The Good News about Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Pregnancy

Who would have thought that there could be any good news about IBS, especially when you are having a baby? Well, the good news is that while you may experience an exacerbation of your symptoms, irritable bowel syndrome in pregnancy has not shown any inclination towards harming your unborn child. So while you may or may not feel totally miserable with symptoms, your child should be just fine.

Inconsistencies in Observations

Some women with irritable bowel syndrome in pregnancy have reported that their symptoms totally went away or at least lessened to a great degree. However, other women with irritable bowel syndrome in pregnancy have reported that their symptoms were actually worse than before conceiving. The fact of the matter is that no one can truly hazard a guess as to what would happen to you if you have IBS and become pregnant.

Doctors believe that it is the fluctuation of hormones which contributes to more cases of IBS in women than men. This makes sense because it is the women who go through most of the hormonal changes in puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause. However, what is not understood fully is why irritable bowel syndrome in pregnancy can vary so widely in each woman.

Expected Symptoms

If you become one of the unlucky few to experience irritable bowel syndrome in pregnancy, then you should be aware of the symptoms that could befall on you. Some gas and bloating are typical in pregnancy anyway and IBS just makes things worse. Constipation and diarrhea, typical signs of IBS, are still problems during pregnancy. In fact, most of the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in pregnancy are the same as those in someone who is not pregnant.

Helpful Hints for Getting Through It

Unfortunately, irritable bowel syndrome in pregnancy means that there are some prescription medications that will just not be available to you as they could be detrimental to the development of the fetus. Therefore, you will have to take greater care than usual with exercise, diet and over the counter remedies for IBS.

Drinking plenty of water and avoiding caffeine and spicy foods can greatly help irritable bowel syndrome in pregnancy. In addition, eating plenty of fiber may help the bowels as well as eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. Adding light exercise can help symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in pregnancy as well as reducing tension and stress in your life.