Constipation question - possibly TMI

[Yikesitshot]

Pregnant (c. 6 months) with twins. Generally haven't been too constipated but last night was straining away for 20-25 minutes - AGONY! Basically poo stuck in the exit (TMI!) which is why i couldn't give up. After I'd finished, everything down there felt VERY swollen and frankly, there was a lot of pressure - felt like half of my innards were falling out between my legs.

Swelling has gone down a fair bit this morning so that I can walk normally although still doesn't feel quite right. Frantically doing pelvic floor exercises.

My questions are: - has anyone else experienced this extreme swelling/pressure and if so, does it all go back to normal? - do I need to panic about prolapse of uterus etc.? and - is it possible to take laxatives or something to prevent a repeat of this happening again?

I think the most common thing is piles, tmi but can you feel anything hanging out your back package? You can go to Gp/practice nurse to get it checked out.

Eating more fibre would help prevent in future, try prunes, prune juice, sweetcirn, beans, fibre cereal and lots of water. If that doesn't work Gp can give you stool softener like fibogel which is safe in pregnancy where normal laxatives aren't.

Hope you feel better!

Lactulose is pregnancy safe and is your friend in this situation! Poor you, hope the discomfort fades. Make sure you drink lots of water as well as eating fibre - it helps to soften things up and makes it easier to poop.

Thanks for the responses. Have called the GP and got a prescription and drinking water by the gallon. Just hope the swelling and pressure eases a bit!

I found lactulose very effective, but not dramatically so

Also, if you have the option, try not to strain too much as it does make piles etc worse. I'm 27 weeks with twins and sometimes resort to taking toddler round to lovely next door neighbour (much easier without audiencd participation!) good book and glass of water. It also helps if you put something under your feet to raise them up help recreate the normal angle which you kind of lose as your bump gets bigger. (If that makes any sense!)

No, it doesn't make sense - what I mean is if you have the option to just chill on the loo and not strain to go, sometimes that helps! (Like potty training!)

omg this happend to me around 2 months ago and didnt wna tell anyone i was around 6 months pregnant at the time mine lasted around an hour and i was bleeding down there afterwards and it was stuck just like u described can i just say unless you've had this you couldn't believe how scary it is i thought i was going hospital it was stuck that long ive been put on movicole, sennen tablet and i take exlax off my own back to help with it and it has got better as the pregnancy went on and i was told by the doctor to not take iron or pregnacare as i didnt need it anyway but you'd have to ask your gp and if u can stomach prune juice works wonders hope you feel better soon

Thanks everyone. Just off to get my lactulose prescription....Ah the joys.
Summerdreams - is everything back to normal now?? I'm freaking out about prolapsed uterus etc.

I was recently very constipated and after straining i also had the pressure down below and felt swollen. I was really worried.

So far I've found apricots work really well for me. And water, lots of water!

Yes to using toddler step to put your feet onto.

Also use a sanitary pad to press against your perinium May help and stop that everything falling out feeling.

Sometimes rocking back and forth a bit, the babies position can make things worse all the pressure on your bowel.

Vaseline on your bum hole!

Drink loads!

it took about 3 days and i slowly was able to sit down normally again but to be honest the trauma lasted longer and was scared to go toilet 4 while but i was back to normal in no time