Constipated - what can i take?

[weelamb123]

I'm almost 18 weeks pregnant and haven't poo'd in about 6 days. What can I take? Xx

Not sure. Don't think laxatives are recommended in preg.
Prune juice and kiwis usually work for me
Drink lots, try a walk.
Coffee/ caffeine stimulates the bowel- maybe a cup of coffee ?

Prune juice!

Thankyou

Curry always makes me go to the toilet!

The pharmacist was happy for me to take lactulose. And the midwife has no concerns when I told her I was taking it.

I'm not sure if it would be a quick fix for you though. Or if it's something you need to consider longer term.

Hope you get it sorted soon.

Lactulose is fine in pregnancy. I only take it when I absolutely need to as it makes me a bit windy (but sorts you out which after six days you need . I have been taking fibre gel twice a day and that has helped keep me regular since - worth a go.

Lactulose is safe. Prune juice works for me (mix it with my regular fruit juice to make it palatable). Also add ground flaxseed/linseed to my porridge although that on its own was less successful. Plenty of veg and loads of water. Failing that eat a whole packet of sugar free polos. Not tried that myself but read it on here as a quick fix when you're really bunged-all the other stuff can take a couple of days to work.

My mw said it was likely due to a combination of pregnancy and the iron in my multivitamin so to try and get more iron from my diet to try and avoid the need for iron tablets later in pregnancy. Now have plenty of spinach added to everything which also ticks the box for extra veg.

Most laxatives stay in the gut, so are safe in pregnancy.

That being said, as others have said, your iron supplements are likely to be the cause. More exercise (walking around really) can help with the constipation ...

Lactulose is your friend!

Simple bran flakes worked wonders for me. Started having a bowl every other day with raisins in and a glass of O.J and all has been well. Before that I had really bad constipation.

Tinned peaches in syrup or any tinned fruit it's the syrup that softens the poo to make it easier to go.

Glycerin suppository. Cheap and effective.

Nothing natural would work for me. I tried lactulose, but that didn't really work & made me very windy. It's also very high in sugar levels. Movicolon has worked a dream! I couldn't recommend it more :))))

Hello, here is a leaflet about constipation in pregnancy, hope it helps

www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/Medicine--pregnancy/Treating-constipation-during-pregnancy/

Fibogel is ok- I took that when I was pregnant- the doctor prescribed it for me.

There are LOTS of pregnancy safe laxatives.

Sadly, I am all too experienced in this field!

I found Laxido (sometimes we Movicol) worked the absolute best. I got it in prescription. At its highest dose it helps break down any impaction which might be an issue after 6 days, rather than just getting you to go.

Other than that second advice about prune juice and lactulose.

Fybogel. saved my life!

Prune juice! I'd never have believed it, but it totally works, possibly better than some other things I've tried. Word of warning though, DO NOT drink a litre of prune juice in one go because you don't believe it will work. You will spend three hours pissing fire from your arse.

Psylium husks (neils yard remedies have them but must be available in pharmacies too) mixed into sOme yoghurt work a treat the next morning! If you wash that down with prune juice all the better.

I ate spicy food. Qdoba (a burrito restaurant chain) has extra spicy habanero salsa, which I would eat when it got really bad. Spicy Indian or Thai food would probably work, too.