Let me start from the beginning. My mother told me that ever since I was a baby, I’ve had bowel problems. I had my first episode that I can remember when I was in the 4th grade. I was in the bathroom, screaming because my stomach hurt so bad to the point it was unbearable. My parents rushed me to the ER and they told me I was constipated. I was put on every laxative you can think of.

Later on that year, I had a colonoscopy and a dr looked at my intestines and my muscles to see if they were working properly. I had to have it done twice because the first time I wouldn’t calm down and cooperate. My muscles were fine, I was just severely blocked up.

Fast forward to November 2016. I had an episode again where I was nauseated, hot, and once I made a bowel movement I was fine and symptoms were gone. Coffee makes me poop automatically and some days I can’t stop going if I continue to eat or drink what I have. I was never diagnosed with IBS but I feel I do have it because certain foods just do not go well with me. Again earlier this year I had a piece of my sister’s baby shower cake. It had whipped icing and ice cream in the middle. Another episode of the same thing.

Now I’m pregnant. I have on and off constipation, and only once I had severe pain that I called my OB and asked what I should do. Took a stool softener and I was fine once it passed.

Can prenatals cause flare ups? Or could this just be a bowel issue I’ve been struggling with my entire life?