Gastrointestinal Disorders and Pregnancy

This chapter provides the background information of the gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and pregnancy, and discusses its prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. Diagnosis and evaluation of GI disorders is complicated by normal anatomical, physiologic, and functional changes that occur in pregnancy. Disorders of the GI tract may be classified by location: upper and lower GI tracts, as well as hepatic, gallbladder, and pancreatic disorders. Conditions may also be classified according to duration: acute versus chronic disorders. For women with chronic inflammatory bowel disease, continued suppression of colitis is achieved with adherence to most prepregnancy maintenance therapies. Women with a history of bariatric surgery should have early screening for gestational diabetes in pregnancy, frequent evaluation of serum nutrition/vitamin status, and serial ultrasounds in the pregnancy to monitor for adequate fetal growth. Diagnosis of GI disorders in pregnancy requires a detailed medical, surgical, and obstetric history.