How did you avoid constipation after c section?

[eandz13]

I had a c section yesterday morning, and am already nervous about my first poo. I haven't been since the day before and I'm usually every day regular, but I don't have the muscle strength to even try to pass gas, never mind poo
If you managed to avoid constipation, how? I had a little lactulose last night and today, eaten light and had mainly fruit. Any other ideas?

You know it's different muscles right?

Eat plenty of fibre (fruit, veg) and drink plenty of water. Try a few times a day if you're struggling and definitely don't put it off.

All standard "avoiding constipation" advice applies

Drinks tons of water and eat lots of fibre. I have a bowl of all bran every morning. Dried fruit also does it for me.
Failing that a sachet of movicol every day

Dried figs.

Oranges work for me,

I was really worried about this but in fact I just pooed exactly as normal. They discharged me with a massive bottle of Lactulose, but I never needed it.

@TheYearOfSmallThings

I was really worried about this but in fact I just pooed exactly as normal. They discharged me with a massive bottle of Lactulose, but I never needed it.

Same, I went before I was discharged and it was just as normal, and the midwife said she was in awe of my bowels (she asked, I didn't just go around telling people I'd done a poo).

I are loads of fibre. Had no problems.

C section constipation requires a serious strategy. Do not underestimate how awful this can be.

First, peppermint tea. Gallons of the stuff. People talk about peppermint oil, too. Second, don’t take a little lactulose, take a lot. And try a senakot.

Water, fibre, prune juice etc. but work hard at prevention because once this problem is established it can be very hard to shift.

PS if your shoulder starts to hurt, it is trapped wind.

Laxidol worked for me.

I didn't have a c section sorry, but everyone said how bad the first poo would be...

DH brought me a massive bottle of smoothie in the shop just for something different to drink that wasn't water or decaf tea. No constipation issues 👌 took the same thing into hospital for after my second birth, and spot on 👍

I was given lactulose and I took it religiously because I was so worried for the first poo! It really was fine, I thought my scar would burn but it didn’t at all. So lots of fibre, water, lactulose if you need some help and relax! Hope it goes well lol x

Dried apricots
Water /peppermint tea
Take the lactalose
Try and relax as much as you can about it. It may not be as bad as you are imagining and being g tense wont help

5 litres of water and some dried apricots did the trick for me.

I had a c-section in Austria and was given a huge tablet to help me poo. Nightmare swallowing the thing.

Turned out it was a glycerine suppository...

Still did the job though

Gallons of water, dried fruit and normal fruit, gentle walking, allowing yourself enough time to relax on the loo. Also flaxseed, about a teaspoonful soaked in water overnight so they go a bit jellylike, it mimics your body's natural lubricant!

I took my lactulose along with my other tablets religiously and I was fine. I was given iron tablets too which are supposed to make you a bit constipated so I made sure I took the laculouse. I've had two c sections and was OK both times.

Lactulose, lentil soup and held my scar. Worked like a dream!

Turned out it was a glycerine suppository...

@eandz13 Hiya, had c sec a few days ago myself. Surprisingly I did number 2 on the third day. It was a bit uncomfortable but happy I wasn't constipated. I was eating light and healthy food, like wholemeal bread, yogurt. I did drink loads of water as Ive found I'm thirsty alot while breast feeding.

I didn’t know about it, until it was too late. It was agony.

I had no problems and it didn't hurt.

Don't panic yet as it is normal for the anaesthetic and pain killers to cause you not to poo for a couple of days.

However... (got this on mn but it's true) eating a whole kiwi with the skin on is very effective. With the added benefit that unlike prunes, bran etc there seems almost no chance that if it doesn't work it will bloat you and make you feel worse. Have three!

T*urned out it was a glycerine suppository...
*
Sorry but 😂

@MotherOfCrocodiles

I had no problems and it didn't hurt.

Don't panic yet as it is normal for the anaesthetic and pain killers to cause you not to poo for a couple of days.

However... (got this on mn but it's true) eating a whole kiwi with the skin on is very effective. With the added benefit that unlike prunes, bran etc there seems almost no chance that if it doesn't work it will bloat you and make you feel worse. Have three!

With the skin on?? Is this a thing?!

That aside - I had two CS and wasn't allowed to leave hospital either time until I'd had a poo; that motivated me! Plenty of water to drink etc and it was fine. Walking down the corridor to the loo was more uncomfortable than the actual event.

You either aren't bothered by this or it is BAD. Sadly I fell into the second camp especially with my most recent section. The agony went on for weeks and was by far the hardest part of the whole birth and recovery (and I was readmitted at 17 days pp with a haemorrhage).

Movical, prunes, water etc. The problem I found was that everything I took in order to make my bowels move also made me gassy and the gas was utter, utter agony. Worse than being in labour and went on for fucking weeks, I almost threw up with the pain and had a sore shoulder to boot.

Never, ever again. 😑

Take a lot of lactulose every day and just see how you go. Be prepared to throw the kitchen sink at it.

Microlax worked for me. Great stuff! 15 minutes and you are done. No pain and no waiting