Going to the loo after childbirth - possibly TMI!

[ng1412]

Hi all, I gave birth a month ago and I am still having problems going to the loo.

I couldn't go for about a week after I was discharged from hospital due to the large amount of codeine I had whilst there. When I did go it was soooo painful, however after that it seemed to be improving until today, I have been in agony again and really suffering as completely constipated. It's not easy going to the loo as my DH is at work and looking after a newborn when you are in this state is just not easy.

I am not sure if this is normal or not. I have always had problems with going to the loo as suffer with very bad IBS so I am not sure if it's just something I have to accept or whether anything can be done. I will phone my GP later for an appointment but just wondered whether anyone has an advice?

BTW my diet is very good and I have been eating lots of apricots and bought some All Bran so will give that a go to see if it helps things move

hosptal wouldn't let me leave until I had a poo. I was in there for 4 days taking lactulose and drinking loads after 4th degree and I was absolutely terrified that I would split again! (have had severe constipation before - traumatic). Was speaking to a friend on the phone when I needed to go, and carried on talking - it wasn't so bad. Told here after - thanks for talking to me through that!! hahaha
Get lactulose, it does help

hospital*

Something else to try is tinned fruit in syrup - it has to be syrup, not fruit juice. Loosens the stool and makes it easier to go. I had constipation throughout first pregnancy and this really helped. Bizarrely wasn't too bad after I gave birth

Hope your feeling better ng and you have gt to the GPs

I went friday after not being able to go for 12 days and he was very concerned, told me off for not going to him sooner and unhappy with MW as I told her I was constipated but she didnt ask how much or how long for. I now have a infection and tear to enjoy after my c-section due to the amount of iron I was prescribed after a large bleed.

Now getting friendly with our district nurse with daily enemas until I have properly emptied

But as far as recovery from the c-section I will only be having more children if I can have another one besides this issue I have been recovering really well.

dried apricots - fantastic!

Poor you, Cowboy!

I went to the doctor on Friday after two weeks of pain and bleeding. She couldn't examine me as it was too painful but I have piles and a tear, both of which I'd guessed. She prescribed Movicol and some numbing cream, and this morning finally things were slightly better. It's so annoying as I think my 'other' tear has healed but I'm still in pain!

Hi all - thanks for the all your advice and stories, cowboylover and stiffybyng, I sound very similar to you both. Been prescribed the movicol which been taking for a few days now, it has made an instant difference but I am still also eating and drinking things to help out.

My fear is that I will run out of the Movicol and then be back to square one, I had been getting better initially after my dd's birth but then suddenly it got worse, so I am a bit nervous it will happen again. I guess I just need to get another prescription from my GP, I fear I have piles too and a tear but no one has examined me yet (have managed to avoid it so far).

Not sure if anyone else has mentioned, but if you are BFing you will need to drink even more water than you thought possible. Try keeping a large glass by your chair/bed to sip at during the night time feeds.

Best of luck.

Poo struggler here too! I had a 3a tear nearly 13 months ago. Still have anal fissures, still struggle severely with constipation despite movicol. (am currently awaiting a referral to a dietician). Sometimes I have to squeeze te loo roll as a stress ball whilst I poo the rock out it's so hard. Brings me to tears a lot even now.

If you call your GPs they may give you more Movicol over the phone. Our lovely district nurse has prescribed me more after coming to give me another enema today.
Apparently it can take the gut and bowel a while to recover from an 'episode' that we have unfortunatly experienced so I am going to have 2 a day to keep things moving reduced from the 6 I was on before.

I am going to have to buy shares in the pharmaceutical company that produces Movicol at this rate.