ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the common gastrointestinal disorders in pregnancy, which may present difficult management problems. Gastroesophageal reflux disease and reflux esophagitis in pregnancy should be managed in a step-up approach starting with lifestyle modifications. A meta-analysis showed no evidence of teratogenicity or other serious maternal or fetal adverse outcomes associated with the use of antihistamines for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Although uncomplicated nausea and vomiting in pregnancy may be an indicator of a favorable fetal outcome, the effects of hyperemesis on the fetus are unclear. The chapter discusses the effect of inflammatory bowel diseases on fertility and pregnancy outcome, and the impact that pregnancy has on the course of inflammatory bowel diseases are discussed, and an approach to the management of these disorders in pregnancy is presented. The indications for considering esophagogastroduodenoscopy during pregnancy include significant upper gastrointestinal bleed, dysphagia, odynophagia, severe abdominal pain, and refractory nausea and vomiting.
