Shitting bricks after birth, help!!!

[SleepingWithABrokenHeart]

I gave birth to my handsome little man 8 days ago and on the 3rd day did my first stool. Well come day 6 having a shot feels like Labour repeating itself!!!! Ouuch, anybody know why?

It's quite usual afterwards, your system has been through lots, are you drinking loads? I was advised to use senakot to make things softer, if that is a problem try that or lactulose.

I don't think I drink enough at all to be honest but I'll try that.

My midwife advised me that lactulose absorbs water from the bowel to soften the stools which doesn't help with dehydration obviously.
She told me to eat a spoonful of linseeds on my cereal every day and I found that really helped...
I was taking iron tablets too which makes things even more 'tricky' !

yea it hurts like fuckidy. i think its from all the pushing and straining, plus i think psychologically i put it off, meaning i had a bigger 'job' to deal with in the end IFYSWIM
all you can do is grin and bare it really, and as mirren said drink plenty of fluids.
you have my sympathy though i was there not too long ago, at least not so long ago as to have got over it yet... shudder

I was advised by mw to drink lots and lots of water, and also eat fruit, to soften it all up. It did work for me. Lots of water!

Drink plenty.

I took the maximum dose of lactulose for a few days and then gradually weaned it down.

Pure prune juice helps, it's like a thick syrupy tack but a glass of this a day will def help, it's down the aisle with the long life juices x

I remember the first poo I had after giving birth. It was so painful I had to do it in the "continental style" in the shower as there was no way it was happening in any other position.

Never even told DH I was so mortified.

Movicol is good I've found (took it after abdominal surgery), lots of veggies like cauliflower, and drink, drink, drink.

I agree - normal but not pleasant. Plenty of water and fruit. The other tip I was given that really helped was to sit with my feet up when trying to poo. I used a little foot stool. It just changes the angle within the pelvis & rectum slightly to make it easier.