Doing a poo so different since giving birth

[Sobloodyexhausted]

I gave birth 8 months ago - straight forward vaginal delivery but small rectal tear. Consultant offered to stitch me straight after the birth but I was so done with people messing about with that end of me at that point that I passed on it. I’m now wondering if I made a big mistake as doing a poo has completely changed and is now often very crampy, loose and uncomfortable.

Before the birth I used to be in and out of the loo quite quickly. Poos took a minute tops and I was really regular. Now they are unsatisfactory drawn out affairs. I never feel like I have completely emptied my bowels and there is a lot of painful cramping afterwards. It’s quite a palaver. I can be on the loo for 15 minutes which with a small
Baby is not ideal.

I suspect I might have internal piles. I’m trying to drink more water and eat lots of fibre but It’s not getting better. What’s going on and what treatment should I be seeking?

First and foremost I would get an appointment with your GP so they can have a look.

Ok so pregnancy really can affect your digestive system as everything gets squished and it also is affected by all the hormones, this can take some time to settle again. You also as you say may well have internal piles.

I have 3 DC and have suffered terribly since the birth on my youngest 3 years ago with similar issues to you. Eventually I was diagnosed with IBS, which can quiet often be set off by pregnancy/birth. I have also had to have a colonoscopy as I had bleeding and this further diagnosed me with very twisty insides and internal piles.

If you look up IBS diets or FODMAP diet there are some foods you might want to try cutting out and see if it offers you any improvement. Now I have used this and while it hasn’t cured me I have certainly found out that some foods really do make symptoms much worse so I avoid these.

As for the cramps try some peppermint tea or you can get peppermint capsules that work just as well if you can stomach drinking the tea.

can’t stomach

HighlyStrungPuppet - yes I don’t think it’s going to go away by itself unfortunately so that’s good advice thank you.

Lillygolightly - that’s really interesting thanks for sharing. This baby was also third baby for me too. I had no idea birth could trigger IBS that’s really good to know.

So glad I posted was a bit shy about topic (obvs) and have been keeping this issue to myself but I knew I’d get some really helpful advice on MN thank you 🙏