38.5 weeks pregnant and bad constipation, so fed up!!

[jasmin27]

I'm so fed up and really need some help. I've been constipated for a good 4/5 days now, I'm 38.5 weeks pregnant. I have been to the loo but just little droppings (sorry), not emptying bowel fully. I've stopped taking iron tablets. Been taking lactulose on advice of DR 3 times a day drinking prune and orange juice eating loads of fruit and water. Spoke to the dr's surgery again today she put me through to another Dr who said I should cut back lactulose to twice a day and add fybogel!! Taking lactulose 3 times has not helped much so how can cutting it back help. From what I've read up myself fybogel can clog you up even more and is more to maintain regularity than an actual cure if heavily constipated?? dr seems to think it will help. She said she would be reluctant to give me anything stronger. Asked if I could use a glycerin suppositries and she said she would advise against it. Last 2 weeks of pregnancy have dragged and this is just making it worse, spoke to midwife who told me not to stress even though being constipated can cause problems in labour and to drink prune juice. Should I just listen to the Dr and see what happens or is there anything else I can do. Sorry for the long post just fed up and as usual Dr's and midwife are not much help. REally don't want to go into labour all bunged up.
TIA

There are two different types of laxative.

One is a stool softener which carries water directly to the poo to soften it, this is what fibre is supposed to do eg Fybogel, Lactulose, Movicol, glycerin. You take it every day and the effects build up over time, you need to keep taking it.

The other is a stimulant which makes the constipation-slackened bowel muscles contract and squeeze the poo out eg Senna. You take this at night so you go to the loo first thing. Might take a couple of days to work out how much you need. However at this stage of pregnancy such an, ahem, 'expulsion' could bring on labour so you would want to be ready for that, bag packed etc.

Can you use senokot in pregnancy?! Sorry to hijack OP but I'm 23 wks pg and absolutely dying from the pain of being constipated! My mw was no help at all either!! What about the gylcerin suppositories? OH the joy of pregnancy!

Sorry you're feeling rubbish OP, much sympathy!

not sure about senokot, bluemoon, it may be one of those take on advice of your doctor. Spoke to another midwife earlier who suggested tinned pears and papaya, I've not tried either so might give them a go. If not she said I could go into maternity day unit for an enema. That would be last resort. so might see how I get on tonight if not then go in for the enema. Has anyone had one at this stage in their pregnancy?

I'm in same boat here,,, 38 .5 too ! & have ibs c type which is constipation , I take lactulose twice a day & find if I miss a day or two cos I'm feeling ok, I really pay for it. Doctors don't want me to take anything else stronger, but I understand how horrible this is, especially coupled with indegestion, oh the joys ehh !
Eat plums, oranges / clemantines , grapes & loads of water, try a warm bath & a good brisk walk or hoovering session, should get things moving,,,, I often have to struggle, at least we're both near the end of pregnancy.

I would be wary of taking senakot before 37wks for the reason I mentioned. At 38.5wks I don't see what harm it could do, it might not send her into labour but it could make her a lot more comfortable and she could be pg for a long time yet.

I assume you're all putting your feet up while on the loo? Try doing your pelvic floor exercise too instead of trying to push the poo out.

Ooh good tip silk not thought about doing that, shall try!

Last time I took 3 psyllium husk capsules from Holland & Barrett once a day from about 28 weeks when my constipation got really bad. They worked. You're supposed to consult a Dr before taking them though.

Worth buying a little plastic stepstool anyway, comes in useful for toilet training!