IBS and pregnancy

[MrsBunny]

Hi ladies

Wondering if anyone has experience of IBS in pregnancy. I've been diagnosed with it for a long time, and I'm lucky that my symptoms are generally mild and manage without medication except for a few flare ups. I tend toward IBS-d, and constipation hasn't been common for me.

I'm now about 8-10 weeks (still waiting for dating scan), and I'm already struggling with constipation. I can live with it for now, but concerned that I'm affected so early, and that it'll only get worse. I already do all the right things (lots of fibre, water and exercise), so not sure what else I can do to keep it at bay.

Would definitely appreciate input from anyone else - even if its just to warn me how much worse this could get in tri 2 and 3 - I want to be prepared!

xx

 

[Shepherdess]

I suffer, but before I go on I'll remind you what you already know. Everyone suffers differently. I have IBS-d to and pre-pregnancy only need to take medication the first day or two of my period

In my first pregnancy my IBS basically cleared up, I had a bad spell of D when I first found out but after that I only suffered mild C until my daughter was about 9m. After this I swore I could be pregnant 10 times over as I'd felt so good

Now 2nd pregnancy and I'm suffering this time. The first 15 weeks the D was constant and awful; since then I suffer bad consolation for 6/7 days then have a bad D Day. I eat all the right things and walk for exercise but it's just hormones and there's nothing I can do.

I hope things clear up for you as they do for lots of people

 

[MrsBunny]

Oh shepherdess sorry this time isn't so good for you. I know how badly ibs can affect your quality of life and mood (and that its a vicious circle, as for me anxiety makes the ibs worse)

I am due to see a consultant next month due to other gut issues I've had in the past, so if I'm still sluggish then, I might see whether he/she has some insights to help.

I hope you get better soon x

 

[mrsmnk101]

I suffered from ibs-d before pregnancy and it continued up till 20 weeks, but i did read pregnancy can cause loose motions. After 20 weeks it settled down but i never became constipated as most pregnant ladies do. I was just having regular bowel movements which was great. A break from the 3 morning loo trips daily.

 

[Sparrow]

I suffered with really loose movements early on but now I’m 35 weeks I’m suffering from constipation, I’m going to ask my midwife about a stool softener as I know there are some you can take whilst pregnant. It’s good to get it sorted sooner rather than later, developing piles during pregnancy due to constipation is common and these can be made worse from the pushing during labour, and it’s not like we don’t have enough to recover from after birth without adding piles to the list. I would recommend asking your midwife if something can be prescribed especially if you’re already doing what you can with your diet and the constipation isn’t getting better.