Pregnancy with IBS

[Hayls17]

Hello, currently 4+6 with my current pregnancy. Since having my DD I have been diagnosed with IBS. I have learnt how to control this by managing my diet and my triggers, but get a flare up once or twice a month which I control with Imodium and buscopan. I was just wondering if it is still safe to take these in pregnancy? And if anyone has any alternative methods to controlling their IBS.

I'd speak to your doctor, I had ibs before being pregnant and then when I got pregnant my doctor changed my medication to something more natural, more like a powder that you mix with water.

In the end, I got lucky and my ibs seems to have cleared up during pregnancy, fingers crossed it stays that way 🤞🏼

Hope you get it sorted as I know it can be a pain :)

No it’s not safe to take (according to my GP). I was told to come off them when I found out. (I was on Imodium and mebeverine which is similar to buscopan).

Unfortunately, I was told all I can do is avoid triggers, and that I might find relief (PG can help with inflammatory type conditions)/tend more towards constipation (known PG symptom).

I suffered terribly until week 5 but it then settled quite a lot. Xx

Not safe I'm afraid but I found pregnancy actually helped my IBS as the constipation effect just made me more normal! IBS did come back after birth of the baby though.

dont think buscopan is safe in pregnancy I had IBS before pregnancy and can honestly say u haven't had one flare in pregnancy up until this week and am 35 weeks. pregnancy has seemed to clear it up a bit try not worry xx

Thank you everyone x

I don’t get it at all in pregnancy it was horrific before lived off Imodium , it’s so nice to eat ice cream ! x

Hi @Hayls17 I'm 9 weeks now and my IBS seems better so far, hopefully you'll find the same. Peppermint tea might help- not sure if we can take peppermint oil capsules in pregnancy, but I used to find them really useful as a natural alternative to prescribed medication (which I couldn't take because it was contraindicated with medication I needed for my heart).

I have IBS and take Buscopan and Immodium, I'm pregnant and been told that these are not safe in pregnancy. I was hoping there was something they could prescribe but they said I can only have Gaviscon, which I thought was only for heartburn and indigestion

I spoke to my doctor about this very subject. He gave me some peppermint oil but also said that’s there’s nothing conclusive about it being either safe or unsafe. I’m therefore choosing not to take.

I’m taking gaviscon but not helping a lot.

I have had IBS since I was 15 and generally live of a cocktail of tablets to keep it under control. I do have to come of these when pregnant but pregnancy make it so much worse.
I'm only allowed peppermint oil and antacids. Although mine is triggered by hormones rather than food so it might be different