Constipation in early pregnancy

[daisygatsby]

Im around 6 weeks pregnant and am quite constipated. I get plenty of exercise, im drinking fresh orange and eating plenty of fruit and drinking loads of water. Im getting quite uncomfotable at this stage!

Does anyone have any magic remedies??

Dried apricots and prunes, I had the same problem it is horrible isn't it ?

YY to dried apricots!

ok will give the dried apricots a go - not sure ive the stomach (ha!) for the prunes yet!

It is awful; i was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis years ago and would always have suffered from constipation a bit, but this is a blardy nightmare.

You poor thing. I suffer constipation at the best of times and during pregnancy it's horrific. I've taken Fybogel during all my pregnancies after checking with my midwife. Makes such a difference. Also fruit juice, wholewheat pasta, bread etc, dried fruit. Avoid bananas, fried food, too much dairy and white flour. They just make it worse. I find Actimel yogurts to be very effective too. Also try some exercise. Swimming or walking can both help. A warm bath helps me too.

Hope you feel better soon

When I'm pregnant I have porridge with prunes and raisins in it every morning. That can really help.

I always get lactulose from the doctor and lived on homemade lentil soup for lunch and brussel sprouts or brocolli along with evening meal, plenty of fluids.
No constipation could survive my diet

I have to say I resisted prunes too but desperate times called for desperate measures ! they were actually quite nice and did the job !

Know how you feel, got myself some bran flakes and activia yoghurts and that seemed to do the trick. :)

I had this it was awful. Being comfortable after going to the loo was clearly something I had taken for granted pre-pregnancy (even though I had experienced some constipation). Fr me it also came with incredibly uncomfortable bloating that made me look 5 months pregnant (and made lots of people very suspicious!!).

If it's any consolation, it immediately stopped around about the 12 week mark and now that I don't take soft stools for granted, I'm grateful every time it doesn't hurt and I don't have to strain (never mind eat those pesky prunes!!)...

Bran flakes with grapes and orange juice for breakfast with spoonful of benefiber powder- from boots and I checked with my doc it was ok in pregnancy- in the orange juice. Preferred benefiber to fybogel as no texture or flavour to it. It dissolves really well. Some days I put it directly on to the cereal.

Such a good idea to tackle it early! I kept waiting for it to resolve itself and instead just got piles to make it all even less nice . Obviously it's best if you can fix it with fruit, whole grains, water and exercise, but if that doesn't work don't just stick at it like I did - go to the doctor! Mine recommended milk of magnesia (also called magnesium salts), which is safe for pregnancy, available over the counter and gentle but effective. Now when I'm having issues I first try lots of water and going for a jog, but then only wait a day before going to the m.o.m. good luck!

thanks everyone - am about to go out for a brisk walk now at lunchtime..hopefully that will get things moving! I'll let you know
and ill stock up on all the food suggestions..might even grab a few prunes!

the walk worked

Actimel or another probiotic and activia yogurts have been brilliant for this.