Trapped wind (probably) at 38 weeks

[Purpledoggy]

I have had variably mild, moderate, or severe abdo pain for 3 days now; it comes and goes over several hours. Went to maternity triage yesterday and they were happy with everything reproductive-wise, it’s not labour and baby is fine. It’s probably trapped wind as it feels just like severe IBS pain I get when not pregnant (have mistaken it previously for appendicitis it can get so bad). But my goodness it’s really getting to me! If I lie 45 degrees recumbent on my back with knees up it’s much better but otherwise my whole abdomen is so painful. I can’t sleep as lying down makes it worse. My usual IBS remedies (peppermint and fennel tea, simeticone) aren’t really helping and obviously can’t take buscopan. I know which foods trigger gas for my IBS and have been avoiding everything. Any suggestions to help it? I tried a few yoga poses that are meant to help move gas but nothing. On mat leave a little early to have a small break before baby appears and not loving spending it so far mostly in pain 🙄

[Twiglet2]

hey lovely I experienced similar and severe heartburn too in the last week or so, there’s just no room left in there and the muscles are so so loose and stretched that your intestine muscles are really really slowed down too and none of the usual remedies worked for me. All 4s helped ease things for in downward dog position. Bouncing on the ball thing was also sometimes useful.

It eased a little bit when baby ‘dropped’ a few days before birth lower into pelvis but it disappeared instantly after he was born. I remember them offering me some orange juice after birth which I drank 2 glasses of and suddenly thought omg that didn’t hurt or burn I’ve not been able to do that for months!!in fact by Timmy doesn’t hurt at all!! I’m sorry that not what you need to hear for the next week or so but it will get better very soon in my experience 🤗xx

Ps there’s also a wee bug going around that has these symptoms, my friend thought it was her IBS but none of her tablets or remedies shifted it and then her 2 sons got the same symptoms a few days later and they all actually had a bug, just as a maybe although I think you’re right with the trapped wind suggestion xx

[Purpledoggy in reply to Twiglet2]

Thanks lovely. I had wondered about it being a bug as I have slight cold symptoms. It’s just scaring me as it is just getting worse over time rather than better. I called triage at 3am last night as I was beside myself with the pain and they said it was ok to try buscopan, which helped a bit. I may have to go back in today though as it’s so bad it’s making me want to vomit and I’m struggling to eat. Still waiting on a date for the planned C section but I can’t imagine they’d bring it forward for this. The worst thing is I can’t even look after my little boy, and these are his last 10 days of being an only child. Gah, nothing is ever simple! Xx