Pregnancy advice

[JT1992]

Hi all,

I have posted a few times on here.. I have IBSM but mostly IBSD.

I am just over 9 weeks pregnant and I really hate to say anything negative because I am very grateful to be pregnant after a bit of a journey (endo) but hoping someone can provide some advice.

I have had diarrhea every day for the past 4 weeks now.. literally everyday. Mostly in the morning but sometimes it continues throughout the day. As well as vomiting everyday which I hope will ease in the next few weeks.. its not fun and draining the life out of me. I used to pop a handy Immodium when having a flare before becoming pregnant, I'm now told by the GP I can't take them. I'm also avoiding making any plans or trips as previously i would have popped 2 or 3 immodiums before travelling.. so now I feel like I have completely lost my safety blanket and I am miserable.

Does anyone have any tips on what I can take to try and stop the D? I am guessing its just hormones causing this, but no GP or chemist can provide me with any advice and I'm really struggling.

On another note, I am also extremely bloated at night. It's so painful. I used to always suffer with bloating in the evening after dinner, but this is another level and lasts all through the night. Makes me need a wee 5+ times in the night too so I am not sleeping well..

Thanks for taking the time to read this..

[Luisa22]

For the D, you could try a teaspoonful of Arrowroot or even cornflour mixed into a "milk" with a little bit of water (about half a wineglass full.) One of the small kinds of wineglasses, not those huge goblets everyone seems to drink wine out of nowadays!

PLEASE do check that is okay first, but I do believe it will be, and there will be no contra indications in pregnancy.

Just drink that liquid down, and I think 3 times a day would be okay. It won't taste bad, just "floury" and bland. Arrowroot does have a slight flavour, not unpleasant, but cornflour doesn't.

GPs and pharmacists have no memory of those old fashioned remedies our great grandparents used to take!

Now, it might not work at all, as IBS can be resistant to all sorts of "diarrhea remedies". But you could give it a try.

Definitely ginger can help pregnancy nausea, and is known to be safe in pregnancy. Ginger beer (non alcoholic), sipped slowly, or a smallish slice of fresh ginger chopped and mixed with honey, or made into a tea. That can be drunk 3 times a day too.

[MyStar86]

You could try a low fibre diet things like, white rice, white bread, pasta and bananas these will all slow down the system the more fibre you add the more you will go. I also found that the gaviscon liquid lows things down for me even just a small amount but again you would have to check it’s ok to take whilst pregnant xx

[JT1992 in reply to MyStar86]

They said Gaviscon is okay as heartburn is really common in pregnancy, but I never knew it could help with stomach issues too other than heartburn?

[MyStar86 in reply to JT1992]

It helps me when mr system is going violent so it’s worth a try it might not be one for everyone but it certainly stops me having accidents and slows things right down…..I didn’t know it could either till I used it for heartburn and then found it helped. Good luck I hope you find something that helps xx

[JustTheWayYouAre]

I can’t really offer any advice but just know I’m 23 weeks pregnant now and I went through this at the beginning. Then I went constipated. The pain at night used to make me feel so sick and it was so hard. I really do understand. Not that it’s any consolation but it should pass and as painful as constipation is you can eat more fibre which has helped me.

Sorry no advice but you’re not alone.

[JT1992 in reply to JustTheWayYouAre]

Thank you for this, I have had constipation in the past and found it much easier to manage than having D everyday. So did you have the severe bloating at night too? And did it make you need a wee every hour? I am desperate for a decent night sleep!

[JustTheWayYouAre in reply to JT1992]

Yes the bloating was horrific sorry to say. I cried most nights in pain. I think it was wind to be honest and if you can get it out then really do try. I took and I’m still taking deflatine from rennie? And windeze. Don’t know if it helped much but it seemed to go from every night being a nightmare to every 2/3. It did settle for me and now I maybe have a flare up once a month.

I’ve been ok with the peeing I seem to have got lucky there but that bloating I promise you I understand and I’m Sure it’s only something people with IBS get because I’ve not heard it before.

I’m here if you want any advice/rant on anything else and like I said I’m 23 weeks now and it’s got better! Chin up.

[JT1992 in reply to JustTheWayYouAre]

Thank you ! I did wonder if it was wind at night but it's hard to tell with so much other stuff going on.. I'll try the Windeze , thank you at what point did it start to ease? I keep being told it will get better by 12 weeks but don't want to hold my breathe..

[JustTheWayYouAre in reply to JT1992]

Bare in mind I didn’t check if anything was ok for pregnancy I was just so desperate I thought it can’t be that bad surely.

I can’t remember exactly when I felt better but I got to 12 weeks and then I got to 15 weeks and just kept doing it like that just to get through if you get me? It’s a struggle I’m not going to lie but that’s what helped me just counting down the weeks. I do think it will settle for you! You may get constipated and wish the D would come back though! It’s a roller coaster but I’m past halfway with the added annoyance of a sickness phobia so trust me…you got this.