Photos Courtesy of Natalie Hayden
It’s a decision women probably thought they’d never have to make: to get a newly developed vaccine while pregnant with a chronic illness in the middle of a pandemic, or not. As a mom of two toddlers living with Crohn’s disease, with baby No. 3 due in July, the decision is weighing heavily on me. And I find that the decision is reminiscent of life with an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Whether it’s starting a new medication or going through a procedure, I’ve been weighing the risk and benefits of my health choices since being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2005.