Black stool?

[leyash]

I asked the doctor about this today, and he just said that if it persists, I'll need to see a gastro specialist. Was wondering what you girls think, though.

I'm 16 weeks pregnant. Lastnight when I went to the bathroom, it was almost black. SUPER dark. I wouldn't say like, black like a crayon, but dark enough brown to where it's hard to tell. I am not on iron supplements at all, so that's not the cause. I do have hemorrhoids, I think because when I go, there's a tiny dot of bright red blood on the toilet paper, and it hurts down there.

Anyway, no vomiting blood, no horrific stomach pain. Though, I am getting over a UTI/possible kidney infection, and there's been pretty frequent pain on my right side, above my hipbone, below my ribcage. Kind of in the kidney area, as it hurts into my back as well.

Have also been REALLY constipated. When I went yesterday, I'm pretty sure that's the first time I'd gone in 7 days.

Any ideas?

[babyrosie]

Have you taken any pepto bismal in the past week? It turns your stools black.

[leyash]

Originally Posted by babyrosie Have you taken any pepto bismal in the past week? It turns your stools black.

Nope. Tums, though.

[Urchin]

I don't know if the pain you're having is related, but I had the exact same pain when I had hydronephrosis during my pregnancy. My ureters were blocked by the baby/uterus. It was misdiagnosed as a few things (stones, etc) before an ultrasound showed what was going on.

Dark stool like you're describing may mean that you're bleeding higher in your digestive tract. Since it's black, the blood is old, which is concerning. I would ask your doc for further testing on both issues!

[leyash]

Originally Posted by Urchin I don't know if the pain you're having is related, but I had the exact same pain when I had hydronephrosis during my pregnancy. My ureters were blocked by the baby/uterus. It was misdiagnosed as a few things (stones, etc) before an ultrasound showed what was going on. Dark stool like you're describing may mean that you're bleeding higher in your digestive tract. Since it's black, the blood is old, which is concerning. I would ask your doc for further testing on both issues!

I would think if I was bleeding higher in my digestive tract, I would be vomiting it up, no? I still have a touch of morning sickness, and throw up several times a week, though not every single day, and there's no blood in it.

Also, when I lay on my back, my uterus is SUPER low... the pain seems way too high to be my ureters. I also had an ultrasound a week ago when I went in for the pain, and they didn't note anything. :/

[leyash]

I should say, as well, that this has been only one bowel movement. The one before (on Monday, the 12th, was cardboard colored, or a little darker - normal color, I guess.

[ktktbird]

I don't want to scare you, but if it continues to happen you should get it checked out. I have ulcerative colitis and what you are describing are some of the symptoms. That being said, I would wait and see if it happens again and not worry too much about it. They would probably want you to have a colonoscopy but you can't do that until you aren't pregnant anyways. Your body does crazy things when you are pregnant! Hopefully it's just being a little wacky! You can pm me if you have more specific questions. Hth!

[an_aurora]

Are you taking iron supplements?

[greencrunchymama]

Have you tried adding some probiotics in your diet? That can help with constipation. Also, make sure you are drinking enough water.

[snugglesnsunshine]

Iron supps was my first thought, too.