Bowel Movement's, Gas, and So Much TMI

stwizzy · November 2015

Hi everyone!

This is my first post, so please go easy on me! I searched the 1st trimester board and didn't see anything specifically about this. I am about 5 weeks pregnant and apparently my body can't decide what the heck it wants my bowels to do. In the morning (pre-coffee) I have a loose bowel movement... then come the evening I am having lots of gas and constipation/hard bowel movements. Any tips? I thought about Colace... I thought about the fiber bars... but I'm worried whatever I try will make the mornings even worse! Any genius ideas?

Thanks in advance!

goldie987 · November 2015

Welcome to the fun of pregnancy! I honestly can't give many suggestions because I've got basically the same issue, my bowels just do what ever they want whenever they want and I'm just along for the ride. I've gone from 3-4 bm a day to nothing but deer poop (for lack of a better description) for a few days and back again over and over, no rhyme or reason that I can identify. So yeah, you aren't alone but I can't really offer much assistance.

doozer1345 · November 2015

Miralax for if it becomes really hard or you can't go and Metamucil for daily upkeep of your bowels. GL I've been in the same boat this whole pg!

ETA: I had a really painful bad bowel day not too long ago and the nurse said if it becomes habitual for this to happen to call and they will prescribe me something.

WinchestertoPittsburgh · November 2015

The high amounts of progesterone added to the fact that during pregnancy your intestines will move at a slower pace so that more nutrients are absorbed for the building of the baby, will add to a whole slew of issues with BM's and constipation and gas, etc.

Stool softeners are a safe and effective way to help. When pregnant, we can take one a day and it will help move things along in a more natural way. Other than that, some OB's will say certain laxatives are fine, but they are only a temporary fix. Eating more fiber, drinking a ton of water, and just being patient are about the best things to do, sadly.

Buninthe0ven815 · November 2015

Yep - same situation here: 13 weeks of gas and constipation. :-(
@Sgoldberg247 - lmao @ deer poop. Same here, but I refer to mine as bunny turds.

Good advice, @winchestertopittsburgh. I definitely need to increase the amount of water I've been drinking. :-)

Quitaandlola · November 2015

Totally in that boat too. Although, I would give anything for loose stool! I'm currently 11w2d and I will say for the last week or so it's gotten much better and less stressful on me when I do go. I've been eating a lot of apples & prunes and drinking juice. That has seemed to help me. My best response thus far has been from one Non-alcoholic beer. All the carbonation hit me and it's the first time in months I had to run to the bathroom! I felt sooo good after that. Lol

kalanieileen · November 2015

The first few weeks of my pregnancy I had diarrhea. Then around week 6 right when morning sickness kicked in, I was terribly constipated. I ate a lot of yogurt for the probiotics, peaches, pears, and kiwis. All of which are naturally high in fiber. Up your water intake as well. Around week 11 nearing my second trimester I started having a normal BM once a day. Now that I'm 15 weeks, I'm pretty regular again.

Knottie13257900 · November 2015

I haven't had this problem, but I've had problems in the other end. I constantly feel slightly nauseous and I feel like if I could burp, I would feel better, but it's like I want to burp but I CAN'T. Never experienced this feeling before.

WinchestertoPittsburgh · November 2015

Knottie13257900 said:
I haven't had this problem, but I've had problems in the other end. I constantly feel slightly nauseous and I feel like if I could burp, I would feel better, but it's like I want to burp but I CAN'T. Never experienced this feeling before.

Welcome to being pregnant.

Heybird · November 2015

Glad to see this and I totally empathize! I'm also 5.5 weeks and asked a similar question before seeing this. My stomach has been really out of whack-- my stomach doesn't know what to do anymore it seems-- everything feels off including my appetite. I'm trying to stay away from fried or otherwise heavy/spicy food, which has helped. And trying to drink as much water as possible! Prunes are a great idea, eating sautéed spinach messed me up the other day...it's all a crapshoot right now!

janddpeterson · November 2015

I'm reading a book right now about the importance of Magnesium during pregnancy which has helped me stay "regular". I'm 5.5 weeks. My book also suggests that magnesium supplements should help keep morning sickness at bay.. I think it's too early to tell for me yet. I rub magnesium oil over my belly 2x a day and take a magnesium citrate supplement in the evening to help me sleep!

purplefan1 · November 2015

I was actually excited with my new hormones "slowing stuff down" for me. Im usually going multiple times a day, so once or less was NICE! For the past 5 days though I've gone back to my norm. Dont know if I am eating things that just don't agree with me, if my progesterone has dipped down, or what. Secretly want to go back to being backed up, but know if I switched back to that I would just end up being miserable again for a bit. Just told my husband that I want someone else to carry the baby for a bit, and once we get past the first trimester suckies I will tag back in. (Totally joking.....just wanted him to feel bad for me for a bit)

splsmama2016 · November 2015

I have been SOOOOO plugged up the last month, it's been insane. However, I'd like to announce that I have pooped three times today, and I'm not ashamed to share! I get excited when I can go ONCE a day!
I'll try the magnesium citrate supplements! I drank a whole bottle one day a few weeks ago and it didn't loosen anything

veravera2015 · November 2015

Try going gluten free, it did wonders for me

peregrinefalconx · November 2015

I have yet to get a handle on this myself...I have IBS and prolapse issues so my prob is compounded. My pelvic doc told me to make a shake every morning with kefir (not just yogurt, kefir has prebiotics), kale, fruit and 2 tbsp flaxseed and a refrigerated probiotic. You need a fancy blender. I was also take colace 2x a day, but that makes things too loose I think. The goal is a passable banana-like poo. I would just say that is an art not a science to make a good one. Maybe impossible during pregnancy. I think you'll have to figure out what works for you individually.

splsmama2016 · November 2015

I'm not going GF. Again. Lol. It didn't help at all the last time my dr suggested it to me, in fact it kind of made my stomach issues (not my lack of pooping) worse. I'm lactose intolerant, so after a few days, I find myself eating mass amounts of dairy products to get things flowing, so to speak.

amy6000 · November 2015

I have this problem too and it is super irritating!

It sounds ridiculous but something really helps me is to drink a full glass (8 oz.) of warm water with a tablespoon of honey in it.

I don't know why it works but it does! Plus I feel better with it being natural.

ashleyrobertson0113 · November 2015

Up until a two weeks ago I had non stop loose almost diarrhea like stools. Now I'm on zofran for my HG and I'm super constipated. I've never been constipated before so it's the most weird awful feeling for me. I've seriously only pooped like twice in the last two weeks. It's ridiculous. Definitely going to have to try some of the tips PPs have mentioned! Thanks for posting this!

splsmama2016 · November 2015

@ashleyrobertson0113 I find that if I take my prenatal in the early afternoon (12:30-1) I'm able to at least go in the morning and once around lunchtime. I've also been taking colace twice a day and it kind of helps.

JenniferMasters · November 2015

I'm 4 1/2 weeks and my body really likes to complain like a baby when I have to poop lol I get rippling gas pain that cycles from one side to the other then I remember this is my body warning me it has to go lol it's loose but im mostly on a soft diet due to no appetite

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