IBS and pregnancy

[Simian0]

Hi All,

Newbie to Mumsnet and newbie to this pregnancy thing. Am just 8 weeks and although I'm showing no remarkable signs at the moment, I have found that my IBS has been particularly bad over the past couple of weeks.

It could be due to the surprise of finding out we're expecting + natural worries about forthcoming life changes etc, but I just wondered if anyone else has found their IBS getting worse/stronger since getting pregnant.

Apologies my first ever post is about such grim subject matter - I will try to keep my postings a tad less stomach churning in future!

Thanks

I have had several periods of my IBS getting worse and I am much more sensitive to certain foods. I think it is quite normal, I am heading for second trimester and things are calming down, so hopefully will do for you.

My psoriasis is worse too, I think it is all just hormones!

Oh god yeah, mine got really err pronounced. Especially the farting and the looser poo, it cleared itself up about the second trimester then i got the horrors again. I think its just all the hormonal changes playing havoc so you are not alone!!

I think bloating and constipation go hand in hand with pregnancy, and in the early weeks I also had bouts of the runs (tmi). Add this to an existing ibs diagnosis and I can see that you might be suffering. It's definitely hormones!

Fantastic guys thank you! Very reassuring to know that. Felt like an inflated balloon all day today bursting out of my jeans. Thought it was a tad early to be finding the jeans too small now.

Obviously not a massively worrying problem, just more a pain in the a*re- pardon the pun.

Feel for you Simian, also had this issue. Am 15 weeks and it seems to be calming down but I have heard first trimester can be hard for IbS. Feel better soon!

I've not been diagnosed with IBS but I have had long term issues with my digestive system and think I probably would be if I pursued it.

My first trimester this time (2nd baby) was horrendous -with the gastro stuff by far the worst bit. I had nausea and vomiting (naturally!), heartburn, stomach cramps, diarrhea, bloating and awful wind. It all seemed to clear up around 13-14 weeks for me and at the moment my stomach is (dare I say it?!) relatively calm...

One thing I identified as a definite issue for me was the fish oil supplement I was taking as part of the pregnacare max product. It gives me horrendous diarrhea. Worth stopping and just increasing your fish/egg intake if you are on one of these.

Hello, yes I am the same! I have IBS. Usually not too bad with a gluten free diet. However I am now 7 weeks pregnant, taking codiene for chronic pain (nothing else that strong is safe but) man does it constipate you! Add in the pregnancy and it's a nightmare! I talked to my GP and got some lactulose to soften things up. I also take an omega 3 supplement which helps. Diet wise I'm having as much fruit as I can tolerate and not from concentrate juice! If you're taking pregnacare supplement you might find it better switching to the sanatogen because it contains less iron (which again wreaks havoc with bowels!). If you're really struggling, ask your GP.

A slight hijack, but has anyone taken amitriptyline whilst pregnant?

I'm not pregnant yet but we are trying and I take 20mg a day for IBS and it works wonders. GP tells me to stop, consultant told me 20mg is absolutely fine. Any experiences?

when i was pregnant with my first son my IBS was raging! especially around the 3rd trimester i found peppermint tablets worked brilliant, and peppermint tea. it could also be because if u are taking any pregnancy vitiamins, they knocked me ill
good luck!

Interesting! I am 14 weeks and really suffering with wind/bloating/stomach cramps/ constipation/ runs etc etc. Have been taking a pregnancy multi-vit and a fish oil supplement. I wonder if I should take a break from them?

Off to make a peppermint tea anyway!

i found taking the vitabiotics pregnacare ones on a morning just set my morning sickness off and just made me feel yack! i started taking them on a night instead to sleep them off, ive heard from a few people that they can make you feel worse!

Countess, I'd try stopping the fish oils for a few days. I stopped and started a few times until I was convinced the two were definitely linked.

Oh, and I have compensated by eating plenty of scrambled eggs made with a couple of extra yolks, and giving in to my massive sushi cravings.

If anyone else wants to eat sushi, restaurant sushi is fine (they have to freeze it before using) as long as you avoid uncooked shellfish and remember not to have too much tuna. If you make it at home not sure why anyone would bother with all the faff! then freeze it first.

Thanks all,

Given I'm not suffering from any morning sickness etc, I suppose I should be thankful that a few extra (hurried) trips to the ladies each day is all I'm putting up with.

Sadly peppermint tea never works for me. IBS is a horrid thing though. Having gone through numerous blood tests and a full colon/endoscopy last year I was told "Well, I'm afraid there's nothing you're allergic to, so you'll just have to put up with it, sorry". you don't even get any weight loss as compensation! Totally useless affliction! ;-)