pregnant and IBS-D
#89305 - 07/13/04 08:30 AM
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Hello helpforibs veterans,
Heather suggested I tap into your collective experience and wisdom. I've been coping w/IBS (usually D) for about 15 yrs. Am now 14 wks pregnant (1st time) and having chronic D (mild, at least) for the last 3 weeks. In the past I could fix things by eating nothing but rice for a few days, but I am concerned about forgoing the fetus-necessary nutrients (protein, vitamins, etc.). I'm eating IBS-safe stuff now, and while the D is mild, it isn't going away.
Also taking Precare prenatal vitamins (my dr. was hoping the calcium, which constipates patients, would fix my D but no such luck).
What's your advice? I half feel that if I can't get rid of the D by eating rice, etc., I might as well go all-out and eat beans and hamburger and cheese so at least the poor fetus will get enough protein.
(sigh) really sad when you see dog poop on the street and all you can think is, "Wouldn't it be nice to be regular?"
Thanks for your help.
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Having never been pregnant, I'm probably not going to be of much help... I alternate between D and C, and what I do for the D spells is probably not going to work for you, because of the baby.
That said, I just wanted to say hi and welcome.  I'm sure someone will be along who can answer your questions... it seems like we're getting a slow start on here today!
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with no time limits on posts, and look for posts by HanSolo (a moderator with a special interest in and experience with pregnancy and IBS).
- H
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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!
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Congratulations and welcome to mommyhood! I am 26 weeks pregnant with my third. I can't believe how fast it flies by. I also have IBS D but I haven't had too many problems during my pregnancy especially a couple weeks into the second trimester so give it a few weeks. I am also taking Pre Care vitamins and I think they are helping me so much.
If you want some protein with your rice just add some chicken and cooked veggies like carrots. That might help. I sometimes make this dish where I cut up some cooked chicken and add it with rice and cooked green beans with some type of fat free dressing. It's good. I'm not the best eater and I don't do so well with my eating for certain periods of time when I'm pregnant. I acutually get to a point where I hate food and I hate eating. I don't think eating just rice for a few meals or a few days is going to effect you baby, especially since you are taking vitamins. Babies seem to do fine despite what we eat. My girls were both very healthy. Your baby will actually take from you so it's you who is missing out. Think about these woman who can't keep anything down and lose weight in the begining and their babies turn out fine. Just make sure you are drinking. I notice I have more problems when I don't get enough to drink.
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Thanks for the pointers & reassurance, torbetta, and congratulations on your 3rd! Yes, I get the impression that my dr's office's daily nutritional guidelines are a bit strict (72g protein, equivalent of 1 qt milk, 7-9 fruits/vegs, etc.) -- you have to wonder about all those poverty-stricken mothers all over the world who get NOTHING to eat for days, and manage to have perfectly healthy kids. They'd probably kill for problems like mine.
As a matter of fact, my mother was just reminding me that she had constant nausea/vomiting for her entire 2nd and 3rd trimesters (sorry, Mom!), plus I'm worrying now about my upcoming amnio, so IBS-D may be the least of my concerns...! What can you do.
Once again, congrats and thanks.
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Thanks! This whole pregnancy process is interesting -- C is a common complaint for most and I had a short bout of it, which actually turned into regularity (a nice 8 weeks), but then my old friend D came back. If you choose the pregnancy path for yourself down the road, I'm sure you'll discover lots of interesting things on your own -- !
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My sympathies to you!!! Pregnancy can trigger IBS-D my dr said (and both myself and my niece got severe attacks in pregnancy.) I had to avoid ALL fatty foods during pregnancy!
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Sorry can't help out on this one. My only saving grace was being pregnant twice and my IBS went away each time for 9 months. It was wonderful!!!!
It's all hormonal related for me and I guess somehow my hormones liked me better pregnant! However, this body is done popping out babies!
Good luck with the pregnancy!
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~~~Lisa~~~
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I would be stressing too about the amnio. I always opted out of it because I never found a reason to have it. The results never mattered and it was just one more thing to do.
I'm not looking forward to my glucose test in two weeks. I usually get very jittery during it and I feel so sick. I also have to have a lovely RohGam shot that day and extra bloodwork for it. The following week will be fun and stressful too because I have to have my 5th sonagram. I found out at 20 weeks I had placenta previa so they are going to check to make sure my placenta has moved up, which I think it has. I am also going to have them double check the sex. I'd hate to get the room all girly only to find out at delivery it's a boy that was being shy.
