TMI, I'm sorry!!

[ithastobeNAICEham]

Hey Ladies!

Please can you help me, I'm suffering from the effects of constipation!!

Im wondering if anyone has and remedies that don't involve laxatives (I have an aversion and physically can not take them, plus I don't know if its safe to do so during pg anyway)

I honestly don't think I could face my doctor about this and I'm not seeing the MW til wednesday!

I don't think I can go another day! Normally, a shot of caffiene would help but this isn't working atm, I've been drinking OJ like its going out of fashion and I've eaten so much fruit in the last 6 days!! Plus I'm eating loads of fibre and trying once/twice a day to go and its just not working!!

Anyone got any ideas? Its been nearly a week since I last went and im getting desperate now!!

Sainsburys sell prune juice... It is extremely effective in small doses.

Thanks MrGeres!! I shall have to try and get some this week (my local sainsbugs is very small and can be quite annoying to find certain things!)

Lactulose is brilliant and completely safe during pregnancy. It's a syrup that softens your poo. I had to take it during the first trimester with DS (and after I gave birth). I know you say you don't want to take laxatives, but this isn't really the same... it's very gentle and works well. Good luck and lots of sympathy, I had a lot of bother last time round and it wasn't pleasant...

Fybogel? worked for me in this pegnancy.

lactulose is also ok to take but i do not like it.

if you do not want to speak about it face to face wth a healthcare professional, call up your midwife unit or delivery unit. they are always willing to help, even on the phone.

if you've upped fibre, up your water. I drink 3 litres a day! Don't use senokot my midwife said it's too strong. But fybrogel is good.

some roughage too, like broccoli!

I have been adding a small spoon of flaxseed to my porridge in the morning. Works a treat!

I'm suffering too. I'm using movicol which Is a whole other thread. Whatever you use you have to drink lots of fluid too.

Lots of fluid, prune juice, dried plums/apricots - and actually, antibiotics (but obviously only if you really need them, which I did).

NO liquorice.

Soluble fibre, such as in porridge/oats, an apple a day, maybe stewed apple if you prefer.

And then try and go each day - don't allow any "build-up".

It's a [literal] PITA - I know, I'm suffering too as I keep forgetting to do all of the above . The antibiotics did help for a couple of days though...

Stewed rhubarb is supposed to be very good, but personally I find drinking a couple of mugs of hot water first thing, and eating more bananas, apples and oat bran works.

I have upped my water consumption too, I'm drinking a glass of water then a glass of OJ then a glass of water, etc, all day!!

I can't stand rhubarb so that's out, as is the porridge for the same reason!!

I shall try the other remedies you have suggested though, I didn't know you could get stool softeners so could be worth a shot on those! (Very naïve about such things!!)

Thank you all so much!!

Another vote for prune juice and dried prunes

Same problem here - Dr given me Lactulose which I had after birth of DC1. Takes a day or so to kick in but works well and is totally safe during pregnancy. I know i need to drink more too but my stomach gets so full easily that if I try and drink extra glasses of water I literally throw them up (as happened this weekend!). Am going to buy All Bran, prune juice and try eating an apple a day too as heard that is good. Currently eating some dried dates!

Good luck, it is a PITA

I've had this problem too, with both pregnancies, so I sympathise!

With the hot weather, it's easy to be more dehydrated than you think. I've found that drinking glass after glass of water first thing in the morning helps get things moving - sometimes fizzy water which I find easier to drink large quantities of.

Then for breakfast every day, a bowl of (proper hippy, no sugar) muesli and fruit for snacks up til lunch of salads, veg, etc.

Also, some iron supplements can make you more constipated. Check with your midwife.

Soft dried figs. And a shed load of water. Only things that worked for me quickly enough. You have my sympathy.

Dried apricots or prunes. I ate about 10 dried apricots on the weekend and you would not believe how fast (and violently!) this got things going. I don't actually have a problem with constipation as I had already 'gone' that morning, so I'll be more careful with dried fruit in the future!!

Also, try flaxseed with breakfast, and make sure you are eating some live yoghurt, which is amazing at regulating the digestive system. I have suffered horrible trapped wind on days when I skip my live yoghurt.

I'm going to go shopping tomorrow with a list of these and hopefully something will work!

Just had a massive roast dinner and I've got a tin of apricots in my cupboard (not sure if they'll work but I'm going to give it a try!) Hopefully the combination will help for today!

I'm so sick of going to the toilet, sitting there for 20 mins and nothing happening!!

You can get herbal laxatives from holland and barret if it's ok to take?

Ever since I started eating lots of 'red fruits' (blueberries, raspberries etc), mainly to improve my blood results, I have had no issues in this department. A happy coincidence, and very tasty too . Hope that's useful!

black grape juice. although i had a whole box of it and i couldnt leave the bathroon...

If it's any consolation, a friend of mine who had bad constipation throughout pregnancy was told by her midwives that she pushed incredibly on an epidural. Something that she puts down to all that, er, practise on the loo!

Oh I can totally sympathise I've had problems too, waiting four days to go isn't right! It was really painful when I did go (sorry if TMI).

Like others prunes have helped and also lactulose, and also walking a bit more.

Also do allow yourself a bit more time on the loo, take in a magazine or a book as then you're not getting so wound up about it when you do think you are about to go and are worried about it hurting.

Hope it gets better.

Another vote for prune juice. Its currently in the penny sale at holland & barratt so you get 2 bottles for approx £3.70

Worth trying a glycerine suppository or two up the bum if you have a rock that you can't shift! Available of the counter from pharmacies. Works by softening the poo so it isn't painful to pass.