8 Months Pregnant And Having D Again

[Guest cassidy]

For the last two weeks I have been having D most days and a lot of gas. Since going gluten-free I never have gas, unless I'm glutened. I know I was glutened 3 times during my pregnancy but I didn't feel horrible any of those times so I'm concerned that I could be getting glutened since my bathroom habits are off, but I don't feel bad. It is hard to judge because my body has been acting so differently that I don't know what conclusions to draw.

I never eat in restaurants and I haven't added a new product at all - nothing not cosmetic or food or anything. I never get myself sick at home so I don't know how I could be glutening myself.

Could the D be from my intestines being so smushed? It isn't everyday and it is usually only once a day, but just not normally formed. I'm more concerned about the baby than I am for myself because I don't feel bad.

[Ursa Major]

Are you still consuming dairy? Sometimes people think they are glutening themselves, when in reality they are intolerant to dairy and/or soy as well, which can cause almost identical symptoms to gluten.

Since your symptoms aren't severe, I doubt that the baby is being harmed. Try eliminating all dairy and soy (and if that doesn't make a difference, maybe corn, or rice, possibly eggs........it could be anything, really).

If those symptoms persist after you have the baby, you can do a proper elimination diet. That isn't a good idea while pregnant. Cutting out a couple of things if fine, though. But you can't limit your diet too much right now, and a proper elimination diet would have you cut out too many things at once.

[AndreaB]

Hi Cassidy.

When are you due? How many weeks are you at?

Your D could be from the baby changing positions and getting ready for birth. Could be hormones switching to get ready for birth. Could be some kind of food.

I'd opt more for the preparation for birth. I do know your bowel movements will get softer before you go into labor and can be a sign of impending labor. If you've had D for 2 weeks though I wouldn't think it was that. The book I have says D can be a prelude to labor (1-7 days before).

Keep us posted!

[Guest cassidy]

I'm 30 weeks so I don't think it is a labor thing.

Ursa, I think I have found everything that I'm intolerant to. I have never had a problem with dairy so I would think it would be strange that I have always been able to have it and then all of a sudden I can't. I do have a long list of foods that I stay away from and I usually feel great when I do that.

I'm just wondering now if I was glutened last week and that the D just hasn't gone away. I know the other times it happened when I was pregnant I had D for a lot longer than usual and none of my other symptoms.

I just can't think of anything suspect I could have eaten and my stomach hasn't hurt at all. I hope it just goes away.

[Ursa Major]

Cassidy, the diarrhea from a glutening can last as long as two weeks. So, maybe it is really still an effect of your glutening last week. Try not to worry, sometimes worrying alone (or anxiety) can cause diarrhea! I am sure your baby is fine. And your diarrhea isn't severe, and therefore won't cause dehydration.

[ElizabethN]

I am only 11 weeks along so I am at a totally different stage. But I also have had D, and don't think that I have eaten anything that could have glutened me. I haven't had it since I stopped eating gluten a year and half ago. Maybe it isn't a common pregnancy symtom like constipation seems to be, but it seems possible to me that with all the changes your body is going through that it could be normal. I was reading the book Frankly Pregnant this weekend and the author mentioned that she had bouts of D. throughout her pregnancy. I think she has a website with symptoms and it is mentioned there are well. I just try and eat a few pedialyte popsicles whenever it happens to make sure I still have enough fluids. I just blame it on the hormones!!