Forum 1st trimester

pregnant and with spasmodic bowels

31 replies · page 1 of 2

claudia
Hi! I'm 7 weeks pregnant and according to my doctor, I have a spasming bowel. I've had it for 11 days now, my belly is bloated all day, I have the urge to go to the toilet, and I get about 15 painful bowel cramps a day. I've tried everything: probiotics, Yakult, muesli with yogurt, Molaxole sachets, brown bread, small bites of food, one day of lactose-free eating... Nothing helps!! The doctor insists it's due to pregnancy hormones, but I'm at my wit's end! I can't even work anymore! Does anyone here have experience with this? Please help!!

Replies

Page 1 of 2

  1. Manon #2

    Hi Claudia,
    I'm not pregnant yet, but I'm trying to conceive. But I also have a really bloated feeling. I've tried everything to minimize the discomfort. Now that I've tried everything, I have less discomfort and less pain.

    Do you maybe have a lot of stress?? I hope the symptoms will decrease soon and you can start enjoying the pregnancy.

    Greetings, Manon

  2. claudia started this #3

    Thanks for your sympathy! I don't really have any stress at all; it was quite peaceful for me in the WW with the nice weather. The doctor says that during pregnancy, the hormone progesterone can cause you to get a spastic bowel (due to increased levels). Unfortunately, I can't really enjoy the pregnancy because of the cramps I've also had diarrhea for 13 days now and lost 1 kilo, so this morning I submitted a stool sample and had blood drawn to see if it's something else??
    Indeed, it's a pity that there's no medication for a spastic bowel to take during pregnancy, because the doctor said there is one, but not for now, so We'll see how it goes...

  3. claudia started this #4

    After 13 days of diarrhea, the doctor wasn't so convinced anymore about the spasmodic colon, and it could have been the Rotra virus (the virus that causes diarrhea). My blood and stool were checked, and they didn't find anything in them either.
    Now I'm at week 9, and the severe cramps are gone, and my bowel movements are normal. (thankfully!) Occasionally still a small cramp, but that's negligible. Hopefully, it stays away now.

  4. Manon #5

    Hi Claudia,
    Glad you're no longer having severe cramps.
    Enjoy your pregnancy.
    Best wishes, Manon

  5. Miss Butterfly #6

    super!

  6. Eveline Guest #7

    Maybe it was just a virus after all. I had the same symptoms you mentioned two months ago too. There was some kind of stomach flu going around then. But I'm glad it's over and hopefully it stays away!

  7. mrsvk17 #8

    I've had gut problems for 4 years now. If I eat brown bread or spicy food, I get cramps. I'm eating lots of rusks instead of bread now, and no onions or spices—that works for me!

  8. claudia started this #9

    Yes, really super nice that it's gone. We'll just stick with the first pregnancy symptoms

  9. dammie #10

    I know the problem with a spastic gut... only for me it's very fluctuating. From running to the toilet to not being able to go at all.
    At the beginning of the pregnancy, I also had more trouble with my intestines.. I really had to run..
    Generally, I could just go to the toilet normally. But with certain foods that I normally tolerated well, now suddenly I didn't tolerate them as well and got cramps.
    But I also had days where I couldn't go to the toilet... then I put a tablespoon of olive oil in a juice, stirred it well and drank it, and then I could usually go normally again..
    The intestines are quite peculiar how they can react to things.. I try to stay calm and know that there are more people with this problem, but not everyone dares to talk about it.. and then you get such a taboo atmosphere..

  10. AngelRinoa87 #11

    Just read this topic, because I'm currently dealing with constipation during pregnancy. Now I'm reading about olive oil in a juice, I'll give that a try. Because not being able to go to the toilet for a big poop isn't fun at all!

  11. dammie #12

    It works for me, and I often give that advice too... and I get positive feedback as well. You can also use it for a few days in a row... it's a natural product. Fortunately, I can really benefit from it. Good luck... because not being able to go to the toilet is a disaster.

  12. AngelRinoa87 #13

    Yeah, that's indeed a disaster. Luckily, it's only happened to me twice before that I really struggled with it. Now I'm extra careful about what I eat, and I'll take the advice to heart in my "new" eating habits from now on. This is my first pregnancy, and I don't like straining either, not just because it hurts, but I'm also afraid it might affect the little one. Does anyone else feel this way?

  13. claudia started this #14

    Currently also having slower digestion, which is another pregnancy complaint. I eat 4 dried plums every day (before pregnancy, 2 was more than enough, haha), and if that doesn't work, I still have that little powder packet from the doctor that you dissolve in water.

  14. Tosti #15

    I also have spasmodic bowels, but I've been taking Forlax for years because I always have such a hard time going to the toilet. And with this stuff, I sometimes go to the toilet 2 or 3 times to poop. But unfortunately, I'm only allowed to use it during the first trimester. My mom uses magnesium chewing tablets 3 times a day, and that also works really well. And I think that's allowed throughout the whole pregnancy too.

  15. Krummeltje #16

    I've had it from the start (4.5 weeks). I'm now at about 8.5 weeks and notice that I have much less trouble with my bowels. However, the nausea has taken over, completely.

  16. lieke2014 #17

    I have IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). I didn't have any problems with it for a long time, but now that I'm pregnant, I'm having a really hard time with my bowel movements again. I'll give the doctor a quick call to see if we can get something for it!

  17. tine Guest #18

    Yes, here’s another person who had PDS and now suddenly has it again. Went to the doctor twice today... I expected it to give some relief, but now I have more discomfort than during the 3 days I didn’t go. A friend suggested asking my GP about psyllium fiber supplements. She had good experiences with it. Does anyone here have experience with it?

    Otherwise, I’m lucky not to have any pregnancy nausea. I’m now 9 weeks pregnant and hope it gets better soon. If it doesn’t improve by the weekend, I’ll see the doctor on Monday... I can’t imagine having this for months on end like I used to. It’s already tough, but I think if you have pain for a long time, you eventually learn to push through it.

  18. Sara #19

    I'm 6 weeks pregnant with IVF now. I've already had some diarrhea attacks, mostly in the evening. I couldn't tolerate quite a few things already, like tomatoes, milk and dairy products, anything with fizz, too much white bread, too fatty food, and spicy food. I also have a lot of trouble with some vegetables. Now I feel like I can't tolerate even more things. Not nice, and I've had to wait so long for this miracle. I'm always scared that I'll miscarry because of the cramps, and that only makes it worse. Because I've been taking a full dose of hormones for 3 months straight, my belly is already swelling up and we won't be able to hide it for much longer. I really want to be able to show it off. I hope everything turns out okay.

  19. lisa Guest #20

    Hi,
    I’m also someone with IBS, I know the feeling you’re describing. I have a severe form of IBS.
    Tip for the pain: taking a warm bath during cramps works wonders (not too hot, of course). And afterwards, you can put a hot water bottle in your back and on your belly together in the chair, so the warmth spreads well.
    Greetings

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