Has anyone taken Senokot whilst pregnant?

[AngeloMysterioso]

Sorry for the icky topic but posting here for traffic as I’m getting desperate.

I’m 15+4 weeks pregnant (and also have IBS, so sometimes I have terrible diarrhoea and sometimes terrible constipation) and haven’t pooped since Tuesday evening... I’ve tried eating high fibre food, lots of fruit and veg etc but to no avail. My local pharmacy is shut today and tomorrow but I had a quick rifle through my medicine drawer and found that I have 3 senokot tablets. Just the sheet, not the box. Will it be ok to take 1 or 2? Has anyone else used it during pregnancy? Have had a look on google but found conflicting advice.

I think it’d be better to take a stool softener and up your water intake. That’s the advice I’ve always been given with regards to constipation. It helps with avoiding fissures

I’ve bled a little bit the last few times I’ve managed it so I think that ship has probably sailed unfortch.

Ahh that sucks. I’ve had them and they are not nice. I mix one drop of pure tea tree oil with sudocreme/ bepanthen and apply it to the area. I had a godawful one after not pooping for 11 days after a hospital stay 😳Really helps with healing. Good luck!

Laxatives aren’t really any good, they just clear out the liquid in the bowel and compacted stuff is still stuck.

I just don’t know what else to try, and I’m so uncomfortable!

I’m not a medical person but yes it’s probably fine. I have suffered very severe constipation in pregnancy and was given a lot of laxatives in hospital (and quite high doses) this was all during the first trimester. THe doctors smiled indulgently when I asked if they were ok for pregnancy. They said the only ones to be more careful of ate those that are a stimulant laxative, but that’s only if you have a history of preterm labour.

I have taken Senakot during pregnancy during the first trimester when I got horrible constipation and it did help (although I have a feeling it's one of those over the counter meds that say they aren't suitable to take if you're pregnant) but as you're through the first trimester I expect you'll be fine if you take it.

Good luck - constipation is grim