Help! Too much lactulose!

[Patience1990]

Have been so beyond uncomfortable for the past few days with constipation. Already drink so much water, go walking and eat plenty of fibre but am 30 weeks now and it's gone to the next level.

GPS were closed today so called pharmacist and they advised lactulose. Picked this up. Dosage wasn't clear in the bottle and recommended 45ml. I didn't realise this was supposed to be taken in three doses throughout the day. I took it as one dose and have only now realised several hours later.

Am so beyond stressed that this will harm baby in any way. Can anyone help or anyone know anything of this?

[dementedpixie]

It will not harm your baby. Has it made anything happen yet?

[Patience1990]

@dementedpixie I took it at about 2:30 and have already gone and feel so much better in that department.

Just feeling very bad for jumping the gun dose wise and stressed right out. Hoping it won't have any adverse effects on baba. Doesn't help that I have terrible health anxiety for her. What was I thinking?!

[MonkeyPuddle]

It won’t hurt baby. It basically draws more water into your bowels and therefore softening your poo so it’s less like trying to pass a big hard rock.

[Kolo]

Pretty sure lactulose isn't just sugar? There's a number you can call to find out toxicity of things, though. I did something similar when I was pregnant and drank something absentmindedly thinking it was gaviscon. I called the number (12 years ago, think it was 111 back then) and they checked the toxicity and I was fine.

But I wouldn't worry about lactulose. Think it's sugar which is intended to draw water to your bowels to soften the stool? My baby boy was prescribed it when he was very small so can't be very toxic? (Note: I've no medical qualification, just using logic - call someone)

[Bringonspring]

You won’t hurt your baby xxx

[Spam88]

Can you not take it as a single dose..? The bottle just says how much you can take in a day doesn't it - I assume it's fine to either take it in one go or split it, otherwise it would specify.

That said, I just swig it from the bottle...

[Inkpaperstars]

On my bottle it suggests the dose can be taken either as one full dose, or split into up to three doses.

[Notsoblonde]

Sorry, posted in error ^^ ypu might get a bit if cramping and farting but nothing serious.

[Inkpaperstars]

Just seen how quickly it worked for you OP, heck I might take the full dose as one tomorrow

[MonkeyPuddle]

To be fair, when I was 4 days postpartum after a section and still hadn’t done a poo I was utterly desperate. I necked half the bottle. Sweet relief.

[Patience1990]

@Inkpaperstars haha yeah it's definitely got things moving in there. The noises coming from my tummy were so loud.

If I wasn't pregnant I wouldn't be worrying so much about it.

[Fefefe]

I've just been prescribed this and its 3 5ml doses, twice a day. They gave me a wee measuring cap so I've just taken 15ml morning and night. I figured if twice a day then taking 3 spoonfuls at 5ml at the same time is the same as 15ml in one go.

To be fair I dont think the instructions are the clearest!

[SadAndPregnant]

Only reading your thread have I realised I didn't read the bottle properly tonight. I'm in the same situation as you OP but yet to go 😭

[MrssC92]

I was given this after birth and I was told by the midwife that I could take as much or as little as I needed until I found the dosage that worked for me because it wasn't actually a medicine (ie the ingredients are purely sugar etc and doesn't contain anything harmful).

[allofthetings]

100% can't hurt the baby.
Baby is tucked away on a separate system.
It might get messy though!