Pregnancy diarrhoea, has anybody else had this?!

[Chocolateporridge]

and more importantly, how did you cope?

Sorry if tmi but with my first pregnancy I had urgent diarrhoea three or four times a day, right up til labour. My doc had no idea why, I was referred to some sort of consultant who didn't know why either but they both agreed to immodium in the last trimester as I could hardly leave the house.

Two weeks after delivery I developed gall bladder problems and had my gall bladder removed and thought that perhaps my diarrhoea had been linked to that but...

I'm now 8 weeks pregnant again and in the same boat! My doc's prescribed me cocodamol as one of the side effects is it can cause constipation, and it does help a little bit but doesn't stop the goosebumps and churning stomach and I really can't face seven more months of this. Please can someone offer some advice?

[Bumpforme2014]

Oh chocolate I feel your pain, literally! I am 17 weeks and have been suffering with cramps and urgent diarrhoea for the last three weeks. I actually have ulcerative colitis which is inflammation of the bowel and although I am on meds for it, pregnancy has flared it up.

Sounds to me like you need to see a proper gastro consultant, I have one and they take it very seriously now I am pregnant because it's not good for third trimester as can make me and baby quite unwell. I am on steriods now to reduce inflammation and use enemas to get straight to the problem.

It's such a nuisance so I really do understand especially when at work or travelling, it was getting to the point where I was avoiding eating much which isn't good.

Not sure if I have helped, go to see GP or midwife and ask to be referred because there are specialist medications for bowl problems.

[Chocolateporridge]

Bump that must be awful, my friend has colitis and I know how bad her tummy symptoms are, without adding pregnancy to the mix. My GP seemed at a loss but I'll go back and ask her to refer me somewhere.

Ella, yes, I get similar tummy problems during my period and when my IBS flares up, I feel like its something to do with hormones. It puts me off eating and drinking too, and this time round I have my DD to look after and I'm scared to take her anywhere in case I get caught short!

I'm hoping someone will come along and tell us a magic cure!

[Chocolateporridge]

Ella, I should say, after my dd was born the diarrhoea stopped, well it just went back to flaring up occasionally with IBS or my period, so hopefully you'll feel alot better after your baby arrives

[Lozmatoz]

I had diarrhoea for the first 3 months and figured out it seemed to be linked to milk, lactose intolerance I assume. Once I'd cut it out the diarrhoea and morning sickness was much better. I'm fine again with it now (20 weeks). Could you be asked to be tested for any intolerances you may have developed in pregnancy?

[Bumpforme2014]

Yes my condition is not pleasant but I am on medication which calms it down a lot, bit worried about third trimester as they don't like you on many meds at that point.

I am lactose intolerant so I would certainly avoid as much diary as you can to see if that helps. My cousin had diahorrea throughout second and third trimester as well with GPs not being able to give her anything so it can just be one of those things.

It's so annoying when people ask how your feeling and I'm like sickness gone, energy back but now I'm constantly stuck on the toilet, people think it's funny but it's really not :-(.

[Chocolateporridge]

Thanks bump and Ella, I've taken you up on your tips and cut right back on dairy today and, it might be a coincidence, but so far today has been a much better day! Do you know if it's okay to eat soya products instead when you're pregnant? Sorry if that's a stupid question!

I find it ever so embarrassing to discuss with people when they ask how I've been keeping, I feel like they think I'm contagious or something

[KeepOnKeepingOnAndOnAndOnAndOn]

I have had it a little and did with dd too xxx

[Greenoes]

I had this with DS - weeks and weeks of horrendous diarrhoea but no morning sickness (every cloud, and all that!).
After 16 weeks of suffering (and very little skin left on my bum ) I rang the early pregnancy unit to try to get help. Was told that I couldn't come into hospital with diarrhoea (they wouldn't listen that it wasn't infected diarrhoea, but pregnancy related, also weren't that bothered that I worked in the same hospital in the critical care dept as a nurse so didn't have a lot of choice but to be in the hospital with diarrhoea!)
Midwives not concerned that I weighed a stone less on the day before I gave birth than I had when I'd booked in /
Was absolutely fine after birth, always wondered if it would be the same in subsequent pregnancies but sadly, I've never found out.
Good luck! (And lots of sudocreme)

[Chocolateporridge]

Things were going well, nearly two days of no dairy and nearly two days of no diarrhoea but yesterday afternoon I got all the horrible churning tummy and goosebumps and freezing and had to take myself off to bed, then spend the rest of the evening and some of this morning on the loo. I was so optimistic about the dairy thing, so perhaps I've eaten some without realising, will be super strict today and see how it goes.

[HeavenK76]

hi ladies,

just a bit of my experiences of diarrhoea in pregnancy.
I'm pg with my 7th atm and had tummy issues with all pregnancies near the end usually but the last few days I got caught with a upset tummy again but this time I took some psyllium husk with water and honey, which really calmed it all down and now I can eat as normal again.
I do wanna make sure that I don't have issues outside pregnancies, ie. ibs or something and do check with your gp/mw etc. whether your ok with this, so you don't get any allergic reaction to this, but only to let you know that this really helped me with my tummy.
I was getting fed up eating toast and going to the loo with horrible cramps.
hth.

[Chocolateporridge]

Thanks Ella and Heaven, I've been doing a bit of research and found that some some women, when they're pregnant, don't produce enough lactase which is the enzyme needed to digest lactose and it leads to lactose intolerance. It kind of makes sense, and there's apparently tablets that can help, as can acidophilus. I can't get an appointment with my doc for two weeks so I'm just going to continue being strict about not eating dairy, plus buy some acidophilus in the meantime. Here's hoping
...

[alita7]

I haven't thrown up many times but I've had tonnes of diahorrea! I think it was my equivalent ms :p

[frankiebuns]

My mum was like this hers was hormone related and actually so am I but not as bad I know week before period is due as I get diarroah and instantly knew I was pregnant when nothing happened, I'm 24 weeks and now get bouts of constipation and then chronic dirroreah and unfortunatly its the squits at the mo! Great timing as I'm on holiday! But dr thought it was ibs with me but I'm usually fine except for when I'm pregnant I wasn't to bad with ds but with dd my god its awful

[Chocolateporridge]

Oh Frankie, you have my sympathies! Nearly a week of strict no dairy and no fruit here but I've only had one full diarrhoea free day, today has been particularly horrible. I'm starting to think it really is just hormones that's causing it, which is frustrating as there's nothing I can do and no warning of when it will happen