselling is recommended for women with IBD who are contemplating pregnancy, ideally occurring at least 3 to 6 months prior to attempts at conception

• Most IBD therapies are recommended to be continued throughout pregnancy and lactation to minimize the potential detrimental impact of active disease on infant and maternal outcomes

• Consideration of aspirin commencement for preterm preeclampsia prevention is recommended, prior to 16 weeks gestation, in women with IBD, especially if additional risks for preeclampsia development

• Infants exposed to biologics in utero can receive inactive vaccines and Rotavirus live vaccine per schedule.

Author Biographies

Vivian W. Huang, MSc, MD, FRCPC, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Dr. Vivian Huang is an Associate Professor and Clinician investigator in the Division of Gastroenterology at Mount Sinai Hospital and the University of Toronto.  Dr. Huang completed medical school and Internal Medicine residency at Queen’s University, followed by a gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Toronto, and an Advanced Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) fellowship at the University of Alberta. She practices P4 (predictive, preventive, personalized, participatory) medicine to optimize maternal, fetal and neonatal outcomes in IBD through clinical innovations in patient and physician education, and e-health strategies. She developed the Northern Alberta Preconception and Pregnancy in IBD clinical research program in Edmonton, AB in 2014 and then the Mount Sinai Hospital Preconception and Pregnancy in IBD clinic and research program in Toronto, ON in 2018.  She also created the Multidisciplinary Care in IBD (MCIBD) CME program in 2016 for clinicians who care for people with IBD.  She received the Crohn’s and Colitis Canada and Pfizer Canada Women in IBD: Emerging Researchers Award in 2020, the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology Young Scholar in Quality Innovation Award in 2023, and the UHN/SHS Quality Innovation award in 2024 for her work in Pregnancy and IBD management and education.  She is lead author or co-author of over 70 research articles and two book chapters, and is one of two Canadian committee members of the Global Consensus Conference: Pregnancy and IBD.

Astrid-Jane Williams, BSc, MBBS, FRACP, MHSc, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, St Paul’s Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada IBD Centre of BC, Vancouver, Canada

Dr. Astrid Williams has recently joined the team at the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) centre of BC from Australia. From 2018 to 2023, she was a Staff Specialist Gastroenterologist at Liverpool Hospital in Sydney. She completed her medical degree and physician training in Sydney, Australia with obtainment of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians Fellowship in Gastroenterology in 2015. In addition, she completed an IBD Fellowship and Masters of Health Science through the University of British Columbia in Vancouver between 2015 to 2017. She continues to be actively involved in the delivery of multi‑disciplinary IBD and general gastroenterology clinical care, research, and teaching. Her clinical activities include the delivery of both the paediatric to adult IBD transition and pregnancy in IBD sub-speciality clinics. She is a mother of three children, enjoys running and is passionate about the environment.

References

Coward S, Benchimol EI, Kuenzig ME, Windsor JW, Bernstein CN, Bitton A, et al. The 2023 impact of inflammatory bowel disease in Canada: Epidemiology of IBD. J Can Assoc Gastroenterol. 2023;6(Suppl 2):S9-S15. Published 2023 Sep 5. doi:10.1093/jcag/gwad004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jcag/gwad004

Mahadevan U, Seow CH, Barnes EL, Chaparro M, Flanagan E, Friedman S, et al. Global consensus statement on the management of pregnancy in inflammatory bowel disease. Clin Gastro Hepatol. Published online August 6, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2025.04.005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ibd/izaf171

Nguyen GC, Seow CH, Maxwell C, Huang V, Leung Y, Jones J, et al. The Toronto Consensus Statements for the management of inflammatory bowel disease in pregnancy. Gastroenterology. 2016;150(3):734-757.el. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2015.12.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2015.12.003

Fitzpatrick T, Alsager K, Sadarangani M, Pham-Huy A, Murguia-Favela L, Morris SK, et al. Immunological effects and safety of live rotavirus vaccination after antenatal exposure to immunomodulatory biologic agents: a prospective cohort study from the Canadian Immunization Research Network. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2023;7(9):648-656. doi:10.1016/S2352-4642(23)00136-0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(23)00136-0

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Published

2025-12-22

How to Cite

1.
Huang VW, Williams A-J. Pregnancy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Can IBD Today [Internet]. 2025 Dec. 22 [cited 2025 Dec. 26];3(3):16–19. Available from: https://canadianibdtoday.com/article/view/3-3-Huang_et_al

Issue

Volume 3, Issue 3, Fall 2025

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Articles

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