Tearful about this STUPID constipation

[Dozeyland]

Getting really fed up now, I just can't go, and when I do its tiny pathetic bits of nothing

It makes me feel rubbish, and having to strain can't be good for bump? (27wks nearly)

Just fed up along with all the other rubbish I'm dealing with right now :-(

I beg to differ keely. I have had lifelong issues with constipation and it's not as simple as just what you eat.

OP, be careful you don't over consume fibre because this can cause overly large stools which can be just as difficult to pass, just aim for the RDA. Fluid intake has to be roughly 1.5 to 2 litres. Some exercise. Low fat diets can actually increase risk of constipation, so focus on healthy balance. Try to eat breakfast and then go to the toilet afterwards, don't strain but try to go. Do you take any medications, because some can cause constipation, anti-emetics is one, opiate pain killers was mine, and you've noticed that the iron binds you up too.

REFLEXOLOGY
Can't say this loud enough! I went twice a week and at the end she did a few squeezes to my big toe and by the time I got home I was sorted.....really do try it!

Agree with all the stuff about diet and water.
Sometimes it helps if I don't strain and just give it time. Quite often I find that when I'm trying to rush it nothing happens, but when I'm quite happy just to sit on the loo for ten minutes and let it happen, then it does!

I do agree with the fact that "you are what you eat" but that also is a valuable point that not all digestive systems are the same, some have higher metabolisms than others etc.

I just purely need to drink more fluids (water preferrably) and curb the chocolate and junk snacks. and eat more fruit and veg.

I'm a size 8 normally, in between a 8-10 i think at the mo (27wks on monday) and i never go bigger really, So for me weight isnt my problem, I just want to feel healthier inside, be able to go to toilet without straining and feeling like its never going to happen.

Finding the motivation is hard at the mo for me.

Can having a blockage of poo cause problems for labour?

Noticed the iron taking effect, but i feel the same without it too :s

I have my porridge every morning, but then its just the rest of he day i'm rubbish at choosing the healthier option.

i'm trying to fit in my 10min prenatal pilates dvd, so some movement should hopefully help with that too.

doesnt help that my bump is rock solid/frequent BH's too so I feel like i'm going to pop with no poo release!!!

Sounds like you are quite badly constipated btw, for rabbit poo (as I call the little ball ones) you really need something like a glycerin suppository, it stimulates peristalsis, but it also coats them and makes them easier to pass.

(TMI now) Disgusting as it sounds, some gloves, a suppository and manual evacuation might be the only option if you are having such trouble passing them. Stools in the rectal passage can be felt through the back of the vaginal wall, when I'm seriously ill pushing them down is the only option, preferable to haemorrhoids and being hospitalised again for fecal impaction.

People don't take constipation seriously I've found, you have to be very clear to the doctor about your difficulties, the pain it causes and what you need.

I didn't find it affected my labour per se, but it did become a problem afterwards, but only because it wasn't managed properly. I was allowed to leave the hospital with opening my bowels and with an episiotomy. The resulting problems caused by fecal impaction meant I got an infection of the wound and womb, plus I was starting to back up fecal matter into my body because it had nowhere to go. So after my second labour I stayed in as long as it took me to open bowels. It's only a big problem if left unmanaged.

Pleeeaaase see the doctor about this, or at least the midwife. I had horrible constipation in pregnancy. There is lots they can do to manage this and make it much better. And it's on prescription so it's free. I lived on Fybogel sachets once it was under control. (Hint: from the doctor you can get the neutral flavour Fybogel which is way more palatable than the orange slime.) And if you do need manual evacuation you really should get a professional involved. Good luck.

A blockage of poo will be completely sorted out by labour. When the baby descends into the birth canal, and you feel the urge to push, what will come out will make you think you are part hippo. You can ask for an enema in the hosp if you are still concerned at that point. But I would make noise abut this and have recourse to the glycerin long before then if I were you as your problem sounds quite painful.

Ask your MW if you really need the iron.

Drop that daily banana. Increase your apple intake. Drink loads more water, and especially a glass of warm water with the juice of a lemon squeezed into it first thing in the morning. Don't take extra fibre without also upping your water intake significantly. No more chocolate either.

The food that sorts me out is homemade lentil soup. Not the biggest fan of it but it works every time for me.

I had horrendous constipation at around 24 weeks (I'm 30
weeks now): I definitely had poo stuck but it just wouldn't come out and I strained so managed to pop a haemmorhoid out instead :(

Not fun.

So, what helped was upping my intake of fruit, veg, smoothies and wholegrain food (brown rice/bread, etc) as well as walking and drinking plenty of water. Prunes are a butt-saver, too - get the soft, ready-to-eat ones. For me, about 5 sprinkled over a bowl of shredded wheat is a good way to keep me regular! (along with other said things).

Hope all gets better :)

I have a problematic bowel and IBS. I simply can't get the toilet naturally and believe me, I've tried every trick in the book, every diet, every supplement and the only thing that works for me is dulcolax (biscodyl).

