Constipation

[GemmaD12]

Sorry for the embarrassing subject, but can we talk about constipation?

How bad has it been getting for everyone?

I woke up this morning and finally after five days felt the urge to go - so made my way to the bathroom, looking forward to finally getting some relief.

Well, after 45 minutes of straining, grunting, pushing and sweating - nothing happened!!!! So frustrating!

Can anyone else relate?

Completely! It's probably my biggest issue at the mo. the pain is horrendous, so much so that on Sat night I was sure the worst was happening.

I'm doing everything I can think of diet wise but it makes very little difference. On Sat I cracked and bought som fybergel which I took on Sunday morning and without giving tmi that has really helped.

You have my sympathy. I suppose I should be happy I'm not throwing up every 10 mins!

When i was expecting dd last year if was constipated for 4 weeks. Very ucomfortable and took am massive dose of Movicol to shift it. With ds, was only 2 weeks.

It's the worst thing I've ever had - this morning I honestly felt like I was turning my bottom inside-out... and still didn't go!

I found the Fybogel good before, your GP will prescribe it for you so you can get massive boxes for free.

I've also found prune juice helpful, although I don't much like the taste so mix it with apple juice, then it's fine.

On a random diet at the moment including - One glass of Prune juice, handful dried apricots, one bowl of all bran, a few beetroot,two pots ofI , 4-5 pints of water and 20ml lactulose :) every day.

May seem excessive but have seen the doctor and it is working after being terribly uncomfortable for a few number weeks!!

I have one thing to say to you - liquorice. Allsorts will do , or you can get nive liquorice at health food shops. You will trump though...

It's out... I've done it... I've finally been able to poo!

(Sorry - had to share with people who understand!)

I wouldn't wish constipation on anyone - it was honestly a 40 minute, extremely difficult labour!

I need to lay down and get my breath back!

I got stuck in the sainsburys toilets attempting an evacuation (didnt realise I was that constipated) once you start you kinda have to see it through, right. Had to phone my mum and give her a vague shopping list from the bog...

O to do a proper poo, I used to take it for granted and actually enjoy a good poo now I get poo anxiety :(

LACTULOSE ladies - wishing satifying poos to you all.

Oh my god, I know what you mean. I'd never suffered from constipation in my life before I was pregnant, but when I got to 20 weeks my bowels just stopped.

But I've found bulking laxatives like Fybogel and Benefiber really helpful. Although I can't stand drinking fybogel, and really struggle to force it down. I know you can get it free on prescription, but I find it like drinking a glass of sawdust in water. Also not that keen on the aspartame that's in it, even the flavourless one. I find benefiber much better, as it dissolves completely and you honestly wouldn't know it was there. I put it in my morning cup of tea and can't tell the difference.

Hope that helps.

Sorry but I'm wryly ing at the 40 minute labour thing. I sympathise, when it hits I am much the same and come away from the toilet needing a lie down from all the effort.

I am sick of doing rabbit pooh. The cramps always make me paranoid and it makes you feel so out of sorts. Didn't realise how much I love a good pooh.

With you on this one and have resorted to Lactulose too. tMI alert - poos have been so uncomfortable, that I have umm torn. Going through this is giving me insight into how my poor DD suffered with faecal impaction.

Cup of hot water and squeeze in half a lemon. Drink it first thing in the morning it works a treat. Repeat if you haven't had a 'delivery' by lunch!

I know different things work for different people but for me kiwi fruit, kiwi fruit, kiwi fruit and gallons of water

Been a life saver!

My digestive system has been truely awful and this has really helped.

Just in case that helps anyone else...

god that sounds horrible. I'm 32 weeks and so far have been lucky! As far as I'm aware drinking lots of water eating lots of fibre and exercise helps - so go for a walk and bring a bottle of water and a banana or two - should get things moving.

I've been a bit 'slower' than normal but not too bad. I have a big apple every day, drink lots of herbal tea and try to keep active. A big bowl of seeded muesli in the mornings helps a lot too- flax seeds are good at getting things moving (they are also great in a fruit smoothie, I like tinned peaches blitzed with frozen raspberries and flax seeds). Pears work well on DS .

Hope it gets better soon.

Don't wait until you are constipated. Take fybogel, or prune, or lactulose (whatever you choose to stomach) every day wihtout fail!!! Drink tonnes too.

I had constipation - was awful and piles followed shortly after :( Now I'm on a strict regime of fruit and bran and licorice tea. It's worked a treat, I'm pooping more than ever in my life, but is accompanied by terrible flatulence!! But I'm too paranoid about not being able to crap if I stop.

Isn't pregnancy just one big joyous miracle? stops to apply pile cream again

RosyRosie, the farting is dreadful isn't it - I farted like a carthorse through three pgs! I used to resort to crop-dusting in the office - walking through the large open-plan office releasing a little at a time so no-one would notice it was me...

cropdusting - LMAO