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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

I hate constipation!

22 replies

rebecca2011 · 15/08/2011 09:04

Arghh! vent - I hate constipation!

Very sorry for the tmi but I'm on the toilet as I type (been there now for 10 minutes!) and nothing's happening (even though I really need to go)... (was hoping the typing might take my mind of things but... ... no!)

Hands-up if you have had it / have it at the moment too!

Words of support / comfort welcome!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

roisinanna · 15/08/2011 09:20

Oh Jesus you've no idea.... I could barely walk. So, tips that worked for me... Kiwis, two at a time. A spoonful of linwoods flax seed mix on granola every morning...and, possibly controversial.. I gave up the pregnacare. I had to. I went to an accunpuncturist and she said that flurodex is better for iron..I was basically eating White bread and chocolate so I had to stop..I was in agony and I was wrecked..bowel simply wasn't working.... Hence the sheer exhaustion when I was meant to be feeling lovely.. I'm 23 weeks now, still a bit irregular if I take my eye off the ball (so to speak)... I feel your pain...don't push too hard or you'll get piles !!!!!!!! Grab a bag of kiwis and some high fibre bread today ... I swear , it's boring but it works..

milkyways · 15/08/2011 09:22

....I can offer you support. It's horrible! Please don't strain though, as it may result in piles, and mine ended up bleeding horribly a few weeks ago and scared the hell out of me. Try drinking tropical fruit juice on an empty stomach in the morning - it will move things along! Dried apricots and prunes really help too. If it gets really bad then go to your GP and they can give you something.

I hope you're off the toilet now !!

Original poster

rebecca2011 · 15/08/2011 09:27

Thanks :)

...and no - still here! It's honestly like trying to pass a watermelon!

OP posts:

roisinanna · 15/08/2011 09:30

Fybogel is ok to take when preggers.... Takes about twelve hours to work though.. Try rocking from side to side and raising your feet off the floor..stretches the bowel or something... I've never said the word bowel as much as I have since getting pregnant!

Ernie1 · 15/08/2011 09:45

I completely understand what you're going through! I stopped the pregnancy multi-vits too - just taking omega 3 and Vit D now.

Like roisinanna I have to be careful with my diet - seems worse when I haven't drunk enough. I found dried apple to be better than apricots though - apricots just gave me wind.... lovely.

Currently eating my fruit and fibre and have a mountain of fresh fruit on my desk to get through...

SusieQ73 · 15/08/2011 10:49

I'm currently using Cyclogest pessaries and the constipation is the WORST of my life. I have a cervical stitch in place too and am scared to push too hard!
Currently taking Fybogel and Prune juice to no avail. Help!

kirsty12321 · 15/08/2011 10:54

I haven't been since Thursday morning hurts so much! My sympathies are definitely with you!

MissRee · 15/08/2011 10:57

Just had my first poo since Friday - ouchies :( also part of the piles brigade but anusol does nothing but make a horrible yucky mess :(

Pregnancy is SOOOOOOO glamorous

Ria x

bigmacandhappymeal · 15/08/2011 10:58

My biggest recommendation is Lactulose - you can get it on prescription from the GP and it made all the difference from me. It takes 2-3 days to work but once it does... I'd also up your water and fruit/veg intake and keep moving as mild exercise does help (although realise that it's pretty miserable when you are constipated). I also swear by a glass of apple juice a day at the moment.

It's so miserable - you have my sympathy!

Crosshair · 15/08/2011 11:01

I second a glass or two of apple juice.

It is horrible not being able to go, Ive started taking a book in with me.

