Your constipation tips

[Stardust91]

I have been struggling the last 3 days. I am 24 weeks pregnant and i feel so uncomfortable due to constipation. I have tried eating oranges and prunes, but no luck so far. I also have been eating bananas which i am worried now they might not have been constipation friendly.
I have a bottle of lactulose in our medicine cabinet which i am seriously thinking of taking but i have been avoiding it so far since I don't want to go down the medicated route yet. I asked a pharmacist about constipation in pregnancy and he said lactulose was a safe option.

Has anyone been prescribed lactulose in pregnancy before?

Any natural remedies that might work miracles?

Thank you for any suggestions!

I’d take the lactulose if I were you, I’d rather have medication than piles... 😬

Hospital beans on toast. It's what finally shifted it for me. Maybe a bit drastic!

Prevention......I had a large bowl of bran flakes for breakfast every day. Otherwise yes lactulose is fine (but I hate it)

Homemade lentil and veg soup.
Homemade apple sauce.
Espresso.

Have you tried prune juice? It seems to work better than the fruit itself

I used movicol but the most helpful thing was actually this: www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/333614/red-lentil-chickpea-and-chilli-soup

I still batch cook it too (have some in my freezer right now) because it's delicious, unlike movicol!

I had lactulose prescribed during pregnancy.

But the best tip for me was to drink lots of water and then use a toddler step under my feet when sitting on the loo. Knees above hips (I.e like a squat position) worked wonders for me. It's the best was to poo apparently.

Good luck, it's horrible but I did get it sorted and no piles!!

Lactulose is your friend. It's reasonably gentle. I'm still not right 18 months after horrible constipation with first baby.

Glycerin suppositories are good if you're very bunged up and need to get things moving, but they're not a long term solution.

I ended up anaemic in this second pregnancy, I suspect partly due to the amount of blood I was losing every time I went to the loo (once a fortnight at its worst). Cue iron tablets, then you really need a lactulose prescription. Also ask for it if you end up with diamorphine in labour or a long hospital stay around the birth. Three litres of water a day minimum, too. Good luck!

I used fybogel

Lactulose is completely safe in pregnancy , you don't have to be prescribed this!

Senna tablets are also AMAZING I suffered with it terribly when pregnant and those where the only things I found shifted it!

Pear juice and dried apricots. Weirdly for me also pork but I’ve never found anyone else that works for!

Laxido 1-2 sachets daily from 20 weeks. Only thing that works. For me my bowls are simply crushed by the baby. No space. No food is hoping to help. Need to liquidise it! Lots and lots of water too.

All great suggestions, thank you!
I need to get shopping!
I will take the lactulose in hopes to help me for the next few days and then switch to the things you have suggested. I hope a few days of lactulose will get me back on track if i help things along with eating what you suggested? Or will i have to accept the fact i will live on lactulose from now?

Psyllium husks are fabulous! They absorb moisture to soften stools.

2 x kiwis per day- life changing!!! Seriously I've had issues for years pre-pregnancy and I will use kiwi before anything else

Milknosugar1 I have just taken my first lactulose dose, we have to wait and see how that goes. Thank you for your advice!

Sylv2017 i added kiwi to the list!I am prepared to try anything!

Thank you all for your immediate response!

Two kiwis at night. Keeps things regular once you get the blockage cleared. Worked when I was carrying Dd, now 18wks and not had problems (yet)

Definitely the kiwi fruit also regularly make a big chilli with kidney beans in which seems to help too.

Bran flakes and kiwis kept me going!

Lactulose is fine though, I wouldn’t worry about taking it.

Dried apricots, and a sprinkle of linseed on your cereal.

Have also suffered a little bit. Along with the diet lying on your left side is supposed to aid digestion I think I read it somewhere and also some gentle exercise if you can manage it. I also find apples work for me.

The relief when you do go. Ahhhh the things we look forward to.

Dulcosoft is brill it works wonders and Is especially made for pregnancy theres no yucky taste and you add it to water or OJ or any drink you want.

Any of the commercially laxatives available stay in the digestive tract so are safe. I have lactulose and docusate as I have ondansatron for hyperemesis.

The only thing that works for me is prune juice. Fybogel didn't do a thing. I've found thay a smallish glass before bed will get things going in the morning, although it is so ridiculously high in calories! But it does work, I was utterly miserable with horrible constipation until I discovered it!