What's more important?

My history: as my remission progressed (and it has been slow but mostly forward) my stools got more solid and like you increased in number. That could have been because I was eating more fiber (nuts, Citrucel, carrots) but I also think that although the D decreased my colon was still not slowed down enough to process everything as well as a healthy colon.

Bottom line: more output.

Now the BM # has decreased and my diet has stayed the same. Healthier (slower) colon, processing more nutrients is my thought.

I think you are fine and shouldn't be concerned with BM #'s. It could be your new "normal" or it may decrease in the future.

Sometimes it takes awhile to be able to control the urge even with solid stool.

thanks for the responses. Unfortunately this morning, I noticed a very small amount of blood. :( Last night I woke up a few times with really bad cramps - i've never had UC before and I've never been pregnant before so I'm not really sure what to attribute the cramps to.

I do have internal hemmies that were never actively bleeding before and they could be now - or it could be the start of the something. I just don't know.

I have been going 1-2 times in the morning and 1x at night. I'm interested to see how today goes. This is up from once in the morning only and sometimes once at night.

I called my dad this morning because I got scared that I saw the little bit of blood and he sounded irritated with me for getting worried already. But it is scary!! Luckily I have an appt today with the high risk ob and on Friday I have an appt with my GI so I can let him know.

I am definitely going to go back to every night with the Rowasa. Maybe now the GI will give me some oral meds too!

I'm so scared of flaring again and I'm not sure why exactly. Flares come and GO - I need to remember that they will GO. 6 more weeks until my due date. I've read that flaring during pregnancy increases the risk of preterm labor. I'm just glad I am near the end...

The cramping very well could have been Braxton Hicks contractions. They can be pretty strong.

As for delivering early, my son came three weeks early. I wasn't diagnosed until he was 3.5 months old, and despite what my sig says, I think I might have been mildly flaring for most of the pregnancy (I was NEVER constipated, and had some loose poop issues). I think that even mild UC can lead to early delivery, but I haven't seen any stats on tthat.

Given that you're 34 weeks, your baby will very likely be ok, even if you happen to deliver now, so don't worry too much about that. My kiddo came at 37 weeks (exactly, so he was very close to being labeled premature) and he did just fine. He was readmitted at a few days old due to jaundice, but I blame the hospital for not catching his rising bilirubin levels before we were discharged for that.

And your preparation/knowledge/experience will serve you well for after the baby is born, because it'll be stressful enough with hormonal ups and downs too.
Maybe after birth things will quiet down UC-wise...that would be a bonus.

Remember too that constipation can be low inflammation...so still keep an eye or use an extra enema here and there on the days that seem more distressed butt-wise.

q