Mucus in stools

[EllaChloe]

Hello all,
I'm 36+6 and I am after other people's experiences please. Let me start by saying that I've already contacted 111 and Labour ward, so I've already taken the right steps
Labour ward didn't really care about it, 111 booked me a phone appointment with my GP tomorrow morning. Baby is moving normally.

Sorry for TMI but, As the title says, I've had mucus from my back passage. I'm 100% sure it wasn't the mucus plug and it did not come from my vagina. I did have abdominal pain while I was on the toilet but baby was moving a lot and it felt like she was maybe pressing on my bowels (the pain stopped completely after that). I don't have any other symptoms (no diarrhoea, no vomiting, no blood etc), just a tiny bit of nausea but that has come and gone throughout the pregnancy. According to google it could be anything between constipation (which I have a little of) and a severe GI issue so I guess I just wonder whether anyone else experienced something similar at this stage of pregnancy?

Thank you in advance!

Hi @EllaChloe

Any chance it could be hemorrhoids? As the baby gets bigger it can defo cause them (first hand experience) and they can cause mucus with a bowel movement, especially if you’ve been a bit constipated or straining to go?

Do you have any history of IBS? I also have this and during pregnancy it flared for me and I got mucus when I opened my bowels. But I typically had/have painful tummy each time I have a flare up and get mucus so unless this is a regular occurrence for you I’d probably dismiss it or let the GP advise.

Good thing you’re going to be seeing your GP to get it checked, hopefully they help! x

Hi @raevans thank you for your reply. I'm not sure if it's haemorrhoids, but I did have them in the past (even had surgery for them) and can never remember passing mucus tbh (but it's been a while). I've never been diagnosed with IBS but it's something I want to investigate after pregnancy as I suspect I might have it.

In any case this has been my very first episode, that's why I'm worried so really glad I'll speak to my GP tomorrow. Had a bit of a search online and mucus in stools seems to be a thing in pregnancy sometimes... just another thing to add to the endless reasons of worry during pregnancy, right?

Thanks again for replying!

@EllaChloe no problem at all! I suspect with your history you’d likely know if it was hemorrhoids. Hopefully the GP can help and discuss your concerns of potential IBS. Hopefully it’s just a case of it being something that occurs during pregnancy and nothing more! You’re right though, there’s always something else to worry about! Hope all goes well for you! x

I have mucus in my stools all the time, pregnant and not pregnant. I find it's IBS related and eating things I'm intolerant too, the pressure on your rectum could just be increasing the amount and making it more obvious.