Article

IBS Symptoms During Pregnancy: What You Need to Know

Published on Tuesday, April 12, 2022
by Emily Hamm

Health & Wellness

IBS Symptoms During Pregnancy: What’s Normal and What’s Not?

Have you started having different gastrointestinal symptoms and recently become pregnant?

Are you wondering if it is Irritable Bowel Syndrome? Let’s talk about it.

Unfortunately, many women experience changes in their gastrointestinal (GI) tract during pregnancy. Symptoms can include nausea, reflux, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea.

These symptoms can come and go—and sometimes alternate. One week you may feel constipated, and the next you can’t get off the toilet.

Why Do GI Symptoms Change During Pregnancy?

Research suggests that hormonal shifts and physical changes are the primary drivers of gastrointestinal symptoms during pregnancy.

As your body adapts to support your growing baby, several mechanisms can impact digestion:

Luteal hormones may increase constipation and slow gut motility
Progesterone slows peristalsis (the muscle contractions that move food through your GI tract)
Estrogen can affect communication between the brain and gut (your gut-brain axis)
Relaxin helps prepare your body for delivery, but can also slow digestion or impact bowel control
Sex hormones may increase gut sensitivity, making certain foods feel less tolerable
Mast cell activation and stress may contribute to symptom flares

These overlapping factors can make pregnancy symptoms feel very similar to IBS—or worsen existing IBS symptoms.

Is It IBS or Just Pregnancy?

This is where things can get tricky.

Because symptoms overlap so closely, it’s not always easy to distinguish between IBS and normal pregnancy-related digestive changes.

If you had IBS before pregnancy, you may notice:

Fluctuating symptom patterns
Increased sensitivity to certain foods
More noticeable gut-brain interactions (stress → symptoms)

If symptoms are new, your provider can help rule out other causes and determine whether IBS may be part of the picture.

What About Diet Changes Like Low FODMAP?

There is currently limited research on IBS treatment during pregnancy, as most studies exclude pregnant individuals for safety reasons.

While dietary strategies like the Low FODMAP diet are effective for IBS in the general population, strict elimination diets during pregnancy can increase the risk of nutritional deficiencies—especially for key nutrients like folate.

Because of this:

It may be best to hold off on starting strict elimination diets during pregnancy
If you are already following a Low FODMAP diet and it is well-balanced, it may be safe to continue under professional guidance

Working with a registered dietitian (RD/RDN) can help ensure you’re meeting both your needs and your baby’s needs.

Low-Risk Ways to Support Digestive Health

If you’re dealing with GI symptoms during pregnancy, there are several gentle, low-risk strategies that may help:

Stay hydrated (aim for ~64 oz of fluids daily)
Limit excess sugar and artificial sweeteners
Reduce foods that commonly cause gas and bloating (like beans, cabbage, onion, and garlic if they trigger symptoms)
Include probiotic-rich foods such as yogurt or kefir (if tolerated)
Engage in regular, light physical activity like walking (as approved by your provider)

These approaches can help support digestion without overly restricting your diet.

The Bottom Line

Digestive symptoms during pregnancy are common—and often driven by hormonal and physical changes happening in your body.

While these symptoms can feel similar to IBS, it’s important to approach management carefully during pregnancy to ensure both maternal and fetal nutrition needs are met.

If you’re unsure what’s normal or how to manage your symptoms, reach out to your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian for guidance.

_{Moosavi, S., Pimentel, M., Wong, M. S., & Rezaie, A. (2021). Irritable bowel syndrome in pregnancy.}_{The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 116}_{(3), 480–490.}_{https://doi.org/10.14309/ajg.0000000000001124}