Constipation, bleeding, miserable

[toomuchinfo88]

Far too much information, I'm sure, but could really do with some advice.

I'm 14 weeks pregnant and have suffered from constipation for quite a few weeks. In the past week, it seems to have got worse and I've been having cramps all week, also really bloated.

Now, I'm passing rock hard stools and bleeding bright red blood. This is definitely coming from 'back there' but seeing blood is really horrible.

What can I do? Should I see my GP on Monday?

Might be piles or a little tear. Unlikely to be serious as you know you're straining. Go to the pharmacist tomorrow. They'll be able to recommend a laxative / stool softener you can take when pregnant. Eat loads of fruit and lots of water!

Thanks @Thingymaboob - didn't realise there were any laxatives you could take while pregnant so that's a relief.

Any idea what, if any, foods to cut out? Will this ever end?

Go to GP & get a prescription for a laxative. I had this and got a big bottle and it really helped!

Eat tinned prunes if you can face them.
Movicol is good.

Drink lots of water, too.

This is yet another one of those wonderful pregnancy side effects you don't hear about beforehand.

Strawberries, raw tomatoes, or a few glasses of fresh apple juice normally did the trick very well!

Fuck tonne of water, fruit, dried fruit, chemist tomorrow and GP on Monday.

Thank you so much...am I being mad that the sight of blood was really psychologically horrible?

Bit mad, maybe!

Okay - prunes...how many? I will literally do anything? Should I be eating these every day?

Will also see GP on Monday too.

Should add that I've been a '3 litre of water a day' girl for years and had heard that helped so am sort of surprised to be in this situation in the first place!

Really appreciate everyone's help.

I had this early on in pregnancy. I strained so much it made my cervix bleed - are you sure it's coming from the back? All was well btw (2 week old dc currently sleeping on my tummy!) Movicol did the trick for me - can buy over the counter at pharmacy. As well as eating lots of green veg and tons of water. I think it might be worth getting checked over with midwife/GP about the bleeding.

Hormones do funny things, like bugger every system of your body up!! Yeah the blood is scary but hard poo is abrasive to your delicate bottom skin!! I really wouldn't worry too much. Fluids will help but you need a good dose of natural fibre and it will take 24-72 hrs to work, after this make sure you keep regular by adding the suggested things into your daily diet. But even passing pellets is good, it means whatevers behind there wants to come out!!!

Arse blood is never nice.
But a little bit of blood looks like a lot on toilet paper.
I eat 4 prunes a day, big spoonful of lactulose morning and evening and about 3L of fluid a day, I'm taking codiene though and they do tend to constipate me. Prunes are a maintenance thing really.
Also if your bum hole is sore get some moist toilet paper wipes. Genius.

Fantastic advice people; you've really put my mind at rest and I am going to do every single thing you've suggested to try and spare myself from this misery.

I'm 100% sure that it's coming from there as (TMI again) there's no 'residue' blood from anywhere else!

This is just shit isn't it? (unfortunately not literally) I thought that the second trimester was supposed to be lovely? What's lovely about constantly cramping and bleeding from your bottom?

I'm also so bloated that stupid people keep commenting on what a 'huge' bump I've got at 14 weeks when I can't even feel a bump yet when I try.

The mild cramps have been worrying me but after four or five days of them without any other 'symptom' like vaginal bleeding, I think they must be related to this constipation, which makes sense, doesn't it?

Sorry for being a bit ranty but feel like I can't really enjoy being pregnant when there always seems to be something else to worry about.

Pregnancy is an ever evolving time of shite symptoms.
But yeah if your constipated your going to feel that all around your abdomen, which is currently being squished by that baby and your uterus taking up all the bloody room.

If hard stools are your issue, take Lactulose. You can get it from the chemist and it's just sugar so entirely safe in pregnancy. Try and stay as hydrated as possible and things should soften up.

Blood is scary but as long as it's red and not too much, it's likely a tear. Obviously if you keep seeing blood, see your GP.

My problem is hardness, but the fact my vowels have stopped pushing. My GP has now prescribed me bisacodyl (Dulcolax). It wasn't nice to take as I got stomach cramps but it did the job.

You have my sympathy, constipation is bloody miserable and painful. I once sat sobbing on the toilet at 3am and ended up using rubber gloves in desperation!

Seriously, get Laculose from your chemist tomorrow. Good luck!

For my constipation I eathigh fibre cereal topped with fruit daily (e.g sultana bran and berries, or porridge and prunes). Plus lots of fibrous fruit, at least two portions daily (pears, plums, orange). Plus lots of water daily! Carry a flask with u all the time. Then if I feel things slowing down I drink fybogel (can buy sachets from chemist). I've never had to use movicol actually but so many recommend it. As a last resort if things get too hard at the bottom end, I use suppositories to get things going as I find it can get hard and plugged up back there which needs help from that end rather than from the top end of u see what I mean. But speak to doc about that, I've read suppositories safe in pregnancy but can cause cramping so best to get GP advice and prescription if necessary. Xx

Oh, and I avoid too many carbs and strictly NO white bread! It's my nemesis. Wholemeal or seedy if I must have it.

As another poster said, get some lactulose. It's just a softener and completely safe in pregnancy. You can buy it over the counter from any chemist for a few quid.

I'm glad I've found this thread, I'm only 6.5 weeks and have awful constipation and bloating!!! It's so uncomfortable! And belly is massive I'm the evenings, though I have a big belly anyway!! Definitely gonna up my fruit and water intake!! And cut out refined sugars!

I think carbs may be my problem at the moment @Lucinda15. Although I don't touch white bread, I have eaten white rice over the past couple of days.

@Lemondrop09 - I'm getting to that stage now where things just aren't moving - it is desperately unpleasant!

Thanks again for all your help. I'm going to try the dietary changes today and hopefully, they will make a difference and maybe I can avoid the GP.

As a midwife, I suggest glycerin suppositories if you are having hard stools. They are safe and better than straining and giving yourself piles!

Thank you @mayhew. Are these available over the counter?

Yes. supermarkets and pharmacies. For some strange reason, some pharmacies won't sell these (or anything else it seems) to pregnant women. But they are cheap and safe.

MIL, who works in a pharmacy, has just suggested exactly the same thing. Think I'll give it a go this afternoon.

Do you think, if it works, I should still inform the GP because of the bleeding or just get on with it?

If the bleeding is rectal, then it almost certainly caused by passing a hard stool/having piles. The GP doesn't really need to get involved unless it doesn't improve with OTC remedies.