TMI warning: advice re post-birth piles and poos!

[beancounting]

Apologies for the tmi, but after having had DD (1st DC) last Friday, I haven't yet been able to do a poo and I'm now terrified about how difficult this will be and how much it will hurt my stitches (2nd degree tear, quite ragged). Does anyone have any advice for (a) encouraging a bowel motion and (b) making it not too painful when it comes??

Second question is about piles - mine were small-ish and not painful during pregnancy but have now ballooned and are more uncomfortable - what do you recommend for clearing them up??

You have my sympathy, I remember being terrified of going for a poo after having an episiotomy with ds! The midwife told me the fear is often worse than the reality which was definitely true for me. I would recommend having plenty to drink and lots of fibre so that you don't need to strain when you go. I also took some fybogel which helped. Try to go when you feel the need as holding it in will make it so much worse. As for the piles, try preparation H, I found it helped soothe my piles and they disappeared after a few weeks.

Congratulations btw!

I cried with fear at the thought of having that first poo after DS! Can I suggest instead of sitting with your body upright on the toilet, lean forward so your chest is close to your knees (if you can manage it), takes all the pressure off. Lie on your side afterwards, if possible. Like Marjee said, lots of fibre. Wetabix, orange juice, raisins, prunes, apples, licorice all have laxative properties.

Loads of water (particularly if you are upping your fible intake) and maybe a spoonful of olive oil once or twice a day (you could mix it with something else to make it more pleasant).

It's counter-intuative I know, but deliberatedly trying to relax while you go might help - if you tense up you make everything less stretchy and therefore even more painful. That helps me when I'm constipated anyway

Almost a more terrifying prospect than labour!! Try holding a thick, folded pad of toilet paper over your injured lady-bits, it made me feel a bit secure and that I wasn't going to strain the wrong bits.

Good luck!

Congratulations! Prune juice, water and pears did it for me. I had piles after both DD's and (I know this is TMI but you did ask) the only thing that worked for me was squeezing them after a bath. It shrinks them. Then lots of cream.
Good luck

Anusol suppositories worked a treat for me. Fybogel works well, keep drinking lots of water too.

Huge sympathies. I had DC1 in February and suffered the same.
I used to hold a flannel wet with warm water against my bits for about a month after, just to ease the stinging. I had terrible piles, they were huge and I truly thought they would never go away, I could barely sit down for about 10 days - but regular warm baths (well, as regular as you can with a newborn!) helped them to shrink gradually.

As for having a poo, I was a wimp (and absolutely terrified) so I just wimped out and waited, and waited, until it was right there and I didn't have to push or strain at all, it just came out. Sorry, that is very disgusting, but it does all go back to normal, I promise!

As Marjee and AHickiefromKenickie said and may I add that if you put your feet on a step (or pile of books) or if you can't sort it, lift your heels so you're on tip toes as this has the effect of opening the bowel so it's easier to go.

I struggled with poos post pregnancy, with my first I ended up running a bath of warm water and pooing in the bath (under the advice of MW when all of the good information here didn't work).

One word of caution, don't become to reliant on medicines to make you go, you're better with fibre and water as you run the risk of losing muscle tone as well.

Hope it goes well.

You could try lactulose and relax as the others say it does help.

Massive sympathies..when DD was born I was miserable with massive piles afterwards...they got so big I actually thought my bowel had prolapsed or something!

I did eventually drag myself to doc & he prescribed something bit stronger than you can buy over counter.They cleared up after about 2 weeks when I used the cream every day & had little hot baths every eve.

On the pooing front..I too, pooed in the bath the first time ...gross, but helps!And lactulose (from boots) really good too to get things moving.
Hope things getting bit easier for you....and congratulations!!

Oh, also you can hire a 'valley cushion' from NCT..makes sitting more bearable!

Thank you all very much for your advice! After lots of fibre and waiting and waiting, I did the raised feet, relaxing (sat and read a magazine to take my mind off it!) and holding a pad of loo roll against the stitches, and it worked! and it wasn't half as bad as I'd expected either.

I'm trying baths, squeezing (eek!) and anusol on the piles so fingers crossed they do the trick.

oh the indignities...

you prabably don't feel much like it right now but walking will help get your system moving again.

Warning - tmi but it made the midwives piss themselves laughing!

2 days after the birth, felt the need for a poo. Off I went, tried to relax etc etc. The only problem was that as all the perineum was a bit swollen, it couldn't 'squeeze' to help. So, there I was with a poo beyond the point of no return, but not quite 'out'. I was desperate, and nearly pulled the red cord.

Fortunately I'd gone to the loo with the bidet next to the loo, and as it was fitted with a shower hose, I used the warm water to try to soften the poo, which seemed to do the trick, even though it took ages.

On the way past the nursing station, I told the mws who said that they couldn't have helped, and offered me an st to press against the muscles in case of need.

I'd recommend lactulose, and wholemeal bread and loads of water, and don't delay going, 'cos that will cause the poo to dry out, which won't help things.

Anusol suppositories are great for piles.