Is a dark green hard stool normal?

Question

I am 36 wks pregnant. Constipated and also have menstrual pains in my lower stomach. Is this normal?

Well they did just put me on iron pills in addition to my prenatal vitamins. So thanks to all of you who suggested it be that.

Answer 1

yes. the color of the stool maybe from your vitamins and constipation and the cramps are coming from both the constipation and the baby positioning itself to come out soon.

Answer 2

before freaking out...think about what you ate. Anything with food coloring can change the color of your stool....I used to put food coloring in my oatmeal...that was interesting later in the day! the pains could be caused by the consipation. Try to take a long warm soaking bath with your favorite scent in the water. With you being that close to delivery the only thing you need to be doing is relaxing! Also, if you're taking anything for pain that can also cause constipation. Drink some apple or prune juice and it should loosen your stool. There aren't many things that you can take while pregnant so you really need to check with the doc first!

Answer 3

Though i am not a female or a doctor, even I can see that this is not normal for you or anyone for that matter. have you tried talking to your OBGYN about this and see what he/she says about it? maybe you can try this website and type in what your looking for. http://www.webmd.com they should be able to let you know what is going on especially since you are so far along in your pregnancy. I hope this helps and I hope you feel better very soon and have a good pregnancy :)

P.S. here are some tips about what your dealing with that I got from this website: http://www.babycenter.com

Why am I so constipated?
If it's any consolation, constipation is a common problem during pregnancy. One culprit is an increase in the hormone progesterone, which slows the movement of food through your digestive tract. And the problem may be compounded later in pregnancy by the pressure of your growing uterus on your rectum. Iron supplements can make constipation worse.
What can I do about constipation?
Here are some tips for preventing and easing constipation:
• Eat high-fiber foods such as cereals, whole-grain breads, and fresh fruits and vegetables every day. Add a couple of tablespoons of unprocessed wheat bran (available at health food stores) to your cereal in the morning and follow it with a glass of water.

• Drink plenty of water — at least six to eight glasses a day. A glass of fruit juice every day, especially prune juice, can also be helpful.

• Exercise regularly. Walking, swimming, riding on a stationary bike, and yoga can all help ease constipation and leave you feeling more fit and healthy.

• Listen to your body. Never put off going to the bathroom when you feel the urge.

• Ask your healthcare provider about taking an over-the-counter fiber supplement or switching to an iron supplement with less iron.

Is constipation ever serious?
Not usually, though occasionally it can be a symptom of another problem. If you have severe constipation that's accompanied by abdominal pain, alternates with diarrhea, or you pass mucus or blood, call your doctor or midwife immediately.

Also, straining during a bowel movement or passing a hard stool can lead to or worsen hemorrhoids, swollen veins in the rectal area. Hemorrhoids can be extremely uncomfortable, though they rarely cause serious problems and in most cases they go away fairly soon after your baby is born. However, if the pain is severe or you have rectal bleeding, call your caregiver so you can be evaluated.

and heres a few more helpful tips that you might want to see from babiesonline.com:

Constipation During Pregnancy
Constipation throughout the first, second and third trimester of pregnancy is a common complaint from pregnant women. Some women, however, do not know that you do NOT have to suffer through it, and that there are things that can be done to prevent it.

Early in pregnancy, constipation is caused by a change in your hormones which can make your digestive system sluggish and often uncooperative. Later in pregnancy, the constipation can be aided by the increased size of your uterus and the baby pushing down on the intestines and inner organs, not allowing as much room for food to pass.

What You Can Do
There are several things you can do to help ease or prevent the occurrence of constipation.

Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated has been proven to help keep your system regulated, both while pregnant and not pregnant. Doctors recommend that both pregnant and unpregnant women drink at least eight glasses of water a day.

Get more fiber. Fiber in your diet will help your bowel movements remain loose and regular. You can get fiber in fruits and vegetables, as well as grains. If you don't feel like you are getting enough fiber, ask your doctor about taking a fiber supplement.

Watch the calcium. Too much calcium while pregnant can cause your bowels to harden and lead to constipation. Try to avoid eating more than the recommended amount of dairy foods.

Keep active. Exercise can help keep your system regulated. Keep up a walking routine, swim if you can, or lift some light weights if your doctor says it is safe.
If you are trying all this and the constipation still is not letting up, ask your doctor or midwife about the possibility of taking extra supplements or laxatives. There may be additional remedies that your provider can recommend to help bring you relief.

again, hope this helps.

Answer 4

She may have an intestinal blockage. Usually when cats have worms, they cause diarrhea, but not always. If she does have worms, most are not visible to the naked eye, they're microscopic. Dragging her tooshy leads me to believe that she may actually have worms, and all cats lick their tooshys, that is their way of cleaning themselves. Keep a watch on her over the next 2 days. If you notice that she becomes less active than usual, or begins vomiting, call your vet again and request an emergency appointment. Bring a fresh stool sample with you to the vet on monday in a ziploc baggy, so that the vet can run a fecal test to look for parasites. If she does have worms, the vet will give you medication to rid her of them. I hope she feels better soon.

Answer 5

someone told me that if you are green then most likely you ate something purple like purple koolaid. I don't know how they came up with that, but someone walked by at the same time and verified it. If you continue to have menstrual pains in your lower extremities, most likely those are braxton hicks or practice contractions for labor. if you have those contractions every ten minutes, go see the doctor! if you worry about it, call the doctor to ease your mind. best to be safe than sorry :) good luck!

Answer 6

Are you taking iron supplements? Anyways it sounds like you are getting too much iron
you should ask your doctor about it.

The constipation could be coming from the iron supplements as well or like someone else said from the baby getting ready cramps can be just from the baby getting in position. But if they get very severe and seem to be coming at regular intervals it could be contractions. I'm sure you've heard it 1000 times but what do they say 5 min. for an hour idk i was never that lucky mine started and 1 to 2 min apart both times. Fast and hard labors.

Answer 7

Constipation happens to most pregnant women. I know some. It is either what you ate or the way your body is breaking down what you ate. Do add fiber to your diet. Plus have your blood sugar check by your doctor.

Answer 8

Well it kind of depends. If you're constipated, make sure you're drinking lots of water, and carefully read the label of any laxative you take, it could make the baby pass meconium. The pains could be from the constipation... I dunno about the green color. You should call your doctor first thing in the morning. And try to relax, get some rest!

Answer 9

Here's an article that's been edited and reviewed by a M.D.:
http://ibdcrohns.about.com/cs/otherdiseases/a/greenstool.htm

Not a concern unless it becomes a regular occurrence.

This is the Best Answer [verifiable] that I can offer.

Answer 10

It's a sign of excess bile which is the result of indigestion. If you have recently changed your diet, that's probably the reason for it. If you have the additional symptom of tingling or itching in your lower back, that's even more evidence of indigestion causing your problem.