constipation - is there anything you can take?

[sotough]

I'm 24 weeks pregnant and getting really fed up of constipation and scared i'm going to get piles. never had this with my last pregnancy.
i go for two or three days without being able to go to the loo and then when i do it's hardly anything.. I do all the right things - drink lots of water, have a varied diet, have reasonable amounts of exercise. is there anything you can take for it that doesn't harm baby?

Prunes?
Stomach massage helps when not pregnant - not sure if and how you can do this in pregnancy. Maybe someone else knows?

Hi sotough - how much water do you drink in a day? In all 3 of my pregnancies my water intake is huge. I drink over 2 lt a day and have never had a problem with constipation (sorry, i don't mean that to sound obnoxious, i have plenty of other symptoms!) Am on iron tablets too and they are supposed to give you constipation. Also, sounds daft i know, but i have an apple every day as that is supposed to keep you regular. Also, some form of exercise, even just a 30 minute walk, is supposed to help.
Good luck!

You sound very similar to me sotough. 23 weeks and just went 4 days without being able to go. For me I think things are better if I drink loads of water and eat lots of fruit. Also someone told me to elevate your legs when you are on the loo (my 2yr olds potty seems about the right height) and that really seems to work. Or I have a friend who swears by a glass of hot water and lemon juice first thing in the morning.
Hope that helps!

Have you tried drinking orange juice and eating dried apricots? I know it sounds a bit tame, but I've had a few times where it's been a bit slow moving so to speak and eating and drinking the above really helped me out.

If you've tried all this and still have no joy, I'd give your Doc a visit.

Glycerine suppositories.

Also M&S museli with added bran.

Drink plenty of water and make sure you get some exercise every day (even if just a bit of a walk).

Fybogel is safe in pregnancy and in my experience really works, but it is pretty horrible. It comes in orange flavour which is slightly more bearable! Try it, I hope it works for you.

I suffered a while back (I'm now 34weeks) and put a post on here too. Really not nice. I tried All Bran on top of my regular cereal every morning and have not suffered since. Along with a healthy diet and lots of water, I would recommend it. Good luck.

I ended up in hospital due to dehydration (although i was drinking a lot) and constipation (symptoms of having polyhydramnios, i was told), and was prescribed fybogel (which is very mild) and lactolose.
I have spd, so have been on codeine for the pain- this can also back you up quite a lot.

Hope you get sorted- it is very unpleasant, and can make you feel really ill. I think people assume it is just a case of not being able to 'go' to the loo, but it can affect you much more than this. This is my 3rd pregnancy, and i hadn't had it before, but once treated, it was amazing how much better i felt in myself.

thanks for your suggestions everyone. i will up my water intake - probably drink about a litre a day at the moment, which may not be enough.
Is fybogel available over the counter in chemists?

I have found lactulose to be really effective... although please get it sorted before you get piles (mine are not nice!) :(

I've always suffered from constipation in pregnancy and this time have discovered tinned grapefruit! It has worked wonders! I eat a large tin of it every couple of days.

I ate bran flakes from the off in my pregnancy, think it really saved me. I was terrified of constipation, but a bowl a day kept me "going"!

Yes fybogel is available over the counter at chemists. I used this throughout my pregnancy to relieve constipation. Its pretty gross though, doesn't taste bad but has a funny texture.

Fybogel is okay and I think I had lactulose too, which works better, but you do need to check that it's okay for pg because having 3 dc seems to have wiped my memory.

You need to drink loads of water as anything with insoluble fibre in (fybogel, bran flakes etc) won't work unless they have fluid to swell them - it'll just sit and ferment.

Second tinned fruit, also grapes and raisins.

Agree re piles. I did everything in my power with dc3 not to get them but I did and it is horrible, and once you get them that's it, you always have to be so careful or they flare up again.

I'm with you anonymousbird a bowl of branflakes every day has really helped. Had constipation early on but been fine since about 12weeks (now 22wks)Also find a really hot drink when I wake up gets things going!!!