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Amazing how every pregnancy is so different, isn't it? Well, if D is the worst complaint I end up having, I'll be happy. Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks -- I want to see if I can do the other tests (triple screen, Level II ultrasound) and rule out having the amnio....I'm at high risk because of age.
Ugh, shots and bloodwork. But at least they're noninvasive to the fetus (why I'm so concerned about the amnio). Isn't technology supposed to make our life simpler, not more complicated? Well, hang in there!
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Hi Sweetie! I'm sorry I missed your post yesterday. Anyway, I've been through 2 pregnancies with IBS D and don't worry, you'll be fine.
I know it's scary. When I went to my Doctor I was so terrified the babies weren't getting the nutrients they need. Did you know that the baby will take nutrients out of the Mother's body if they don't get them through what you eat? Don't worry - your baby is getting what it needs from you and the prenatal vitamins.
As for only rice, I would avoid that if possible. As Torbetta suggested, stick to the "mushy" cooked veggies, and add a little chicken or seafood. Limit oils, and if spicy stuff bothers you, go a bit bland.
Puree fruit and make a smoothie - banana, fresh fruit and a little soy/rice milk in the blender with ice. That's tons of nutrients you should be able to tolerate.
Here are another few suggestions:
Try to reduce the stress in your life. Relax as much as possible.
Drink TONS of peppermint tea. It can actually stop D attacks for me - it was my lifesaver while pregnant. I drank it through both pregnancies and it really helped lessen the amount of D as well.
Drink lots of water, and try walking or mild exercise after meals (even a 10 minute stroll is helpful).
Cook, peel , mash puree as much as possible.
If you have any more questions, be sure to ask. We're here to help.
Another reassuring thought - as the baby gets bigger in the next few weeks, it will put pressure on your digestive system thus slowing it down. The D attacks might clear up when that happens. I remember feeling AMAZING during the 2nd trimester because my IBS symptoms virtually vanished as the baby got bigger. Also, you're not big and bulky yet so it's a very enjoyable time - so enjoy it!
You may be able to eat things that you can't normally eat - I was able to - and it was a special treat.
Hugs, Han.
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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It is really good to hear I am not the only one suffering from IBS-D during pregnancy - I am 13 weeks with twins, and my symptoms have never been this bad! I havent even gained any weight yet, even though I eat a lot - I worry too the nutrition is not getting to my babies! I hope it will go away during the second trimester. I am going to ask my doctor about acacia, and I will try your suggestions. My big problem is water still tastes awful to me, it is a chore to drink enough (I used to love water before pregnancy!)
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Me too. Have you tried filtering it? Buy yourself a brita or another filter type thing if you have one. See if that makes a difference - it did the trick for me. While pregnant, water tasted like chloring to me - gag!
Another idea is lemonade - sometimes sweet-tart things settle the tummy (for some strange reason).
Another idea - teas count! So if water tastes bad, make yourself some iced teas (you can even make it caffeine free too) and store them in the fridge.
Don't worry about the weight gain (or lack thereof) that will happen sooner than you'd like!.
And ... CONGRATULATIONS MOMMY! Twins! Wow!
Post if you have any more questions.
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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Hey, sorry to hear you're having a similar problem. I'm now 17 weeks and somehow, after eating a ton of rice and boiled white-meat chicken, the D seems to have subsided (fingers tightly crossed). My doctor says that if you're able to eat all, that's good -- there are people who have so much trouble keeping food down that they have to be tube-fed. So hang in there, and I hope your D goes away too as you head into the second trimester.
Yes, like HanSolo said, the peppermint tea does help. I also found that lemonade made me feel less nauseated.
Twins -- congrats congrats!
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Thanks HanSolo! (many days later -- was away for a while) I'm not sure if it was all the boiled rice and chicken or the growing fetus or what, but the D seems to have calmed down. Yes, it's very reassuring that the baby takes nutrients directly from you and not from your food. My dr. (who admits that "there isn't a lot of literature on pregnancy and IBS") didn't seem concerned at all about the D, so that helped me relax too.
On to the next thing -- deciding about the amnio (I'm fairly old to be doing this). So stress levels will stay pretty high for a bit yet!
Thanks again, and regards to you and your two beautiful, healthy children.
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