Bowel problems are nothing new for millions of moms-to-be. But imagine what it feels like to enter into a pregnancy with a chronic bowel disease. The strains this condition brings to an expectant mother during the course of her pregnancy are diverse. The health of pregnant women with chronic bowel disease should be carefully monitored in order to achieve a healthy pregnancy and delivery.

Similar initials are the only things inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have in common.

Inflammatory bowel disease is a group of disorders that bring inflammation to the digestive tract (which include the small and large intestines, rectum and anus). Symptoms of IBD include diarrhea, constipation and abdominal pain (such as gassiness, bloating or a combination of the two). The exact reasons why IBD occurs in some people are unknown. However, certain factors such as infections, lifestyle and hormonal changes may cause the above symptoms to increase.

Some individuals diagnosed with IBD discover their immune systems react negatively to normal bacteria found in the intestines. This reaction causes the intestines to inflame. People who suffer from IBD experience different degrees of severity and length of symptoms with their condition. Some may experience only mild symptoms and then may go into a remission only to see their symptoms resurface. Others may suffer from severe attacks that only medication and/or surgery can relieve.

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