Constipation is a form of mental and physical torture.....

[LadyTophamHatt]

especially when pregnant.

Just thought I'd tell you that.

Its a bit surreal sitting here in my office wanting to know how the glycerine suppository is working on someone I've never met...

I think these things happen now and again. Your diet sounds absolutely fine. I was told drinking lots of water is important as well.

Believe me, you will be skipping around like a baby lamb fairly shortly.

Well it wasn't pretty but it sure feels better.
Thanks a million for the support.
Now that I'm cured in the shor term I'm sufficiently embarrassed about discussing such things in public
Doc advised me to use lactulose for next 2-3 days to try and keep regular movements and to go from there.

I am suffering terribly with this. I've always had a sluggish digestive system, despite my various dietary efforts over the years, and pregnancy has made it a million times worse. Basically, my bowels just don't seem to work on their own at the moment. If I didn't take senna I wouldn't go to the loo, ever. Even if I drank 5 litres of water a day and ate a diet consisting solely of prunes, it wouldn't make any difference. Fybogel doesn't make any difference.

I don't like to take senna regularly - I know there are health risks - but it's the only thing that works for me, even though it gives me uncomfortable belly ache and I sometimes have to take it for up to 3 days in a row for anything to happen. I'm at 23 weeks and the thought of this continuing or even worsening until I'm full term makes me want to cry.

lazyemma, is senna okay if you are pg? I know I couldn't take it when I was bf. What about lactulose, does that help?

Senna is safe, but apparently there's a theory that it could cause uterine contractions because it works as a stimulant laxative in the same way as castor oil does. Like all stimulant laxatives it's not great for long-term use because it can make your bowels sort of dependent on it to function at all. I think it's bad in breastfeeding because it can cause diarrhoea in the baby.

Can you buy lactulose over the counter, or does it have to be prescribed?

Okay, that must be very worrying for you. I knew senna could cross into bmilk and make the baby ill, I was actually prescribed some when bfeeding and read the leaflet!

Yes, you can get lactulose over the counter. It doesn't suit everyone but it works for me, I have got to the stage where I thought I'd never go again and lactulose has sorted it. If it gets really bad you can take it every day, although as you say you can get to the stage where you depend on it. I ended up with piles and if you can avoid that, so much the better.

Well 3 days on from that dreadful day...
Have been taking pactulose 2 x a day as doc said to.
Eating prunes as snack throughout the day not just in morning. Extra bowl of bran flakes in the afternoon instead of bikkies.
Drinking 3 L water a day
Still went 3 days with NO action
Today went. was ok THANK GOD
But only just - also TMI alert - twas very pale almost white, is this normal.
Also obv ended up with piles again after monstrous friday. Have been taking anusol suppositories with success wonder if they could cause the paleness
Am far to timid to google it
But doc warns against long term use of laxatives esp senna as makes bowel lazy and dependent.
He said take lactulose for the next week. Then try 5 days without it.
If no luck to go back and he will sort me out something more effective - script only.
Arghhh

Very pale suggests you're not digesting fats properly. (or can do).

Good ds1 had this last week it was bloody awful (the constipation).

Errrrrr prune juice had to buy a bottle yesterday along with a big carton of apple juice to put in it.

Try oats instead of bran flakes.

I used to eat porridge every day until this.
I already have prune juice I find it so sick sweet I put grapefruit juice in it!
The first one was pale - the next one was ok (2 in day = glee)
pretty sure just a temp thing after the upheaval

One thing I did post C-section when I had my troubles was soak a whole load of dried fruit - including a lot of dried figs - and then puree them to a soft, stiffish paste. I would then have that on toast for breakfast, but you could also have it in porridge etc.

MIL swears by linseed when she 'hasn't sat down all day'. Took me a while to figure the euphamism. Also if you raise your feet on a footstool of phone books it can help to push.

OK guys! I've purchased a bottle of lactulose from the pharmacy. What sort of dosage do you recommend to get things moving (but not to the extent that I have an unfortunate accident)

I'd try 10 mls am and pm. IME that could be a bit dramatic when not pg, but when pg that should be okay. Or you could try a smaller dose and increase it. And you'll still need all the fibre etc. hth!

You poor things, it's the worst thing ever.

I had the most terrible constipation & ended up with a thrombosed pile.

I had figure 4

The lactulose is really no good, it makes the poo sludgy & when you are pregnant this makes it even harder to pass.

Get a big bag of linseeds. Soak a TABLESPOON in about half a cup of water & leave 10 mins. Gulp down very fast (it's easier than you think cos it goes all slimey) followed by a pint of diluted juice/water. Take twice a day. Also fill up a 2 litre bottle of water & drink that.

Keep away from too much high foods - just makes the stools hard & more difficult to pass.

Also try & have a soak in the bath each day, helps all the muscles relax (& it's nice).

As much fruit & veg & jacket potatoes & baked are all good !

Hope that helps

Isn't it funny, lactulose saved my sanity when pg and after. I guess it must just be trial and error?

Second the bath idea - if you can get in and out, which by the time ds was due I couldn't!

lactulose I just followed the dose on the bottle 15 mls day and night.

I eat tons of fruit and veg.
I will also try linseed - we used to boil it for our horses, it gave them a lovely shiny coat, so who knows maybe add on benefits.
Lactulose ha not made mine sludgy or hard to pass
It also does not work as a laxative in case you are worried about sudden accidents.
it seems to take a couple of days to kick in and it just adds moisture to your stool, making it easier to pass from my recent (today)experience

I dare not even click on your link... Too scared!

go on ! it'll make you drink even more water !

Glad the lactulose worked for you - please keep away from the bran flakes though - they are just drying you out. Nice soft porridge is good.

Homemade lentil soup, aduki bean stew with quinoa are also 'movers'.

It's so awful when you can't go

Well just been again - fine!!!!!!!!
It's to be so obsessive with bowel movements but boy does it rule your life when it goes tits up.
Think I might make a 3 bean chili for lunch
With baked spud...

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