Help me get my bowels moving? Desperate

[meltedgalaxy]

Hi,

I've posted about this before pre-pregnancy. I'm suffering yet again with constipation. I'm 10+2 and I look about 20 weeks because I desperately need to go.

I haven't been for about a week, my daily diet is really balanced.

Is there anything I can take? I'm isolating at the minute and can't get anyone to go the shops but I can order online.

I have lactulose in but I'm not sure if it's pregnancy safe?

Does it get better :( I've been pregnant before and I don't remember suffering this much

I feel so full and sick

Lactulose is fine. I’ve been given it in pregnancy.

There are lots of over the counter medicines your local pharmacy will stock them. Eat plenty of fibre, weetabix veg and stay away from processed foods. Drink lots of water

You need to drink so much more water than you think. My advice, chug 2 pints of water (or squash) and go for a walk. Staying hydrated is the single most important thing.

Coffee
Porridge
Prune juice
Lots of fluids

Get some glycerin suppositories. From the chemist or the supermarkets do them. They will give immediate relief and get things moving at the bottom end then carry on with the other suggestions re more water etc.

Prune juice.

I use flaxseed (linseed) to help things along - make sure it's the milled stuff - not like flour, just broken grains. One or two tablespoons a day are quite nice stirred into something like yoghurt. Pretty sure Tesco sell it.

Prune juice!

Hot sweet coffee, alternated with ice cold water..sip of one , sip of other and so on
I really sympathise, I've been like this all my life .
I currently take macrogel sachets most days , but they have to be prescribed by your gp I think. ( not sure about pregnancy safe but you can call the surgery)

I found fibergel worked well for me. Got it when I was put on iron tablets in pregnancy.

Pears and prune juice. Or you can cook stew some prunes and then eat it on bread or toast like jam.

Pulses (baked beans) bread with seeds in, fruit like citrus if you can

If all else fails, suppositories to ease movement and movicol to get things moving.

Prunes!!
All bran

Whatever happens try not to strain, and also pregnancy plays havoc with the small blood vessels around your bum, so if you pass a large stool don't be alarmed if you see blood.

Good luck!

liquorice
Only takes two hours and with a small piece.

As pp have said, lactulose and Fybogel are both ok to take in pregnancy. I took both. Make sure you drink plenty of water with them. I’d start with the max dose to get things moving.

I wouldn't do coffee if pregnant!

You could try chilli, that might give you heartburn but needs must.

Obviously the natural option is prune juice.

I had this in pregnancy, from taking a pregnancy multi vitamin, it had iron in and iron bungs me up. Lots of hot tea and pacing up and down, from one end of the house to the other sorted it. Hope you find relief soon.

Prunes.

Tesco do soft liquorice.

Lactulose is perfectly safe.
Movicol every day is better.
Prunes and porridge daily and lots of fluids.
If you are blocked up with hard poo you will need glycerine suppositories.
Allbran and muesli/ granola make blockages much, much worse as they set like concrete in your bowel.

Doing pelvic floor exercises always help me to get things moving down there.
Try doing them and holding them and really try to suck your stomach in as you do them. Repeat as often as you can

I'm having issues due to taking codeine which has constipation as a side effect.

I've trebled the amount of water I drink to about 8-10 glasses a day (on top of 4 hot drinks) and I'm eating a generous helping of stewed plums.

In addition I'm also reducing/avoiding foods known to bind stools, high fat being the worst offender.

Taking this action has returned me nearly to normal.

I've had the same problem recently, partly due to sickness medication I'm on foor HG.
The thing that worked for me believe it or not was kiwi fruit! I statted having a couple a day and its made a big difference.
Also a few dried prunes a day.

Grapefruit juice and strong tea got me going in pregnancy. The suppositories are very good too.
Fibre binds me up.