I am 29 weeks pregnant and always calling my doctor for something. I figured i would ask the mom's on here. I have been having a green or dark stool which turns into diarrhea as the day goes on. the doctor just started me on an iron pill because i was anemic. just wondering if any of you moms could help me know why or should i be worried. sorry for the TMI just worried.
Most likely the iron pills, but green poop can also be the result of eating or drinking something with a lot of blue or purple food coloring, like kool-aid, or blue moon flavored ice cream.
Yeah, welcome to iron pills ... it is not fun, keep those cottonell flushable wet whipes in your purse and in the bathrooms at home I nearly got an infection from the sub par toilet paper in my workplace. Other than that once you stop taking the iron it will go back to normal.
it's the iron. I always got oddly colored/dark poo when I was on iron pills.
hi, i do think that it is the iron, but I would call your Dr. I called MANY MANY times during my pregnancy and was glad i did. I found out that I couldn't use certain stuff for heartburn and Pepto was OUT of the question. CALL them and ask. That is what they are there for!.It is your health and babys too.
Feel better
I am a midwife. You need to find out if you truly are anemic. Your hemoglobin level normally drops around the 28th week of pregnancy, due to your blood level doubling. This looks like anemia on lab work but it is not true anemia. If your hemoglobin level is 11 or 12 you are ok. If your hemoglobin level is closer to 10 or below then you are truly anemic. If that is the case then the iron pill you are on is not doing anything. Your body is not absorbing it and it does not know what to do with it so you are essentially just pooping it out. You need to be on a good food based iron supplement and take it with foods that contain protein and vitamin C to help your body absorb it. When you are on a good iron supplement and it is well absorbed you should not have any bowel changes.
Lisa
she's right- its the iron...make sure you're keeping up with your fruits and veggies- lots of fiber.... being that prego and getting constipated is HORRIBLE :)
Iron will give you dark green or blackish color poop. However, with most people iron can be constitpating rather than cause diarreaha. Unless the diareaha gets really bad no need for concern. Be sure to drink lots of water.
Most people do not react well to iron pills... Maybe you should try taking it with a full glass of orange juice and keep hydrated and well fed during the day. That may help.
the iron pills definitely cause a dark colored stool. The diarrhea could be unrelated or maybe the iron might just be upsetting your stomach. I know they tore my stomach up after I had to take them following my delivery of dd. Most people get constipated, not me! Make sure you are eating with them!
