Constipation medicine in early pregnancy...

[Joseyjo]

First of all - sorry for tmi but does anyone know what i am allowed to take? Don't really want to pester the midwife/doctor over something relatively trivial!!
thanks

[fisil]

I've suffered throughout this pg, and I don't think there's anything you can take. Drink loads and loads of water, eat loads of salad and fruit!

[Joseyjo]

hmmm. i figured that might be the response. what about senekot? isn't that herbal?

[fisil]

careful of herbal stuff - can be just as dangerous as other medicines.

My favourite cure is going for it very very loudly while dp is within earshot. OK it doesn't ease the pain, but at least you can take it out on the person who caused the pain in the first place!

[Joseyjo]

all so complicated... i only want a poo!!!

[Ameriscot2005]

I think the best thing is to sit on the loo with a good book or magazine...

I'm not one for altering diets or taking medication - I think that constipation is pregnancy is not the same as other forms of constipation and going the ultra high-fibre route (beyond a standard healthy diet) is just going to leave you more uncomfortable.

[edodgy]

Hiya, sorry to butt in but when i was pregnant i was perscribed lactulose medicine for constipation and so was my baby when she was 12 weeks old so i think that's fine to take ring your chemist to check.

[colditzmum]

I also took lots of lactulose, it was recommended to me by my midwife so it should be ok. It tastes very nice too!

[edodgy]

actually scrap what ive just said just looked it up and it prob isnt safe to take in early preg i took it in late preg, if i were you i'd just drink lots of orange juice and have a bowl of bran flakes.

[colditzmum]

Anyway, contipation isn't trivial, it's miserable, mither your midwife.

[DissLocated]

A handful of dried apricots every day with lots of water. Also very good for your iron levels!

[fisil]

apricots didn't work for me - dreadful wind and still the constipation!

[Catbert]

Oh No! Constipation is neither trivial, nor uncommon during pregnancy... I suffered so dramatically during first pregnancy it went on for WEEKS (I kid you not, I kept thinking "It;s all going IN... What the hell is HAPPENING to it all???"... It became such a source of amusement (for everyone else not suffering) with my colleagues at work (vast quantities of prunes every morning, and NO joy...) that some speculated whether I was pregnant at all, and whether I might just be going onto produce a 7lb poo in 9 months!!! Oh har har I said...

Anyhoo - Lactulose did the trick (and sadly, glycerine suppositories, as everything was SO bunged - yeuch). It is NOT absorbed by the body, and therefore makes it safe during any time of pregnancy, and b/f...

Go get some from your GP now!!!

[Joseyjo]

thanks very much everyone!!!!

i went to the pharmacist (don't know why i didn't just do that in the first place!!!) and they suggested that liquid stuff lots of you mentioned, or the senekot hi-fibre drink that has isphagula husk in it. sposed to work quicker than the really mild drink thing. also said drink lots and lots. like i don't do that anyway and then wee for england!!!

anyway situation improved so thank you mumsnet!!

[Joseyjo]

am much better now thank you!!!
fortunately it seems to have passed (as it were) lots of fruit did the trick, and am pooing daily!! (sorry if tmi!)
thanks for all your advice...