MissRee · 15/08/2011 11:09

Bigmac - what dose did your doc recommend? Mine said 15ml before bed but that doesn't seem to be working! Am drinking fruit juice every day, about 6-8 pints of water and tons of fruit but still only able to go every couple of days and even then it's only rabbit droppings :(

Franchini · 15/08/2011 11:18

Prune Juice every morning - disgusting - but it works for me. (the more expensive the prune juice the slightly more acceptable the taste is!)

superjobee · 15/08/2011 11:24

i'll second lactoluse sweet as hell but man does that stuff work! just dont drink it straight out the bottle or you wont leave the toilet for hours and you'll end up with a stinging bumhole saying that all the straining anyway .. im too scared to poo half the time cos i dont want piles

Original poster

rebecca2011 · 15/08/2011 11:36

Thanks for your replies :)

MissRee - congratulations on going! Ouch though. Hope it wasnt too difficult!

kirsty12321 - hope things get better soon. Have you at least been able to 'try' since Thursday morning (even if you cant go?)

Constipation is just evil though - I'm going to have to have another try at encouraging my concrete bowel to work... :(

OP posts:

BodyUnknown · 15/08/2011 11:37

You poor thing.

I had to post here because constipation was by far the worst aspect of my pregnancy. I could only go once in every 7-8 days and I was in agony, sometimes couldn't even walk. I tried everything - yoga poses when I wasn't in too much pain, putting my feet on a stool when I went to the loo - and I ate mainly fruit and vegetables throughout my pregnancy to apparently no avail.

In desperation I stocked the fridge with prune juice, got a prescription for lactulose and drank it by the gallon and stopped taking Pregnacare because the iron content was making me feel sick as well as exacerbating the constipation. I found syrup of figs utterly disgusting but quite helpful.

I could still only go once a week but it was a bit more comfortable.

The constipation was so bad, I am afraid of another pregnancy. Now DD is 13 months and I fear a lifetime of piles problems :(

bigmacandhappymeal · 15/08/2011 11:38

missree 2 teaspoons in the morning and evening. He basically told me that you can't have too much of it other than having to deal with the direct opposite of constipation! I also drink warm boiled water which my nan suggested. I was basically prepared to try anything!!

Just as a side note ladies, as well as piles my MW has told me that straining to do a poo can cause you to have a little bit of vaginal bleeding which could be a bit of a shock (it's all so closely connected down there!). So should avoid straining at all if you can.

kirsty12321 · 15/08/2011 11:42

Most mornings I get the feeling of 'needing to go' but I can't actually go I don't like trying to push and force it too much as I already suffer from a recurring anal fissures and dont want to hurt myself or cause a new fissure by forcing it

how glamourous is making a baby?! Haha

EsmeWeatherwax · 15/08/2011 12:02

Oh, poor you! I really suffered with this in my first pregnancy, was just the worst! Prune juice, lactulose, sweating, crying, praying for relief all employed!

bodyunknown fwiw, I didn't have it again with my second dc, and haven't got it in this pregnancy either! Yet, anyway.

Original poster

rebecca2011 · 15/08/2011 12:21

Still nothing...

Strong coffee normally works - which I can't have - so I tried a fruit tea before my last trip to the bathroom... which had no effect whatsoever!

OP posts:

MissRee · 15/08/2011 12:29

Thanks bigmac, I'll try upping my dose!

Ria x
(whilst tucking into the biggest bowl of veg you ever did see )

BodyUnknown · 15/08/2011 12:54

Esme, that is amazing, am very glad you have not suffered again. I just assumed that your body will always react the same way to whatever it is that causes the constipation. You have given me hope!

I remember when I was pregnant MN was a lifesaver for things like this, when I had thought I was suffering alone.

Hmm, I did drink Lactulose out of the bottle. All the time!
Coffee gave me the urge to go too, and I resorted to it on occasion - are you strictly off the coffee?

MsChanandlerBong · 15/08/2011 15:02

I have been having a bowl of All Bran for breakfast each day - and that has kept me really regular. I had worse constipation BEFORE being pregnant!! (Have always had a bit of a dodgy stomach!) In fact, for the last couple of days I have come off the All Bran as I was beginning to get a bit too regular IYSWIM!

I know it isn't the tastiest of cereals, but I decided early on I was going to do everything within my power to avoid piles, and (touch wood, crossed fingers, etc) the All Bran is definitely doing the trick for me.

Hope this helps some of you...

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