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Irritable Bowel Syndrome During Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be a wonderful time; however, a pregnant woman who has irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can become ever more uncomfortable. Pregnancy causes many changes for a woman and if a woman already is experiencing symptoms of IBS, then her symptoms may become even more painful.

  1. What is IBS?

    • Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition that affects the bowel. According to medicinenet.com, this disease affects approximately 15 percent of people in the United States. IBS usually occurs when the bowel has abnormal function.

    Gender Differences

    • Gender-related distinctions seem to affect the frequency of IBS, with more women having IBS symptoms than men. Women also have more harsh symptoms and typically require medication to control their symptoms. According to helpforibs.com, hormones are the reason for these differences.

    Pregnancy

    • According to helpforibs.com, pregnancy can have a considerable impact on IBS. This happens because when you are pregnant, your hormones fluctuate tremendously. Sometimes these hormones can increase IBS symptoms. For a woman who has never experienced IBS, pregnancy hormones may cause IBS symptoms for the first time.

    Hormones

    • According to helpforibs.com, it has long been suspected that hormones have impacted IBS symptoms. Hormones are "chemical substances created by the body that control numerous bodily functions" (see reference 1).

    Symptoms

    • IBS has many symptoms that affect the body. The most frequently affected function in the IBS disease is transportation of food throughout the digestive system. This can result in vomiting, nausea and abdominal bloating enlargement.

      Diarrhea can be a symptom when the transportation process moves too quickly. If the colon is affected, symptoms can include constipation or diarrhea. Other symptoms include gas and abdominal cramps.

    Considerations

    • If you are pregnant or if you are thinking about becoming pregnant, you should discuss IBS with your doctor. You should especially do this if you already have IBS. Other options are to eat a fiber-rich diet and take stool softeners.

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