Please help...post c section constipation hell

[amimollycoddling]

Please tell me how to empty my bowel, I am in panicked agony

Had c section on Monday.

Had a small motion on Wednesday and nothing since.

I take lactulose twice a day and have been eating plenty of fruit and veg, and keeping hydrated in an attempt to stop this happening.

I am completely clogged up. I am in agony. It feels like I am literally trying to shit a brick.

I just tried 2 suppositories, one after the other and it didn't do anything.

Please help

I had this. The diahydrocodiene does it. I almost had to pick it out. Sorry grim I know.

I would stop the meds if you can and ask for another painkiller. I really feel for you, it was horrific but it will be ok.

It’s 22 years ago but I remember it well.

Depending on your pain, I would try and switch to paracetamol and ibuprofen. By day 4-5 I was off the stronger painkillers. They bung you up no end.

Can you ask the midwife if you can take magnesium? I find it a gentle but effective way of managing constipation but I appreciate right now you’d probably go for effective even if extreme…

I'd get medical advice but Movicol or any other osmotic laxative like laxido. I know lactulose is meant to be but didn't find it overly effective myself. With a lot of Movicol it draws so much fluid into the poo it makes passing it so much easier. Also red bull can help. Failing that put gloves on and pull the poo out. If you're worried about ripping use coconut oil and put it all over the skin (make sure you have loo roll to hand as when it touches skin it melts and can get messy). Have a bath after you've passed it if you can. I have had constipation from hell and passed things like coke cans. You have my sympathy because it's scary and painful. I actually thought one time I was going to die and was praying.

Sometimes there's just one bit stopping it coming out and if you pull that bit off the poo will kind of shift and then it may come out naturally.

Stool softeners!

I wouldn't add fibre to this personally if it's gotten this bad. It might work for mild constipation but you don't want to bulk it when it's this bad. I'd add fat.

I'm taking dihydrocodeine ... this is your problem. Doctors used to treat the squits with this stuff '''' it will block you up good and proper.

Are you able to reduce the pain relief, or talk to docs about an alternative painkiller.

Talk to midwife - they can give an enema if things get very bad. Or do a manual evacuation.

So sorry you are having to put up with this - this Rock of Gibralter will not be in there forever - there will be a way of getting it out.

If at all possible ditch the codeine, it causes constipation. Ask gp if you can take something else.

I would put some disposable rubber gloves on and use your finger, pull out a bit at a time until it's a manageable size to push from inside your vagina (after taking the rubber glove off obvs )

Last time I had real problems with this I got enemas and had to use 3 before it worked. You can order online, buy at the chemist or ask your gp for a prescription.

I used movicol and it worked a treat. If you’ve already tried dietary changes then you prob need something a bit stronger - movicol.
The other thing to do is smear Vaseline up your bum hole to reduce friction

Take a senakot (it keeps water in the intestines, so not just a case of ingesting more stuff).
Keep with the lactulose.
Sit on the loo and down as much water as you can.
Raise your feet on to a stool.
Drink loads of peppermint tea.
Warm baths might help move things along.

The dihydrocodeine is great stuff, but it does have its side effects.

Once you get things going, keep up with all the strategies because I went on to have waves of this before things got back to normal.

Pint of lager? Depending on whether you are bf I guess. I remember finally shifting something the size and shape of a snooker ball when I finally went post partum. I rocked forwards and backwards on the loo and breathed it out, like a second labour!!

Figs x

You have my sympathies op I remember this well I hope you are able to cut down on the codeine if possible and manage to go, it won't last forever but I remember feeling it would and it's surprisingly scary

My midwife wouldn't let me leave the hospital until I'd had a big poo. Top tip: When you're on the toilet and you feel the urge to push the poo out, feel around your perineum area and you'll feel a big poo bulge- use your fingers to push that bulge towards your anus and strain at the same time. Ive never had a vaginal birth so don't know what it feel like but if it feels anything like giving birth to the poo I did, I'd be very proud!

Don’t drink lots of prune juice, I did that and the cramps were extraordinary…… although that advice might be too late.
More glycerin suppositories to soften what’s there and make it easier to pass, plus an osmotic laxative like movicol. Shit a brick took on a literal meaning for me post c-section. Feet up on a stool, lean back on the toilet try not to strain and breathe it out gently. ( only useful bit of hypnobirthing for me). Breathed out my giant poo rather than my child.

Another thing that works for constipation (not tried post-partum since the fingers did the job) is aloe Vera juice. This one:

https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/aloe-pura-aloe-vera-maximum-strength-juice-60035165?skuid=035165&utmcampaign=shopping&utmmmedium=cpc&utmsource=google&gclid=Cj0KCQiA6NOPBhCPARIsAHAy2zDHOWIRxlxevUczxZsKHmmZSh7dIuB3KWkXKjtr9DQgGTOly0Bps4YaAlEqEALwwwcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Yes I'm surprised you were able to leave hospital without a proper bm. I lost count the number of times I was asked if I'd been!

Movicol, vaseline, warm bath, a walk, step stool to help get into a squatting position, another suppository.

I'd phone 111 tonight for further advice or medication. The longer you leave it the worse it gets!

Movicol.

Sod the figs and prunes, Movicol (or the Laxido brand which is the same but cheaper) will sort you right out.

3 sections here. I went through what you are after my first. The next two, I actually had movicol all the way through my pregnancies as I was on Ondansetron for extreme sickness but I carried it on after birth for a few weeks and I am so glad I did.

Finger or thumb in your vagina - you'll feel the stool through the wall very easily, just sort of put pressure and it'll help - gross but it works!

@Vbree

Yes I'm surprised you were able to leave hospital without a proper bm. I lost count the number of times I was asked if I'd been!

My last section they chucked me out 12 hours exactly after dds birth (first lockdown thing)! I wouldn’t have had time to shit!

I was never even asked if I’d been with the other two sections either.

Sloughsabigplace I was in hospital for a week due to other issues and saw many midwives so I guess that's why I was asked more.

Have you tried movicol with warm water? And also turning the baby bath upside down as a stool and resting your feet on it? This saved me! Someone may have suggested it upthread I didn’t get to read all the responses but wanted to share as I know how awful it is!!!

I was asked but it wasn't a condition of discharge, more just a 'It might take a few days and here's how to help if it does'. I was fortunate though and went before I left hospital with no issues.