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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Help me to poo after my planned c/s!

34 replies

RambleOn · 12/12/2008 01:49

I'm going in for a planned section sometime in the next few weeks. DD was born by em c/s a couple of years ago, and the worst memory I have of it is trying (and failing) to poo for the first couple of days.

The constipation was agony, made worse by the knowledge that my DD was left on her own in the ward for long periods of time. I was also left with piles which I'd avoided through the pregnancy.

So, is there anything I can eat/tablets I can take, that will help? I intend to breastfeed if that makes any difference.

Thanks. (Dontcha love MN where you can unashamedly chitchat about your bodily functions)

OP posts:

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Dttoydto · 12/12/2008 01:58

ooh RambleOn - no help from me but lots of empathy as I've never cried so much as I did when trying to poo 4 days after my em c/s - and I got piles afterwards too, having not had them in pregnancy.

Hopefully someone more helpful will come along soon but good luck!

MotherChristmas2OliverJames · 12/12/2008 02:07

Apparently planned CS are much less apinful than EM CS, i got really bad contipation after my EM CS.

but if you do get it the just eat plenty of prunes and oranges/orange juice.

that should help

good luck

tumpymother · 12/12/2008 02:50

I got terrible constipation after my CS and agree with the prunes and orange juice suggestion although the midwives didn't think that was such a great idea given the effect on DS.I also drank lots of water and ate fruit as well. One thing I wish I had done is taken lots of peppermint tea in with me as even worse than the constipation was the trapped wind. nice !
good luck

JacksFirstChristmasMama · 12/12/2008 03:41

Get someone to prescribe lactulose syrup for you. Take it (about 1 tsp every morning) every day starting five days before your section. Continue with it in the hospital after your section.
Lactulose is a quite gentle laxative, it works by osmosis so it draws water into the bowel and it does not give you cramps.
I had a forceps delivery after pushing for 4 hours. You have never seen bigger haemorrhoids, ever!! I thought if I did a poo they (and my pelvic floor) would explode. So the consultant prescribed lactulose and it all went fairly well. (Well, as well as it can with a huge episiotomy and a million stitches... which you won't have with your section so it will be fine.)
Good luck with everything!!

MadamDeathstarOverBethlehem · 12/12/2008 04:04

I had a planned CS (placenta previa, DTD2 in breech position, cord around DTD1's neck several times). I had very little pain afterwards. They gave me vicadin but I only needed about half what they thought I would need.

A nurse gave me a suppositary 24 hours after the surgery when the drip and catheter were disconnected and shortly afterwards I was able to ahem use the toilet very easily. Actually I had to walk very quickly to the toilet. The first time was the worst because I thought the staples would burst open, but once I realized they wouldn't it was fine.

Because mine was scheduled the OB did a 'bikini' cut which is a very low horizontal cut. I don't know if that was the reason I had very little pain - as opposed to the vertical cut used in many emergency C-sections. I don't have a particularly high pain threshold.

joyfuleyes · 12/12/2008 08:35

I haven't been constipated after either of mine. For the elective I had a very high fibre diet for the week before, with both I took senna (they give it to all post section patients here) with my pain killers as soon as I was back on the ward & I stuck to voltarol/paracetamol rather than anything with codeine in. Getting up as soon as possible really helps too - I had a shower in the afternoon (about 5 hours after the section with my catheter still in) & the next day was up an out of bed most of the time.

dinny · 12/12/2008 08:37

take dc in the loo with you to reduce anxiety!

Jackstini · 12/12/2008 08:40

avoid codeine, ask for the warm milky cocktail that helps relieve trapped wind. (am on day 2 after elcs and waiting myself!)

lauraloolajinglesalltheway · 12/12/2008 10:39

A big bowl of bran flakes every day did the trick for me - I also ate more fruit then usual.

Have you tried just sitting on the loo with a magazine and relaxing for a while?

babypowder · 12/12/2008 10:41

I lay in my hospital bed and ate a huge bag of chocolate covered raisins. Did the trick splendidly!

snowleopard · 12/12/2008 10:44

Although I had an EMCS I didn't have this problem. Might be because I ate lots of chocolate, and also had a jug of water on the go constantly (provided by the hospital and they kept topping it up - if yours doesn't do that, make sure you have a supply of bottles of water handy).

LaSparklyTourEiffel · 12/12/2008 10:45

One of the ladies I used to work with recommended blowing my nose (gently!), to help work out where to poo (IYSWIM), and also holding a maternity pad over your stitches, in the same way as you would to cough or laugh.

DH bought me some bags of prunes in, which I love anyway, they did the trick! Oh, and I had an EMCS but had a bikini (horizontal cut) and didn't find it painful.

I had a gall bladder removal on Monday and after a bag of prunes yesterday, we're back on the move!!!

zazen · 12/12/2008 10:51

I would remember that last time when you were in labour you were not allowed drink anything and this may have contributed to your constipation last time.
This time eat fluid rich foods - vegetables and fruits coming up to the day - I know its difficult as I was just fixated by chocolate cake at the end.
Also have you tried something called fybrogel? It's an orange flavoured fiber rich drink. great stuff.
Oh best of luck with it! How very exciting that you are having a baby!! lovely!!

nowtygaffer · 12/12/2008 10:56

A friend of mine swore by licorice allsorts!

jujumaman · 12/12/2008 11:28

I found having a voltarol suppository sorted me out very effectively after both cases! Ask for one of those.

Lotster · 12/12/2008 15:37

Must second the Lactulose suggestion. I absolutely dreaded the first poo with a perineum full of stitches after my VB. I'll be using it again after my C/S in Feb. Especially as Voltarol/Diclofenac/codeine can bung you up further.

First time, they gave it to me in hosp., and a bottle to take home. As mentioned earlier, by drawing water in to your stools it softens them. Couldn't believe it when after not going for four days it was one of the easiest movements I've ever had, my face was all screwed up in anticipation of agony but it was no problem!

NellyTheElephant · 12/12/2008 21:34

Again - Lactulose. I'm surprised by this thread as for both my sections I was routinely provided with a bottle of lactulose and told how often to take it etc, so I never experienced these problems. I assumed this was standard practice at all hospitals, but clearly not....

oopsIstuffedaturkey · 12/12/2008 21:36

Lots and lots of fluids post CS and when you need to go to the loo you immediately - don't hold on for aything or anyone. the longer you hold the harder it will be to go. Your body absorbs the water out if you hold it in.

oopsIstuffedaturkey · 12/12/2008 21:37

go immediately - no you immediately????

Original poster

RambleOn · 12/12/2008 22:01

Thanks everyone, some great advice here. I was begging for more codeine tablets last time, not realising it would make the constipation worse!

Have a few extra things to go into the hospital bag now!

OP posts:

Lubyloo · 12/12/2008 22:06

DD was 10 days old before I managed to go after my em c/s. Lactulose and fibregel taken together is what finally sorted me out. You can buy both over the counter.

Pantofino · 12/12/2008 22:07

I had codeine and whatever else was going as far as i can remember. Never had any trouble "going" afterwards, though i think I was a bit trepiditious the first time....

cheerytinselcherry · 12/12/2008 22:22

Yes lactulose definatley. Can start before the CS, and plenty of fruit and water. You will be fine!

snickersnack · 12/12/2008 22:23

Glycerin suppositories work a treat. And peppermint tea is good for trapped wind.

mawbroon · 12/12/2008 22:30

Bring a huge bag of dried apricots with you to the hospital.

Full of iron and fibre.

Hold a pillow over your wound when you are trying to go.

I felt like my insides were going to fall out!! But what a relief when I did manage finally

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