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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

No bowel movements 9 days after birth

59 replies

Element4056 · 14/12/2020 15:36

Posting here for traffic, sorry.
I gave birth 9 days ago and have been constipated since. I spoke to my GP on Friday regarding any laxatives I can take and stated clearly that I am exclusively breastfeeding and need this to be safe as baby is less than a week old.
GP prescribed some laxatives and I send my husband to pharmacy to collect. He double checked with pharmacist if this is OK to take whilst breastfeeding and turns out it is not. The laxatives specifically should not be taken if baby is less than a month old.
In the meantime I have instead been taking fybogel and this hasn't helped me pass any stool.
Waiting on GP to get back to me today with another laxative.
Please can anyone help with any suggestions. It has been 9 days and I am miserable. I have been keeping fluids up, eating prunes etc.
Any laxative suggestions that have worked for anyone?
Thank you.

OP posts:

Icanflyhigh · 14/12/2020 16:18

Syrup of Figs is amazing!

IsFinnRogersDead · 14/12/2020 16:20

Weigh yourself, now.

Then when it all works weigh yourself again.

I baggsy 6lb 2oz on the sweepstake

OlivejuiceU2 · 14/12/2020 16:23

What worked for me was lots of water, eating a couple of pears and movement which was swaying baby in her carrier to get her to sleep! The pressure of baby and swinging my hips did the job!

2bazookas · 14/12/2020 16:23

when I had exactly the same problem after a forceps delivery a nurse friend recommended drinking a carton of pineapple juice (over an hour or two). It worked, no pain and no further problems.

restie · 14/12/2020 16:34

kiwi fruit is pretty good...works better for me than prunes etc

ISpeakJive · 14/12/2020 16:34

I feel ya OP! It took me 10 days to finally dump it out.
Way TMI but it looked like an anaconda!!!

I can't remember what made it move though....

Stripesnomore · 14/12/2020 16:38

Beetroot.

mummyoneboy19 · 14/12/2020 16:39

Manual extraction.

Beebumble2 · 14/12/2020 16:45

Bran sprinkled on everything! Especially nice with fresh pineapple and custard. Magic mixture.

MrsD28 · 14/12/2020 16:54

Oh god I feel your pain - I really struggled after a hideous forceps birth with DC2. I had loads of lactulose but ultimately what worked for me was a combination of:

Glycerin suppositories: Put one in and then leave it for as long as you possibly can - until the urge to go becomes overwhelming. Usually works within 30 mins. You may need to do this more than once to clear everything out.

Manual extraction: Get some germoloids / anusol or similar (they have a mild anaesthetic effect) and then wrap your finger inside a lubricated condom - keeps your finger clean the slipperiness makes it easier to do what needs to be done. May need to do this a few times over several days to clear everything out.

UseOfWeapons · 14/12/2020 16:55

All good suggestions on here, I hope something helps you speedily.

I’d add that if you are straining, try not to, it’s not good for you. However, a so-called ‘potty step’ can be helpful... it’s a step like a low step stool (unintended pun) , you put in front of the loo, and when you take a seat put your feet flat on it, so that your knees are higher than your tummy. It will help to trigger the need for a poo, and is used by some people who have constipation alternating with diarrhoea and have IBD. Gentle message of your tummy (if you’ve not a had a C-section), from right lower side, up to just under ribs, across, and then down the left side may help too.

I’d try using a combination of these suggestions, and here’s hoping you get some relief soon!

Longdistance · 14/12/2020 16:59

Movicol was the only thing that extracted the poonami for me. I was constipated before birth, and then after I had horrendous piles. The movicol got everything moving. Lactulose was useless.

ChupForPresident · 14/12/2020 17:09

I always found this website helpful when I was breastfeeding. The website was recommended to me by a nurse.

www.e-lactancia.org/breastfeeding/lactulose/product/

TheSoapyFrog · 14/12/2020 17:16

I took senokot, syrup of figs and all the oranges I could lay my hands on. It took a while and it was painful. I was sat on the toilet crying for 20 minutes before I went. The poo was massive and i couldn't even flush it away.
You have my sympathies OP.

hansgrueber · 14/12/2020 17:26

I had the same for almost two weeks and because of the amount of internal embroidery I had I didn't want to, er, force the issue but it made me thoroughly miserable but I can't remember how I cured it, maybe suppositories. When I did perform, the feeling of relief still stays with me after 43 years!

ichundich · 14/12/2020 17:31

I recommend eating lots of peppers, apples, pears and broccoli. Hope you feel better soon!

TheLette · 14/12/2020 17:34

Lactulose was recommended to me post birth and worked. Apparently kiwi fruit is a good natural solution.

Happycow · 14/12/2020 17:39

Half a pint of prune juice on an empty stomach, followed by 2 cups of hot coffee and a squatty step!

Good luck...

Simplyunacceptable · 14/12/2020 17:41

Fresh OJ and lots of fresh fruit. My DH made me a humongous fruit platter with melon, pineapple, banana, grapes, orange, berries, mango and I went about an hour later.

Mousehole10 · 14/12/2020 17:49

lactulose and holding a cold wet flannel down there, which makes it easier to push, as well as raising your legs on a step (upturned bin if you don't have a step).

iano · 14/12/2020 18:02

Suppositories and lactulose are totally fine op. Hope you get things moving.
Are you on iron tablets? Maybe check if you still need them

ReturntoSpamfritters · 14/12/2020 18:12

Magnesium did the trick for me for post birth constipation. Any magnesium supplement will work. Also I would recommend Movicol or any of the macrogol remedies as you can take them even for fecal impaction. Suppositories also do the trick. As pp said, cut out any iron supplements as this can be the cause of constipation.

BreatheAndFocus · 14/12/2020 18:18

Another vote for glycerin suppositories! They sound freaky if you haven’t used them before, but they’re not and they work bloody brilliantly and very quickly.

Put one in, trying to get it against the back wall of your bowel. Sit or lie down for 20-40 mins and hey presto!

If things are still going slow bowel-wise, use another one in a day or two. Once things get moving, you should be fine.

Lactulose is safe but takes too long (days) to work. Glycerin suppositories work in minutes.

Stitch9191 · 14/12/2020 18:22

Really feel for you, I had the same problem and it was easily the most traumatic part of my whole birth experience

I tried every home remedy under the sun and most laxatives. Surprisingly what worked for me in the end (after 17days!) was over the counter dulcolax and a sh*t tonne (pardon the pun) of fybrogel (my doctor told me to go up to the maximum amount of 8 sachets).

The doctor was reluctant to give me an enema, not really sure why

Hope you feel better soon x

Original poster

Element4056 · 15/12/2020 19:56

Thank you so much for all your suggestions. I just wanted to come back and say that on some mumsnetters suggestions, I had taken lactulose (two doses yesterday spaced out on the advise of the pharmacist) alongside fybogel and it worked! I managed to have bowel movements this morning and finally feel so much relief! It was honestly making me upset and miserable. Thank you all again.

OP posts:

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