Help - I'm so constipated!

[Joygirl78]

I have been breastfeeding exclusively for 7 weeks and I am horribly constipated all this time. I am drinking literally tonnes of water and other fluid, and eating a very healthy balanced diet which includes loads of fibre plus eating high fibre cereal every day. I have tried lactulose liquid, and also fibrogel sachets from the chemist. I am passing stool about once a day, but it is so hard and often like rabbit-dropping (pellets). What can I do? It's painful and uncomfortable and I desperately don't want to end up with piles!!

Psyllium husks.

Looks and tastes like wallpaper paste but works very well.

You aren't taking an iron supplement are you?

I don't think it's to do with breastfeeding! Eat plenty of fruit and veg, drink plenty of water and try psyllium husks, you can get them form a health food shop in either tablet or loose form. Has this always been the case for you? If not then it might be worth getting checked out by your GP.

the Fybogel stuff I bought from chemist is a fibre drink made from Ispaghula husk. Is that the same? I've been taking it twice a day as stated for over 2 weeks. It's a bit better, but I am STILL constipated!!! And so thirsty..,..

not taking any iron. i was also constipated in early pregnancy so wondering if its hormonal. think will have to go to gp. because of the thirst i am worried about diabetes although i tested fine for this during pregnancy

Pregnancy does cause constipation due to the 'relaxin' hormone, breastfeeding does not, dehydration and on a low fibre diet can. Might be worth checking out your symptoms.

Increase your fibre by increasing your fruit and vegetable intake, which means you're eating soluble fibre rather than eating a lot of "high fibre" foods which are often insoluble fibre. The foods people often turn to when constipated, like bran,can actually exacerbate the problem.
Avoid tea and coffee, have oats for breakfast, drink plenty of water and exercise regularly.
Make sure you don't strain when you open your bowels or you risk piles and/or fissures and if it's ongoing and you're still having problems, take a trip to your GP as TheBreastmilksOnMe advised.