Any other pregnant mamas with Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

[Stitches]

So I've had IBS probably my whole life, and it's something I have learned to deal with and it doesn't really bother me too much anymore. When I was pregnant with my daughter I had a total reprieve from it. I was like a new person, I could eat what I wanted when I wanted and it was bliss. I just assumed that it would be like that again (knowing that it will often be either better or worse in pregnancy), but it's not. It's way worse!! Ack. It's bad enough to be dealing with nausea but now having tons of bowel troubles, I'm not happy about this. Anyone else had this happen to them?

[MaerynPearl]

I've had mine as long as I can remember. Over the past ten years finally perfected controlling it with diet. Since it was not controlled with my other two I saw no difference... But the past year I had had very few attacks (as I call them) and once pregnant, poof! Constipation for a week, diarrhea for three days, repeat. Ugh! And I didn't change my diet! It's the hormones!

[7swans]

Mine is definitely worse. This is my first pregnancy so I have nothing to compare it to, but I have not really changed my eating habits. I'm trying to remember to take psyllium fibre everyday since it seems to help somewhat. I'm kind of afraid that during labour the contractions will make my intestines go nuts. :/

[MaerynPearl]

Neither did my severe diarrhea toward the end with dd trigger labor, nor did the labor actually hurt as bad as a severe attack. I think, comparatively, I would take labor over some of my worst attacks. (at least then I would get a baby as a reward for the pain and work, not just hemmorhoids.)

[Stitches]

I'm glad I'm not the only one! I just find it so frustrating that I don't get a break from it this time. I was looking forward to it as a perk of pregnancy. Unfortunately I crave all my trigger foods, like citrus, and eggs. I'm hoping it tapers off a little as I get into my second trimester, but I suppose I shouldn't hold my breath.

[MaerynPearl]

Lol through the first tri people were like... Oh! You are sick? Try some lemon juice!

What?! Nooooooooooooooo!

[7swans]

Originally Posted by MaerynPearl

Neither did my severe diarrhea toward the end with dd trigger labor, nor did the labor actually hurt as bad as a severe attack.

That's good to hear! Well, not good, but reassuring. That was one of my biggest fears about labour - that I wouldn't be able to relax or use my other pain management techniques, because I'd be stuck on the toilet having a horrible attack! I was also worried about the diarrhea bringing on pre-mature labour.

Is salad anyone else's nemesis? I adore salad; I crave it and I eat it all the time. And it makes me so sick. Ugh!

[MaerynPearl]

Salad in moderation is my best friend, but I eat it on spinach greens for the iron. I'm borderline on my iron levels.

[oddduck]

I have IBS issues this pregnancy. To the point I was having 8-10 loose stools in 3 or 4 hours at one point. I have days where driving the 7km to work will require me to use the washroom right before I leave, at DD's daycare, and immediately as soon as I get to work. I've stopped at more gas stations and coffee shops this pregnancy then I have in my life. I haven't been able to leave the city this pregnancy at all. Now that I'm easing into the third trimester things really are starting to ease up a bit. I've been given the okay to use Imodium when things get really rough and it does help - though I didn't dare use it until well into my second trimester. Kind of annoying. My IBS issues were mild before this pregnancy, and non existent with my previous pregnancy.

[kallyn]

I usually have diarrhea type IBS tendencies that I keep under pretty good control with diet. And one time I had what I self-diagnosed as an ulcerative colitis attack a few months before I got pregnant (no idea what brought it on). Now that I'm pregnant though I seem to be able to eat just about anything! If anything, I'm backed up, which is a verrrry different state of affairs from what I'm used to. I'll take it for now though, it's nice not to have to run to the can.

[lisko15]

In the 3rd trimester now and mine seems to have gotten into a slightly better pattern than when NOT PG - I'm pretty regular and it seems to be okay. I'm still super gassy and bloated often, which could be exacerbated by the pgcy or just my regular IBS.

The other two trimesters were similar to many's - constipation for a few days followed by diarrhea. My biggest gripe currently is my hemorrhoids. They are going to explode during labor and I just don't know what to do. My DH is the type to go and sit in "the office" forever. It just drives me nutty, because my 'roids get so much worse with sitting on the toilet for too long.

Anyhow - I'm hoping to get my bowels under better control once the baby is born. Has anyone tried out the Align medication? I'm curious about that. Its the gas and bloat, mixed with a very irregular bowel pattern, that drives me nuts most times (non-PG).

[mediumcrunch]

This is my first pregnancy with IBS/post-cholescystectomy dumping syndrome/chronic diarrhea....whatever you want to call it. I had my gall bladder out after #7 and did fine for years. I had some issues early in pregnancy with #8 but I was on so many drugs and had a PICC and my whole body was a mess (hyperemesis). About 6-9 months before this baby was conceived I started having IBS-like symptoms. Anything very fatty went right through me complete with cramps etc....I never went to the doc, from what I understand it was classic IBS/post-chole syndrome. I avoid the things I know trigger it and unfortunately that list is getting longer. The up-side is that almost everythign that triggers it are foods I really don't need to be eating anyway :P

[LaurenGinger]

I have IBD--crohn's. And I am 7 weeks pregnant and it has started to act up. I've read after labor things only get worse. I also started morning sickness.. or ALL DAY sickness this week. No throwing up, but just nausea. I wish my crohn's would go and hide during these 9 months!

[porcelina]

I'm also lucky enough to have this diagnosis! During my first pregnancy, at about 20 weeks, I was traveling in Mexico. I went for like 5 days without being able to have a movement! (a lot harder to control diet in taco land!) I ended up buying some nasty crackers that were pure fiber, and after about 4 of them, relief!! I have more of the constipation than diarrhea in pg, though I do get that too from time to time (and I started to practice labor pain techniques during my last bout -- actually helpful).

Interestingly, I had zero issues with either after I had DS until now, my second pregnancy. Many of my friends who had also had issues (and were breastfeeding) said they had also had symptom relief since the birth of their child. So, maybe you can look forward to some post-partum relief!