1st Trimester

What could this be?

I've had GI issues since finding out I was preggers. Initially I was worried bc I had a miscarriage in March at 4 weeks. So when cramping started on week 4 n some days, I was terrified. But I didn't have blood discharge at any times. Between weeks 5 thru 7, I realized it was my smoothies and a vegetarian diet causing me to BM a lot, and with each BM were cramps which would subside afterwards. Irritating to have the cramps EVERY time, but I was more annoyed than worried.

Then we had our first ultrasound at 7 weeks and 2 days, baby was growing properly and my anatomy was fine. OB was not worried about my GI issues. I decided this week to take a hiatus on eating vegetarian, and instead eat lean meats/veggies/fruits. A clean well rounded diet. But the cramping continued with each BM, and intensified too. Quite debilitating when it presents. And didn't always go away immediately after BMing.

Now I am approaching my 8th week. And it's pretty much the same story. I eat any meal, an hr later, I'm cramping, I go to the toilet and wait in excruciating pain each time now, most of the time BM, sometimes nothing but pain, then I spend the rest of the day in this sequence.

I'm at my witts end at this point but I feel like I've adjusted my diet several times already trying to eliminate the culprit, but it gets worse not better.

I'm afraid on work days because I work in the service industry, and I can't justify taking half hour breaks to sit on the toilet each episode. I can't starve bc I need to feed the baby. I haven't been able to work through the pain bc it is too intense.

Like I said before, OB just said these things happen, and had no real explanation for it. I don't blame her, GI issues are a part of the prego process. I get it. For once, I'm not worried about the baby. I just need advice to fix it so I can go to work, or not be curled in bed awaiting relieve.

Re: What could this be?

  • Sometimes that is the version of morning sickness some women get. I'm sorry! It's your body's reaction to hormones right now.

    You might try the BRAT diet [Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast] for a little while until things calm. Look at your prenatal too and maybe take the gummy form? That could be contributing to the Pregnancy Poops.

    Do your best and realize that changing your diet might help, but from personal experience, sometimes your body just acts insane. Make sure you are drinking lots of water and maybe some Gatorade for the electrolyte.

    Make sure you have enough protein [nuts might help] and sugar [the bananas should help]. I'm sorry, I know it's miserable.


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  • I have been experiencing cramping as well and I understand your frustration! They were hitting me in the middle of the night and id do the same thing....head to the toilet and hope it was as easy as having a BM and passing some gas but that doesn't ever seem to help much. What I've been doing is as soon as I feel an onset of the cramps I try to drink a lot of water....it has eased them a bit....and also heating pads (it's what my OB recommended). For work....perhaps you could get some of those heating pads that you can stick onto your belly for the cramps. They will be hidden under your clothes and give you some relief hopefully and I think the heat can last up to 2 hours with some of them. You are farther along than I am but I hope this helps! Best of luck and congrats :)
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  • Thank you Primrose and Kbrent for your helpful responses. I will try both your suggestions.
  • I would check with your OB or midwife before using heating pads
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  • I have some pretty serious GI issues as well. One culprit that you might look into is your soy and vegetable oil intake. For whatever reason, since being pregnant, anytime they find their way into my food, I have intestinal cramping for hours. As I've looked into it, it seems that for me, it probably has to do with the hormonal effects soy can have on you and the highly processed nature of vegetable oil.

    That may not be it at all, but that's what I've found for me. If I avoid them, I'm usually just dealing with regular MS instead of more serious pain. 

  • I'm experiencing the same thing, and found your posts to be really helpful as a first time preggo. It's super painful, but better because now I know I'm not the only one. Seeing the doctor tomorrow just in case. Thanks all for posting about it!
  • Peppermint tea is also supposed to help with GI issues which my OB said is safe during pregnancy
  • I have IBS so I totally get it! I either have diarrhea or am constipated (sorry if that's tmi). But I get those cramps a lot which is normal for me. And my anxiety is directly related to my IBS so when I get really nervous it's no good! Ask your doctor about Dicyclomine. It's safe during pregnancy and it's good for cramping/diarrhea related to GI issues. It basically calms the colon down. Works great for me. Good luck!!
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