Constipation after childbirth

[2gd2btrue]

TMI obviously..

DS is 10 days old, I was fine immediately after birth but the past 4 days I haven't been able to poo. I keep getting the urge to go but nothing is coming out properly and I'm beginning to get emotional and panicky.

I have a 2nd degree tear which I'm worried about opening up/tearing stitches, it just hurts. I'm now getting stinging pain down below. I've not eaten anything today as I don't want to keep dumping more food on top of the blockage.

I tried a senakot max strength last night but it did nothing and DH went to the pharmacy to get me movicol (it worked in a previous pregnancy) and suppositories (they didn't work before but hoping they would now) but they wouldn't give him both and they said they didn't have movicol but fybogel was the same thing. The NHS website says it isn't the same thing, it adds fibre not water. And you need to take it after a full meal which I can't eat anyway.

Everything seems to take 3 days to work and I'm really panicking about being like this for longer. I just want to be in bed and sleep as then I'm not thinking/feeling anything which means I'm the world's worst mum/wife at the moment. I just want my body back.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks

I had a 3rd degree tear and episiotomy with my first and didn't go for well over 7 days. All the oral laxatives were useless. Glycerine suppositories really helped and as previous posters said a pad over the perinium.

With babies 2-4 I've had a second degree tear each time but have always had the suppositories on hand in case, because it is psychological (for me) as much as any thing.

I was told to try and poo in the bath so fill it half way ish, not my finest moment but it bloody worked. I joke now i got a water birth in the end just not for the baby 😂

Also I find it’s easier if you start trying to poo while standing up it can release some of the gas and help the poo move to the exit. Also recommended manually removing some, If you can get some of the hard bits out yourself it can make it less painful to push out. I have hyperemesis and the anti sickness tablets make you awfully constipated so I’ve had a few encounters in this second pregnancy.
I know with laxido you can take I think up to 6/8 in around 6 hours for compaction. That could help you! (Check the box I’m not 100%). Good luck i struggled terribly and it made me panicky and anxious like you, it will pass I promise!! X

I do have a stool but never heard raising my arms too, will have to try that.

I did a normal sized, if painful, poo finally! to say I did try in the bath and standing up and then had to remove some myself last night bit by bit. I was desperate and would've gone anywhere at that point!

Hoping the worst is over but I'm definitely going to get the suppositories incase it happens again and get the oral laxatives to make it a bit softer for now. Thank you all

@2gd2btrue I did something similar to you after DS was born. First poo was fine and then I kinda forgot to think about it, combined with completely losing my appetite!

My GP prescribed Laxido which is a powder that you dissolve in water. It's far gentler than lactulose and I just took one sachet in the morning and one in the evening. It didn't make me go but just kept things moving along if that makes sense. I probably used it daily until I got my appetite back and things started moving better again. The key was to take it whether I had just been or hadn't been for a couple of days as it was quite gentle.

Looking over your right shoulder can help too. I had to remove some for a few weeks before things got ok again. I'm still not sure things are 100% back to normal but they're 100x better than they were

@2gd2btrue

I do have a stool but never heard raising my arms too, will have to try that.

I did a normal sized, if painful, poo finally! to say I did try in the bath and standing up and then had to remove some myself last night bit by bit. I was desperate and would've gone anywhere at that point!

Hoping the worst is over but I'm definitely going to get the suppositories incase it happens again and get the oral laxatives to make it a bit softer for now. Thank you all

Delighted you’ve managed to go! Hoping the laxatives keep it easy for you whilst you return to normality!