to just want a STRAIGHT ANSWER so I can stop worrying about Movicol in pg?

Thanks for your reply.

GP also said it’s fine and midwife didn’t say otherwise either, but have been still a bit worried although info I found also say it’s not absorbed in the bloodstream and that explosure is negligable. I have IBS and have been on maintainance dose for years now. Currently 9 weeks pregnant.

Movicol is fine during pregnancy. It's not really absorbed from the bowel

Hello,

I appreciate it’s an old thread, but was wondering if you or anyone else would who’s been taking movicol in pregnancy could tell me
if it affected their pregnancy/ baby at all?
thanks so much
Anna

I Hello
I was extremely happy to see your post. You are just describing my case . No one would never understand what we are going through although it might be something to live with for the rest of our life
I am 4 week pg and on Movicol . Please tell me . Did it affect your pregnancy and hows your child? Any affect on him/her?
Waiting for your kind response

Hello
I was extremely happy to see your post. You are just describing my case . No one would never understand what we are going through although it might be something to live with for the rest of our life
I am 4 week pg and on Movicol . Please tell me . Did it affect your pregnancy and hows your child? Any affect on him/her?
Waiting for your kind response

The whole point of movicol is that it is kept in the gut, and not absorbed into the body. So your baby should be fine. The leaflet will indeed say it isn't advised. Drugs companies are scared rigid of testing anything formally in pregnancy, so the trials will have been in non pregnant people, so they are not going to officially say it's fine. But movicol has been around for a good few years now, and is used incredibly commonly. So if it had a significant effect on babies it ought to have become very apparent. It hasn't. So noone can say it's 100% safe, but I'd be gobsmacked if your baby was affected.

Also, UKTIS (where I work) have set up a registry to collect information about pregnancy outcomes from women who have used medicines (and also women who haven't) . If anyone is interested in participating, please see www.medicinesinpregnancy.org

Here is a leaflet on treatments for constipation in pregnancy. Hope it helps. www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/medicine--pregnancy/treating-constipation-during-pregnancy/

Fuck that's annoying

I may be making this up but I'm pretty sure I went to the GP's a few weeks ago (cold sores on and up nose,pharmacist refused to sell me the cream) and because I was wanting meds he checks some fairly new data base done by who ever it is that collates all e yellow reporting cards and other stuff inc the reporting systems surrounds baby related issues when the mother has been on medication, but this is specific to pregnancy.

But I cannot for the life of me remember what he called it.

Ahhhh did not notice it's a zombie thread. Annoying

Zombie thread from 2012.
Even elephant pregnancies don't last this long.

Haven't read the whole thread so not sure if someone else has suggested this already but the UK Teratology information service is a DoH funded service that gives advice on the safety of drugs in pregnancy. They have an information sheet for macrogols (Movicol)www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/Medicine--pregnancy/Macrogols/

I did not take movical but had to take tramadol for fibromylagia which effects have not been proven in pregnancy.
My GP and consultant and most of the midwifes saw that I had to take it as was in so much pain. One midwive went batshit crazy and me and told me my baby would have withdrawal and be behind developmentally etc.
My DS was born fine no withdrawal and all and he is ahead of all his targets.
Listen to your doctor not your midwife when it comes to medication

I had it in this pregnancy, prescribed by an obstetrician and I assume they knew what they were doing. In your situation I absolutely would take it - midwives really don't know much about drugs compared to drs.

Movicol is SAFE to use during pregnancy - I phoned the doctor and asked. It doesn't enter your blood stream. Just drink plenty of water. annakwriter.wordpress.com

Phoned doctor. Absolutely fine to use during pregnancy. Doesn't enter blood stream and totally harmless. Just make sure you drink plenty of water.

james thankyou. we are mostly taking movicol and know it to be effective. The link you have provided is to information provided on the box. It only says to speak to your doctor before taking it in pregnancy. No information about it being harmful in pregnancy.

"it can cause a problem to the embryo if taken in excess". Please can you direct me to further information on this, as this in my opinion would rather rule it out as being a "nice" laxative in pregnancy. What are the problems and how much is excess?

Couple of things:

1. Are you referred to a consultant obstetrician? If not then you need to be - he/she can discuss your management with gastro and decide best course of action.

2. One of your local hospital pharmacies will be able to give a report on the use of movicol in pregnancy though I think it will be a bland 'if the benefits outweigh the risks' and 'there are no definitive studies to say it is safe etc, etc...' I do not think you will get a definitive answer.

3. Peristalsis is reduced in pregnancy and iron supplements could make it worse hence the comments that it might get worse... sorry to say.

4. Laxatives have always been viewed with caution in pregnancy because anything that stimulates the gut could, theoretically stimulate the uterus in later stages as they lie close together and cause irritable uterus (where it tightens and causes period-type pains) or even prem labour.... however I would argue that your use of movicol returns your gut movement to normal and that the problems occur when we medicate an impacted constipation by overstimulating peristalsis.
   Constipation IS treated in pregnancy but gently and your normal every day edication is more than would offer to the average pregnant women. However the average pregnant woman does not have the gastro problems you have.

I think it's important yo stay on top of your constipation to avoid needing to have enemas, etc and as such I would go with the gastro advice at this stage but give the pharmacy a call just to make sure there is no specific caution in pregnancy.

I wouldn't worry about this. I was prescribed movicol (as well as loads of other drugs and various different laxatives) by the hospital earlier in this pregnancy. I had severe hyperemesis which itself causes constipation, added to which I was on the max dose of a nasty antisickness drug which essentially paralyses your colon. My constipation was so bad that the only thing that worked was either the 'impaction' dose of movicol (I think it was 8 or 10 sachets at once in a litre of water) or an enema. They did an enema in hospital and sent me home with the movicol. They seemed unconcerned with these pretty extreme measures and in hospital they were clear that the severe constipation needed sorting out, whatever it took. Hope that helps.

I was prescribed movicol during my recent pregnancy from about 24 - 30 weeks as I was very badly constipated due to taking iron supplements. My consultant was clear that it wouldn't pose any risk to the baby and would provide great relief to me (as it did). Two week old DS seems quite content, happy and healthy

Hope that helps reassure you.

I have slow transit constipatipn too and I took movicol throughout my last pregnancy with no problems. I was advised to drink lots too my gp admitted that they didn't really know the effects but said it was so gentle she was. confident it would be fine .