Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) during Pregnancy?

Currently 12 weeks pregnant - have had spotting for last 5 days (vary between light brown and light pink colour), lower abdominal pain, upper abdominal pain (heart burn), the noisiest tummy in town (so much wind but can't release it), and constipation. Had 12 week ultrasound on Friday and was told the baby was perfectly healthy, no abnormalities, heartbeat 164.

I had been diagnosed with IBS when I was 15 years old and have always had issues with my bowel movements (normally very loose!), so I am thinking perhaps it is my IBS playing up and causing me the pain?

I have a doctor's appointment this week to have it checked out and I was in hospital last week getting the spotting and cramps checked out. I was just told to rest as cervix was closed.

If you have experienced pregnancy with IBS can you please let me know your symptoms and extremity of them.

I have awful IBS. It really acted up badly during the first 15 weeks of my current pregnancy. I am 24 weeks now and it has definitely gotten better. I had diarrhea and bad abdominal pain. Then I would have constipation and feel like I was having menstrual cramps. Then the blow out would come. I started drinking tons more water and it has helped. You can have menstrual like cramps or contractions if you are dehydrated. It helps with the constipation as well.

The IBS may be doing that. My sister has IBD (Crohn's and Colitis), and she experienced a few flare-ups in her pregnancies.

Constipation is also a very, very common side effect of pregnancy on its own.

Spotting is quite normal in the first trimester, especially when you would have gotten your period. I spotted with my first and second at 8 and 12 weeks. Doc said that was totally normal, and not to worry.

I had horrible IBS with my 2nd child i was on the loo 24/7 nearly with me it took around 3years 2 settle down i lost 20kilos. But with baby number 3 i had no IBS what so ever. But i still get flare ups every so often stress fatty foods things like that flare it up. You just need 2 learn what helps & what makes it worse i think being pregnant makes it harder on you. I hope you can work out what helps & all goes well 4 you.