Tips for constipation

[weebairn]

This was awful in my last pregnancy to the point my midwife said she reckoned it slowed my labour down! I didn't even poo during labour.

I really want to try and get on top it this pregnancy (14 weeks currently)

Things I've do currently:
lots of fruit and veg, lots of water
walking or yoga every day
no straining
giving myself plenty of time on the loo (even if toddler is destroying the bathroom while i do)
a friend recommended linseed so I've been having a spoonful of this every morning
I do eat prunes a lot of the time (yuk)

I just went and got some lactulose from the pharmacy, they said this was the only thing I could have in pregnancy. Any other tips?

I'm even wondering about asking my midwife for an enema before labour, like they used to. Do you think they would let me have one?

Prune juice. Tastes ghastly but very effective. Also (on recommendation of midwife), a glass of warm/hot orange juice first thing in the morning. Don't think it helped as much as the prune juice though!

I used to out eat lots of dried fruit too or sprinkle sultanas on your cereal. Swimming also helps if you get a chance.

I had/have this too. Not as bad as it was.
Try- dried fruit
Prunes
Raspberries
Bran flakes

Worked for me. Good luck xx

Maybe I'll get some prune juice. How much do you drink a day?

Dried apricots work a treat, and added bonus have iron in them

Can you take Fybogel? Its ispaghula husk (aka psyllium husk) and I find it a very effective and gentle way to ease constipation. I have IBS with constipation, so this is a constant problem for me, but a glass of Fybogel before bed each night keeps me regular. When I was pregnant I suffered horribly with constipation, so I feel your pain.

Water, water and more water.

Dried prunes and prune juice.

Exercise.

Lactulose - 45ml

If you're concerned about it during labour, what about castor oil? First time mum so I'm no expert, but I have known people use it successfully and I'm reading ina may gaskin and she recommends it to get labour going (because it also gets your bowels going)

Prunes & dried apricots def worked for me...however not TOO many else the opposite would happen and it would end up rather painful!

If you need to have a bit of a 'clear out' then glycerin suppositories work wonders.

I've been having a smoothie every morning, which consists of:

• frozen berries
• almond milk (I'm lactose-intolerant, I'm sure this could be normal milk)
• a banana
• a teaspoon of coconut oil
• about three tablespoons porridge oats

And have noticed that I do "go" when I've had this, but on the mornings I've had something else for breakfast (e.g. cereal), the constipation has been worse. Something to try - and it does taste lovely!

Ive been having milk of magnesia thats safe too :) not huge amounts though. I used to have 10 ml spread throughout the day and the next morning after i had my cuppa n breakfayst i had some relief. Touchwood im going ok at the mo without having to use methods n wat not, but u can try that ifu like. Im going every other day at mo so my ibs has calmed down :) making the most of it as i know in few weeks im probably gointo be bak using it again lol

Prune juice seems to be preventing me from having another episode at the mo. A small glass every day