Severe constipation

[TTCI]

So I'm 9 weeks pregnant and haven't went for a number 2 in 7 days. I went with my mum to a chemist but they wouldn't give me suppositories without a doctor say so. So I phoned NHS 24 and they said I've to go to a and e where a doctor wants to check on baby and sort out my erm problem. Lol sorry for tmi was just wondering if anyone has been through this and what to expect?

I would second pp recommendation for movicol. I suffer terrible constipation in pregnancy,and am on baby number 2 so have a fair amount of experience in this area unfortunately.

Movicol can be taken in sachet form upto 3 times a day and will soften stools HOWEVER it can also be used for fecal impactment, where you can take 8 sachets over a 6 hour period...that will certainly do the trick and should sort the problem.

Also, I have found that antenatal supplements we're a big cause of constipation, and once I stopped taking those at 12 weeks things improved, but only slightly.

Hope that helps, I feel your pain!

You can get movicol or laxido over the counter at chemist and they are safe to take during pregnancy as they are stool softners not laxatives. Trust me, your gonna want a softner for not have been to the loo in a week.

For a chemist to send you to the A&E department is ridiculous and they well know what can be used etc - would avoid that one if possible.

Laxatives are used under guidance due to some issues due to pregnancy - Lactulose is ok but tastes horrid.

Welcome to the stool softner club and whatever you do - DON'T push it out without some laxido first as it liquidizes it.

I was only in there for 10 mins and he wasn't sure what to do he felt my tummy and said he would give me laxative. And I said can't I have suppositories? And he said yeah ok and gave me a prescription for them to get tomorrow so o went to Tesco couldn't see any suppositories but got germoloid cream and Epsom bath salts so doing that now lol. Thanks for all your advice if this doesn't work then I don't know what to do xx

Poo is already there it just won't come out :/

Well, if all else fails and you are desperate, you can dig it out with a finger - not a nice job but will give you relief.

Oh god lol I'll bear that in mind if all else fails

I was severely constipated for the first 20-25 weeks. Went to the doctors and they prescribed Lactulose. Personally I didn’t find it too helpful but most people do xx

Get a rubber glove on and have a rummage. I had to do this when pg with ds1. Fucking grim but necessary. Felt like I was sitting on a bowling ball!!
If you were to end up at docs or a&e they might try 'manual evacuation' which is basically the doc doing the same. I'd rather save the embarrassment and do it myself lol. Then lots of lactulose and drink plenty water from now on. Lots of apples and pears helped for me aswell.
I've been bound up this time again but not as badly. Though it hurts like a motherfucker and I want to die everytime I go.

Any joy OP?

I feel you!! I did occasionally struggle with this before but oh god from around 8-12 weeks it was awful and so so painful. I agree with @Hairgician (rubber glove is very important though!) or get an anal douche. I bought one years ago for exactly that reason and it saved me in the last few weeks. Hope you'll get it out... also if you feel it coming put some Vaseline or so around the exit just to help it a bit. I sometimes had to help it out by pushing it through the thin wall between vagina and anus. I know this all doesn't sound like the nicest thing to do but when you're desperate you try everything....

Desperate times and all that😂😂 I've found myself even pressing round my bum hole when trying to get it out. Helps it out.

I'm the end my body took over and made it come out I got germoloid cream and that saved the day I'm so relieved. Now that that's gone the morning sickness has kicked back in! So glamorous lol

Hey, I’ve been experiencing constipation recently and it’s just so uncomfortable. I’m 9 weeks tomorrow and I’ve always been a regular toilet user so am not use to not going. I’ve managed to relieve myself after feeling uncomfortable all day, but even now I just feel like my system is blocked and isn’t flowing if that makes sense. I’m wondering if this is my pregnacare tablets or pregnancy in general. I hope it doesn’t last long :(

@Gem173 keep an eye on it and do t strain too much as you could get piles x I know it's awful I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I've been taking dulcoease stool softeners and after dealing with the 7 day constipation this has helped my bowels go back to normal xx also if it's sore around that area get germaloid cream as it's a local anaesthetic you can get them from Tesco x

This was me yesterday. I had been suffering from mild constipation since getting BFP (currently 8w), but this past week it got really bad resulting in me sitting on the toilet in tears yesterday considering ringing 111 as there was no way it was normal. Like you TTCI I could feel it there it just wouldn’t come out, my whole ‘undercarriage’ felt rock hard (was agony getting train home from work). Went to chemist and they gave me lactulose, but said once this current issue was sorted to try and resolve it by dietary means. Nature finally took its course, but I blocked the toilet, text DH and he said he’d sort it when he got home from work (he’d have been home half an hour later) when he got home and went to sort toilet, he came back and gave me a round of applause for the (his words) spectacular crap I just had and how giving birth would be easy after that.

I am still traumatised by that poo.

(Sorry for being so gross and crass)

@snowy1982 I laughed so much at your husbands reaction!! I know it's awful I am oblivious to symptoms such as this as before when I was TTC I was Maurice and just thought ah a bit of sickness maybe I'll have a headache.. never thought my body would have so much bother trying to push out a fecking poo! And how embarrassing it is so to say "no it's not that I can't go, in trying to go but my bum hole hurts because the last one is so horrific it has literally destroyed it". I haven't really thought about trying to solve with diet, I eat a lot of fruit so hopefully that helps. I'm so sorry you had to go through that though !!!! X

Prunes are seriously underrated IMO.
Everyone should eat prunes. The tinned ones are best.

@endofthelinefinally, I read that about prunes as well.

I am just trying to increase the fruit and veg, switching to brown rice, drinking plenty of water etc. I also read that walking/running helps keep things moving well, I usually get lots of walking in (I have 2 dogs) but lately have been feeling so tired DH has had to do walking

@snowy1982 I know it's easier said than done I've been so lazy recently totally blitzed the kitchen last night and I was exhausted lol. Yeah eating better defo helps think I need to take a leaf out of your book xx