IBS and Pregnancy

[Heaven]

Not sure where to put this thread.

So I think I have IBS. Sometimes after meals (usually dinner) I get really bad cramps in my stomach and have to go to the loo

For a while I thought it might be some kind of intolerance to wheat/gluten. I tried going off that and it was a lot better but I also did have some times where I was sick which doesn't make sense if it's just that. And also sometimes I can eat things with wheat and other times I can't.

I have been to the Dr and had BT's which showed nothing, and it's not my gallbladder either. Dr wasn't much help really, just said nothing's wrong.

So now I'm thinking it might be IBS. All the symptoms sound like me. And maybe too much wheat/gluten is just one of the triggers for it for me.

Anyway, when I was pregnant I was not sick at all!! I could eat whatever I wanted and as much as I wanted!! I was so excited and thinking it had magically gone away. But sure enough, the first time I ate pasta after DD2 was born I felt sick straight away So I guess being pregnant somehow stops it for me. Is this weird?? Anyone else found the same thing??

Do I have to get pregnant again now?? lol

[MrsB26]

I have medically diagnosed IBS. During both my pregnancies the symptoms completely dissappeared. This is common. I have certain trigger food and even social situations can 'set me off'. After the birth of ds i was symptom free for 12 months, funnily enough i fell pg again not long afterwards lol dd is 5 months old and i am still feeling really good.
I'm no Dr but you could have IBS. You could also try taking Inner Health Plus daily (in the refrigerated section of your pharmacy) which should alieviate your symptoms and try to avoid anything that makes you feel ill.

[LizLemon]

I have had IBS on and off for years, and yes things are way better when I'm pregnant.

One thing that did help me though was (1) No apple juice and (2) No soy - which was funny given that I was practically vegan at the time and was having soy milk galore - couldn't work out why I was sick all the time.

If I have either of these I know all about it. Does your diet have much of either of these?

[Heaven]

I have medically diagnosed IBS. During both my pregnancies the symptoms completely dissappeared. This is common. I have certain trigger food and even social situations can 'set me off'. After the birth of ds i was symptom free for 12 months, funnily enough i fell pg again not long afterwards lol dd is 5 months old and i am still feeling really good.
I'm no Dr but you could have IBS. You could also try taking Inner Health Plus daily (in the refrigerated section of your pharmacy) which should alieviate your symptoms and try to avoid anything that makes you feel ill.

That is so weird it goes away during pregnancy!! Thanks for that, I'm going to get some Inner Health Plus.

I have had IBS on and off for years, and yes things are way better when I'm pregnant.

One thing that did help me though was (1) No apple juice and (2) No soy - which was funny given that I was practically vegan at the time and was having soy milk galore - couldn't work out why I was sick all the time.

If I have either of these I know all about it. Does your diet have much of either of these?

Nope, actually I don't have any apple juice or soy! The things that seem to set me off are too much pasta, things that are too rich, too much chocolate...umm...that's the main things I think. And like Kristy said also it can be social things too!

[Mildez]

I'm very similar. I had alot of relief this pregnancy until the past week. Things that set me of also are pasta, some meats especially rissoles unless there hand made, MSG, CREAM and CHEESE (been the biggest one's) and garlic. I had an attack so bad a few nights ago after been a pig I though I would have gone into labour. Too much rich foods like chocolate set me of also. So yes I got alot of relief this pregnancy until now.

[Taurean]

Another long term IBS sufferer here (all my life actually) and mine was much better while PG too. I think mine had a lot to do with the fact that I was avoiding my trigers - wine (), big meals (I couldn't each much at all due to MS until 16 weeks then I just didn't feel like I had much room!) and spicy food - it just didn't do it for me while PG. I think that is the main reason I felt better.

In saying that though, I had to take Metamucil every day, sometimes twice a day, to make sure I was regular as I experienced constipation early on. But I also had a few very near misses where I suddenly had a case of the runs while out exercising. Now that was really weird, nearly pooped myself a few times! So embarassing holding my butt cheeks together trying to find a toilet in a BIG hurry

Try to avoid your trigger foods, keep up the fibre and take some Inner Health Plus or eat a really good quality yoghurt each day.

IBS sucks, my heart goes out to you!

[Harriet]

SIL said the same thing about her pregnancy! IBS before, then could eat whatever she wanted while pregnant, then IBS came back not long after she gave birth.

I also had IBS for quite a few years, and one thing I did find helped was to not have fluids with main meals. I don't know why it worked, but it did!! My grandparents always refused to give us drinks with our meals, maybe they were onto something! (or maybe it was a mind over matter thing for me)

[Lolpigs]

I have this too, and now I'm out of first trimester seems to have come back with a vengeance >.> I have found however, that for some random reason eating bananas and white bread seem to settle the symptoms (diarrhea etc) so I don't get too dehydrated. This has never worked before so fingers crossed it still keeps working.

[Redhead]

OMG! I am so glad you posted on here!
I too have medically diagnosed IBS and am 4.5 months pregnant.
I used to take Imodium every day for peace of mind, but cut this right back due to being PG. (my GP said it would still be okay to take in small doses)
I am only taking maybe a tablet twice a week now (used to take 2 a day) and have had little to no symptoms at all!
I used to react exactly as you do after food with horrible cramps and running to the loo, but barely anything since pregnancy.
Must be the pregnancy hormone working in our favour for once!