I was diagnosed with IBS when I was 18. Since then I have strictly controlled my diet by not eating dairy products and other irritating foods. (That doesn't seem to stop my symptoms, but it certainly helps.)
Anyway, I was wondering if IBS makes having children difficult. Vitamins can only do so much, right? I certainly wouldn't want to be responsible for malnourishing my child, but if I eat anything with dairy, I get extremely sick. And during those intense cramping times, is that likely to cause a miscarriage? I live on Pepto Bismal, but I know that it can be dangerous to take any kind of drug while pregnant.
I have a few years before I intend to have children, but I was just wondering how my IBS would affect that. Has anyone out there had children while dealing with this? Were there complications?
Hi, LilyJane. I have suffered with IBS (primarily the "D" kind) for about 20 years. I have 2 kids, ages 11 & 7, and to be honest with you, I don't really remember my IBS being any worse than it would be when I eat the wrong things, or am under stress. Diet and stress are what trigger my attacks. In fact, during pregnancy, I was usually constipated due to high iron content in the vitamins I took. If you're worried about nutrition during pregnancy, talk to your doctor about what foods you have to avoid, and what you can replace them with so that you will be well nourished. My IBS is under control when I'm rested, on an even keel, and don't eat "trigger" foods. So if you know what works for you, stay with it, and hopefully pregnancy will not affect your IBS too much. Good luck to you!
I was worried about IBS and pregnancy ( am pregnant now). I had asked my doctor before hand and they said IBS cramping does not affect your baby or anything, I was really scared about that. I read that most people with IBS do not have it with pregnancy and that is what has happened to me. Like the post above the person mentioned constipation. My dr recommended metamucil which has helped and I saw in a magazine they now have prenatal vitamins with a stool softner. I also do not eat much dairy and was worried. I am taking calcium pills and drinking oj. You can also take tums while you are pregnant which have calcium too. You should discuss this all with your Dr. which may help too.
I was diagnosed with having IBS at the age of 17, and then became pregnant about 2 months later, I did not have ANY cramping or any symptoms at all of IBS while I was pregnant! It was GREAT! I could eat anything I wanted to, without having cramps and such. as soon as I delivered my son, the pains of IBS started all over again, but atleast I got 9 mos of relief with no pain at all!!
LilyJane: I've had IBS for about 20 years off and on. I never had any trouble during my two pregnancies. Things were even a bit better during and after each pregnancy. I looks like that is the general consensus. Good luck. Maggie <IMG SRC="http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/bouncing.gif">
Hi,
I have IBS and am currently 34 weeks pregnant. I have been taking lomotil since the beginning of my pregnancy in very minimal dosages and I stopped taking bentyl. I have found that the prenatal vitamins helped the IBS, because of the abundance of the iron supplement. I have heard that lomotil can lessen a woman's fertility, but apparently not enough to keep you from getting pregnant, since I am. I only take 1/2 a pill per day, unless I'm having a bad day, and then I take the whole pill. But no more than that. There are no conclusive tests on the effects it can have on a baby. Good Luck!
I have had IBS since I was a child and Im now 25 and have 2 children and I can also say that when I was pregnant I didnt have any bowel problems...was great! Afterwards it again came back and stays with me 24/7. I have the C type.
