So constipated!

[rachelb2014]

Hi everyone,

Isn't it just one of the worst starts to the morning when you wake up, sit on the toilet and... you can't poo?

I hate this pregnancy constipation!

I've literally been locked in that evil bathroom for 30 minutes - trying everything to go (straining, changing position on the seat, reading a magazine) and... nothing!

Can anyone else relate? (sorry for tmi!)

Rach

Yep, had this since 4 weeks and I'm now 36 weeks. I've had lactolose, movicol, enemas and am now on the suppositories. I'm so over this bloody constipation, don't sit and strain I have a prolapse and it aggravates it.

Drink lots of water and up your fibre, if you still can't go get some lactolose, you have my sympathy.

Plenty you can take in pregnancy so go get yourself a prescription. Fybogel is very natural and gentle or you have the stool softeners like lactulose before you get on to more powerful stuff!

On week 20 here and been on one fybogel a day since week 6 and other than the odd bloated ness I've been fine. Think you can take two a day if you need but you need to drink plenty water or it makes it worse (so I've been told)

Thanks everyone.

Just wish I could go! Another unsuccessful trip to the toilet...

(I do try not to strain, but that's the only way I am going to be able to pass this!) Sorry tmi.

Popcorn - did the lactulose and movicol help very much?

They work really well just don't stray too far from the toilet.

I seem to go from one extreme to the other. Neither is any fun.

Prune juice is disgusting effective. Dried apricots also do it for me. Lots of water. A bit of exercise.

You have my sympathies. Its bloody awful!

Try hot water with a slice of lemon in it always works for me

Step away from the prenatal vitamins. The iron in them makes you constipated. I felt one hundred times better when I stopped them.

Thanks everyone.

Yet another unsuccessful trip to the toilet... I never knew that constipation could be so uncomfortable.

I want to go all the time, I can almost go, I get within a fraction of relief and... nothing happens!!!

Ugh! So frustrating!

Don't strain you'll end up with piles!! Lactulose is gentle and effective so if you can start taking it today you will get some relief by tomorrow. I'm sure you know the importance of lots of fluids. Dried apricots will also help. Putting your feet on a stool and rocking gently backwards and forwards when you are on the loo will also help to move things along!

Oh going to go and buy some stuff. Can you just get them from chemist or do you need a prescription? Thinking of the more natural stuff.

Oh rachelb I totally feel your pain. All 3 of my pregnancies have been the same.

DS1, who was potty training when I was pregnant with DS2, the first few times I sat him on the loo he immediately started pushing, straining, grunting, going red in the face... copying my sad, sad efforts exactly

I've managed without prescriptions. Fybogel is just psyllium husk - you can buy a jar of the stuff at healthfood stores - I couldn't handle the fake orange flavour so I did this - cheaper too. But you have to take with lots and lots and lots of water.

Also my best tip: elevate your feet whilst you sit on the loo. A child's toilet-training step, telephone directories, or a spare loo roll under each foot. The goal is to attempt more of a squatting than sitting possie. Works!

cleo no you don't need prescription for fybogel - I don't know about lactulose. Don't be tempted to take other laxatives like senna which stimulate the bowel. If you've any doubts ask the pharmacist.

Thanks everyone.

Just hoping that I manage to resolve this before tomorrow morning. (Can't face having to use the work toilet cubicles with this problem!!!)

I've never had this problem before.

You can get lactulose over the counter. GP happy with me taking 15 ml twice a day. I take that, plus syrup of figs which is in Boots.

rach as well as all the sensible things being suggested i find this odd thing works; focus on relaxing your jaw and lips, blowing (quiet!) raspberries. Ina May Gaskin calls it spincter law, no idea if it works in childbirth but it does in constipation!

Thanks for the tips - I'll try the raising feet and relaxing jaw/blowing raspberries (just glad we have a lock on our bathroom door lol!)

I never knew going to the toilet could be so difficult. Not sure if it's the same for anyone else, but it's honestly like trying to get a pumpkin through a button hole! (sorry tmi)

At least we can laugh about these things! :)

More water! I bought a giant 40 oz bottle and make sure to drink at least 2 of them a day.

Lactulose lactulose lactulose! And drink lots of water.

Oh I fell your pain. I am 5 weeks pregnant with my second and it has started again already.

My first pregnancy was awful for constipation until I got to Movicol for the duration. I took half a sachet a day for the whole pregnancy and it was much better. I did try fybrogel and lactolose too. The fybrogel was useless but lactolose helped backlog issues!

Go see pharmacist or GP. My first lot of Movicol was given by a pharmacist. Such a relief!

Good luck.

Thanks everyone.

By way of an update - I have to leave for work in 15 minutes and I still can't go this morning!

Feeling very stressed at the moment!

Did you get to the chemist for something yesterday rachelb?

I was suffering a bit yesterday - went to the chemist and she gave me the lactulose. I took some, then ate some chilli, and went within a few hours. Was such a relief! Not so good that it kicked in while my lovely OH and I were sharing a bath! I had to make him hide his face so he couldnt see and turn a tap on so he couldnt hear haha.

Hello everyone, here is a patient information leaflet that explains which constipation remedies are okay to use in pregnancy. Hope this is helpful
www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/Medicine--pregnancy/Treating-constipation-during-pregnancy/