The GP and midwife have both confirmed it's ok for me to keep taking it. The GP prescribed it for me in case the pharmacist wouldn't sell me it. But you can buy it off the shelf anyway.

The NHS book That comes in your bounty pack actually lists biscodyl as being ok to take in pregnancy.

If nothing else works - might be worth a try.

Please go to tge docs you don't want piles as it makes it even harder to go....in fact have you checked you haven't got them already?

You do have to up your water intake cause tgat makes everything softer. I found seeded bread helped, it's also one of my fab breakfasted or snacks when toasted hmm

DO NOT STRAIN!!!

I was very constipated for an entire month at the beginning of my pregnancy. It got to a point where I could barely breathe and couldn't eat any more and I was an utter misery.

I got micralax and lactulose. The micralax makes you instantly want to go to the toilet, but I got just a miserable tiny bit out. The lactulose did nothing at all. I took double the amount prescribed and it was no use whatsoever.

It's hard not to strain when you think there's something there, but don't complicate things by adding haemorrhoids to your problems. It will eventually go away. When I hit my second trimester it all sorted itself out and if I took lactulose it gave me a killer stomach ache and I was back and forth to the loo all day, so obviously I didn't need it any more.

Shame, because I've got a litre bottle left!

Also check that you can't get it cheaper off prescription if you have to pay for your scripts. I had to pay for mine but it was cheaper off the shelf.

LACTULOSE!!! It is ammmmaaaaazing!!! Trust me it works miracles!!! I have just got a repeat after struggling from abt 32 weeks to go and docs said take it now until after he is born (34+4 now) and I definatly will be :)

Hope this helps and good luck x

Jparkson + mockcroc I found those excercises to replace walking - I've just can't walk far enough or with enough proper 'sway'. I've got SPD type thing going on - and so far it's not agrevated it at all - but if you have a pelvic support belt then use that at the same time, should stop the pelvic joints wandering too much

PS I've been both vegetarian and vegan and it did this area of myself no good whatsoever - I've found most meat replacements block me - we're talking lentils, beans, wholegrains (yes really!) and soya - meat just doesn't, though I don't eat it everyday or in large ammounts (and I didn't touch meat till I was 26 so it was a huge difference in diet not just returning to my 'normal' diet).

Everyone is really really different a bowl of all bran would be a nightmare ditto porridge - but psyllum husk (fybogel) doesn't cause me any problems. I think often people can get far too much insoluble fibre, which can cause problems with bulk and hard stools - if that's part of the problem you need soluble fibre - fruit, veg and fibogel, not all guts are equal and neither is all fibre.

Lovesbeingwearing I dont have them yet touch wood.

I've found it easier to go today, but still not 100%. You know when you go but you know that its just not enough, Like needing a good clear out!!!

I have ordered my prescription of lactulose (free) so will give that a go, along with more fluids/diet change etc.

Wheat of any kind can be a killer for bowels. I've always struggled, but when DD3 was 4m old I was told to try going wheat free to see if it helped her reflux and other dietary pains. It did and my problems disappeared too. Fed her till 21m, 2 weeks ago, my problems are back with a vengeance. I will definitely stay wheat free from now on.
All these shredded wheat, Weetabix, brown pasta etc could actually be making things worse for you. Try a two week wheat free trial, try the supermarket freefrom section for bread, pasta, flour and yummy bits.

it really isnt down to luck, i used to be meat eater, the veggie and now vegan. I noticed the difference with a few days on my bowels. My mum was meat eater all her life always constipated, she turned vegan last year and she goes every day without fail, my sister and aunt also said the same. i swear it works. What I am saying is if you have tried everything else, what's the harm in testing it out for 2/3 days just temp to jump start her system if she is that much pain? I am not trying to turn the world vegan but trying to share a solution to this massive problem pregnant women keep facing. Don't mean to offend anyone's meat eating ways

Have you tried frozen peas? Apparently full of fibre (more than you would think!)

keely i don't find it offensive - just misinformed if you think it will work for everyone - by that reckoning i should never have had a problem to begin with :)

I've been gluten free for over a year and when i got pregnant i decided to try eating seeded bread etc for health reasons!! NO, my body hates wheat and after a very bad bout of constipation back on the gluten free diet i went. All i can say is Ahhhhh!! Give it a go!!

Linseed - a spoonful added to your breakfast (I already eat muesli, fruit and yoghurt) makes a big difference - alongside the drinking more liquids, exercise and lactulose. I haven't needed to take lactulose since I started this
But it is utterly miserable (and quite comforting to hear how many others have this problem!)

My midwife recommended pears to me. After I gave birth a brilliant and lovely midwife emailed me a recipe for a fibrous loaf cake that she made herself to help with constipation. I made it and it was absolutely amazing. I could post the recipe if you'd like. It keeps everything going like clockwork and you only need a small slice a day.

Just read this thread with interest - fake can you post the recipe?
Good to hear that bisacodyl is allowed as well.