Apologies for any TMI but I know bowel issues are a part of a pregnancy and I need someone to moan to as I'm not sure my husband wants to hear all about it 
I'm currently 19 weeks and have so far been lucky I think - had a few days of diarrhoea around weeks 10-11 but otherwise fine. However, over the last 2 weeks my bowels don't seem to know what they are doing!!
I think the constipation has set in...I find myself taking some form of entertainment into the bathroom with me (puzzle books, kindle, iPad) because I don't know how long I'm going to the be in there! I'm still able to go at least once every 1-2 days but for all the effort I'm putting in (and taking into account how much food I'm eating) there isn't much of a result 
It probably doesn't help that I appear to be addicted to full length French baguettes and am eating at least one a day
Then, the next thing I know I'm having really painful cramps, you know the ones where you have diarrhoea and it is a warning that says, "Get to the toilet now!" It's like going from one extreme to the other.
Can Lactulose be bought over the counter or do you need it on prescription? And for those who braved a visit to the GP, how 'bad' did things get before you went and do they have a set criteria before prescribing lactulose etc??
Apologies if all this is a bit grim but I'm fed up, uncomfortable and need to know that I'm not alone....