Bowel movements not right since birth 18 months ago

[SB1712]

Just that really 😥
I used to be really regular with toilet habits pre pregnancy. I suffered with slight constipation during pregnancy but nothing that I remember as being horrendous. After giving birth it was like a switch, I just really struggled going the toilet and with constipation.

I had a ventouse delivery and an episiotomy, I had quite a few stitches and my piles were horrendous for weeks after birth.
They eventually healed and although they do reoccur a lot they’re nothing like those hideous ones after birth 😫sorry TMI!

Has anyone else had anything similar this long after birth? I don’t have days and days where I don’t go, it’s more that they’re uncomfortable and like little rabbit 💩
Never been good at drinking a load of water but trying to make a conscious effort, and to improve my diet too.

I have some health anxiety and I have been pushing it to the back of my mind. Should I worry?

I read something last year about a study that concluded the best cure for constipation is 2 x kiwi fruit a day -including skin. It’s soluble and insoluble fibre. I saw a Dr on TikTok talking about it the other day too.

If you don’t drink much that could be why they are little dry rabbit poo but you do need to consistently eat fibre rich foods for good bowel health, it helps move things through, so any improvements you can make diet wise will help.

If you think post birth is bad, wait until menopause! All you ever hear about is hot flushes but constipation is really, really common.

Yes! I struggle to poo a lot 2yrs on without a high fat meal or few glasses of wine 😕

A squatty potty or similar might help you. Was an instant game changer for me.

Rectal prolapse?

Yes Iv had 3 children in the last 5 years and my bowels were never the same afterwards. I also suffered hemeroids after two of my pregnancies. I notice now that if I eat spicy food I get diarrhoea the next morning and if I eat too much bread I get constipated. I had mild anemia while pregnant last year but is normal now but currently going through gastro neurology as had elevated calprotectin which could indicate IBD. I also suffer health anxiety:(

It would be worth going to a womens health physiotherapist. You may be able to self refer, not sure, or GP can refer you.

They will have a feel inside (a bit embarrassing but they do it every day!) and check for any weak areas in the vaginal walls. If you have a fast birth, big or oddly positioned baby, or baby got stuck for a bit, it can lead to this sort of weak area. Sometimes if you have a weak area, the intestine sort of bulges into the vagina (rectocele) and poo can get trapped in the bulge which leads to constipation and isn’t great long term.

If there are weak areas they can advise on exercises to help. It can make a big difference if you do them regularly.

when I had my son I was induced a week early , had the balloon catheter which took them about 5 attempts to get in place which caused me to bleed. Was sent to another hospital the following day as labour ward was busy.
got to the other hospital had waters broken and labour was extremely painful. Gave birth and then the placenta got stuck which caused me 1.3 litres of blood loss and was rushed into Theatre for manual removal. Was very ill 5 days after and was on injections for 10 days after blood loss. It was a nightmare.
i had to do pelvic exercises as my stomach was separated ( can’t remember the name of it) after months it was fine and back to normal.
I had an abdominal ultrasound with gastroenterologist and all was fine.
I have health anxiety so always convince myself of the worst :(