UW Health announced the opening of a new clinic for expectant mothers who need specialized care for gastrointestinal conditions on Monday. Inflammatory bowel disease, acid reflux, gallstones, liver conditions and other gastrointestinal, or GI, conditions are more than just uncomfortable for pregnant women, they  may be linked to premature births and other complications.

The new GI Pregnancy clinic will offer specialized care for pregnant women with GI conditions. The clinic is at UW Health West Clinic at 451 Junction Road. UW Health gastroenterologist Dr. Sumona Saha says UW Health is the second organization in the nation to offer a specialized clinic with treatment for GI problems in women who are pregnant or want to become pregnant.

"Some GI complications are quite common, such as constipation and heartburn," she says. "They must be managed in a sensitive fashion during pregnancy to ensure that the mother's health improves and the developing baby's health is not compromised."

Saha says her practice already includes a number of pregnant women suffering from inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, which is an incurable intestinal disorder. Saha has some guidance on how to control the condition and minimize any potential negative effects the disease can have on the fetus.

If a woman with IBD is very symptomatic, she's at risk for having complications such as pre-term delivery or undersized babies," she says. "If the bowel is very inflamed, that could lead to poor maternal weight gain, and the passage of nutrients to the fetus is not going to be optimal."

Saha says the new clinic will offer advice on medication and other treatments to relieve GI disorders and can help expectant mothers find teh right medications that won't risk the health of newborns. "One of the reasons pregnant women tend to be undertreated is because everyone is worried how the treatment will affect the baby," she says. "Sometimes, expectant moms with GI problems have the attitude they should ‘tough it out' rather than expose their baby to anything.

"That's the wrong approach to take.  If the mom's health is suffering that could take a toll on the baby's health. My job is to find the safest treatment for the mother to improve her symptoms and optimize her pregnancy outcomes.

Saha was the first physician in the U.S. to complete training in gastroenterology with a focus on women's health. Saha is also an assistant professor at UW School of Medicine and Public Health. According to Saha, pregnant women need a referral from their primary-care physician, gastroenterologist, or obstetrician/gynecologist before receiving treatment at the GI Pregnancy clinic.