Health · Medical Research · 5 hrs ago
Chloe Melas Shares How Ulcerative Colitis Affects Parenting
Chloe Melas shared an excerpt about parenting with ulcerative colitis from her new book.
Melas, an NBC News entertainment correspondent, has lived with the chronic illness for 15 years and has undergone surgeries and hospitalizations.
Ulcerative colitis causes sores in the colon and can bring pain, cramping, diarrhea and an urgent need to use the bathroom.
In the excerpt, Melas says symptoms and the need to stay near a bathroom have sometimes kept her from parts of her children’s activities.
She writes that parenting with illness means redefining what it means to show up and giving herself some grace.
The book, *The Girl’s Guide to Guts: Everything Your Doc Didn’t Tell You (But Your Bestie Would)*, is co-written with Judy Batalion, who also has ulcerative colitis.
The book is due out Nov.
10 and offers advice for navigating illness alongside work and family life.
Chloe Melas says ulcerative colitis affects her parenting by making daily routines and time with her children harder.
The NBC News entertainment correspondent has lived with the condition for 15 years and has undergone surgeries, hospitalizations and colonoscopies.
In an excerpt from her new book, Melas describes missing parts of her children’s sports games and feeling guilt about time spent managing symptoms.
She says parenting with chronic illness has taught her to redefine what “showing up” means and give herself grace.
Melas co-wrote The Girl’s Guide to Guts with Judy Batalion, who also has ulcerative colitis.
- Who
- Chloe Melas, NBC News entertainment correspondent and mother.
- What
- She shared how ulcerative colitis affects her parenting in an excerpt from a book she co-wrote with Judy Batalion.
- When
- The article was published Nov. 5, 2026. The book is scheduled to come out Nov. 10.
- Where
- The excerpt was shared with TODAY.com. Melas describes managing family life and work, including commuting to Manhattan.
- Why
- The book offers advice on navigating illness symptoms amid work, parenting, dating and other demands.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Melas has been living with ulcerative colitis.
NBC News published Melas’s account of parenting with chronic illness.
The Girl’s Guide to Guts is scheduled to be released.
- Condition
- Ulcerative colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease
- Time living with condition
- 15 years
- Book
- The Girl’s Guide to Guts: Everything Your Doc Didn’t Tell You (But Your Bestie Would)
- Co-author
- Judy Batalion, who also has ulcerative colitis
- Book release
- Nov. 10
What people are saying
The hardest part isn’t even the day-to-day discomfort. It’s the mom guilt.
What I’m learning is that parenting with a chronic illness forces you to redefine what “showing up” looks like and learn how to give myself some grace.
IBD is a thief in many ways. It steals moments. It steals time.
Living with ulcerative colitis as a parent is a little like trying to pitch a tent in the middle of a tornado.