Post ELCS constipation!

[BeanCalledPickle]

Help me help me. It's been five days. I've done the usual things like prunes and I've taken a laxative. How many days can I go before this really is a problem?!

Also, any attempts to 'push' are painful. Is there any chance of me actually doing myself an injury or is it just pain and discomfort thatke ahead.

Make me feel better please. Tell me that it took you seven weeks but was absolutely fine when you did go!!

Have you tried lactulose and dried apricots?

Also you won't do yourself any injury even if it may feel like it. Try to lift your feet off the floor when you go (and hang on to a towel rail)- sounds odd but I googled it after my c-section and the position really helped.

Good luck!

My midwife brought me a suppository when I was about where you are.

For my subsequent ELCS, I requested laxatives as soon as I was on the painkillers. And things were much better.

Movicol and lots of it. You can get it free on prescription. It's a stool softener, and since you're so badly bunged it might take a day or two to work, but if you take enough sachets (the maximum for faecal impaction is eight) you'll be OK again in no time.

I'd avoid stimulant laxatives like senna because you'll get awful stomach cramps and passing the hard stool will be agony. You need to soften it all up. Good luck!

Warm water with lemon and try to gulp as much down as you can. Here in the us they give you stool softeners for the first month. Much more gentle than a laxative.

I drank half my body weight in ounces of water during each pregnancy and for the first 3 months post partum. Eliminated issues for me.

I had lactulose from the day after my ELCS and probably managed to poo on about day 4 or 5 without a problem. I would strongly recommend it as it softens the stool so you don't need to push. Also eat lots of fruit and drink lots of water.

Careful though - you will fart a lot, too!

Lots of water means at least 2L per day. Lots of fruit means vegetables too: at least 5 different portions

The seal has broken. I have been to the loo! The farts coming out of me are horrific. The smell!!