Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: No, I didn't have IBS before becoming pregnant....

In fact, it all started while I was pregnant! I couldn't tolerate anything. In fact, I lost a lot of weight while I was pregnant because I would get painful gas and D whenever I ate. Then, after my son was born, I think that the lack of sleep/stress of parenthood (even though it is wonderful:)) just caught up with me and I would have attacks that lasted a week a more. I've really found the Acacia fiber to help, as well as drinking lots of peppermint tea and some fennel when I'm extra gassy. I'm not sure if I mentioned this in a different post, but my son weighed 6 lbs 15 ounces when born, which is a pretty normal weight. However, I hardly showed because he was in the womb so deep inside of me! I had to have extra sonograms and whatnot because I was measuring so small and they thought he wasn't growing properly (but he was). So pretty much, that just meant that the baby was so far inside me that he was just smashing all of my organs! I was pretty darn uncomfortable my whole pregnancy. Then, after my son was born and after having several week long attacks, I went to the doctor and had several tests done and was told have IBS. I don't know if you have gone through all of Heather's website, but there is a small section that talks about how pregnancy can be such a traumatic experience for your gut/stomach/colon etc that you develop IBS from it. So I figure that is a pretty good evidence to suggest that it is possible I did develop IBS during/after pregnancy! Also, I've read in several books about IBS that most people develop IBS symptoms starting around age 20. Again, I don't know how accurate that is, because I know some people have it their entire life, but several sources have said such. Well, I'm only 21 now and was 20 when I was pregnant and gave birth, so maybe I would have developed it regardless of pregnancy? Who knows, but that is what I've learned and read from different sources.

Hope I helped! And like you, it's nice to know that we are not the only ones who developed IBS right after giving birth...now I have someone who can relate to the sudden onset!

I've been stable for a few weeks now, but I sometimes feel a little sicker than normal when I'm tired. It really is hard having a baby and getting enoug sleep/controlling stress to reduce attacks. My little one still won't sleep through the night at 8 months! How did you cope with IBS when you son was younger? Or even now! 2 year olds are just a bundle of energy I hear!

Good luck, take care, and I hope to hear from you!

Amber

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