Bad Constipation

[Pickles31]

Sorry ladies it’s a bit yuck but I’m 31 weeks almost and today I had the worst constipation ever, I went to the loo and literally sat there for over half an hour in pain as couldn’t go to the loo, it was so bad I actually had to do breathing techniques to control the pain and was panicking I would push too much to try and go to the loo. I literally couldn’t get off the loo as my body kept pushing and wouldn’t allow me to get up. I actually felt so bad it felt like I was birthing out my butt!! Never want to go through that again! Has anyone else has this?

You can take lactulose while pregnant

Also drink crazy amounts of water, even if it does mean extra loo visits with a small squished up bladder!

It’s a horrible feeling being stopped up.

Especially when there is no room for a stopped up bowel full of hard stuff with that baby growing so rapidly!

It's common in pregnancy unfortunately. Have you been constipated long? Did you manage to go in the end?

I had it in my last pregnancy and took lactulose (safe in pregnancy - pharmacist gave it to me) but the problem with that is it didn't help the already hard... blockage right by the err... exit. In the end I self treated with a glycerine suppository, but I would NOT recommend doing that without speaking to your GP about it. I read mixed things about whether it was sensible to do in pregancy, but I was utterly desperate as I just couldn't go at all and I started to panic. It worked to clear the immediate blockage and then lactulose kept things moving from then on. Drink plenty of water and loads of soft fruit (pears and prunes are particularly good) too.

I'm sorry, it's utterly miserable to be in that situation. Speak to your GP, they'll be able to advise on what's safe in pregnancy and prescribe you something suitable to help.

Thanks ladies, I still feel a bit bunged up but not as bad, I’ve been taking fybogel but I don’t find it works too good, hasn’t heard of lactulose so I will go to the chemist tomorow and get some.

Lactulose is good but gives horrendous horrendous stomach pains xx

Be careful about bearing down / pushing too much as I had an instance of spotting doing that. Don’t think it was a serious problem but is worrying at the time and I have been more careful since!

Kiwi fruit is good. Avoid bananas. X

Ask your gp for laxido.

Yes I worried about pushing too much also incase anything happened. Oh I didn’t realise it gave u tummy pain the lactulose. Maybe I should just eat a lot of fruits

Yes, it's quite common in pregnancy due to the hormones. In my first pregnancy, I didn't have nausea, sickness, anything, the only thing that I had was bad bad constipation. It was terrible and they prescribed me lactulose for the entire pregnancy. It was what really saved me.

Now i'm in my second pregnancy and it's the same. Already asked for lactuose and it's what really has helped me. I mean I tried the diet and so many things but still didn't work.

I hope it gets better for you.

Can u buy luctalose over the counter or do u need a prescription? I will defo try some as I’ve just noticed from earlier that I have a dreaded haemeroid now from pushing too much argh

You can buy over the counter. Xx

@Pickles31 i couldve written your post myself !! I had this around the same time as you! I was on the loo for ages and started to panic because it wouldnt come out too😂

Although you shouldnt sit and push as i immediately learned because you can gve yourself piles. I know only go when i am absolutely sure😂

Get some lactilose

I'm 26 weeks and the same. So constipated. I'm drinking about 2-3 litres of water a day, eating oranges and fibre rich foods but I'm still packed. I have the urge and then go and a bit comes and I can then feel the rest sitting there. I push but it doesn't move. I have to bear down and I know this is a no no but it's the only way I get some relief. I'm averaging every 2 days and dread it. I also have piles the size of raisins 😫

You can get lactulose over the counter, but some pharmacists still might not sell it to you. I got refused at one chemist as I was pregnant, even thought it's safe in pregnancy.

Advantage of having it prescribed is that you can use maternity exemption card, although if you're 31 weeks a big bottle will probably last you until the end of pregnancy so it's not going to break the bank!

I'd also recommend a cup of coffee in the morning, I find this often helps get things moving!

Thanks so much everyone I’ve got some lactulose to try :)

Some of advice for those of you finding your ‘poo’ stuck at the exit point but not coming out.

If you wrap some toilet roll around your two fingers, just put them at the entrance to your vagina, and push back towards your anus, whilst you are trying to push your poo out. You may find this helps to ‘pop out’ the hard ball of poo. So you are not inserting your fingers into your vagina, it’s just at the entrance and pushing on the wall of your anus. Also lots of lactulose, water, prunes and fresh fruit.

Lactulose made me worse. Try movicol/laxido.

Lactose all the way!
Hit it hard for 2 days 45 ml then 20 ml another 2 times a day and it will happen.
This happened to me last week, I literally thought I was giving birth but felt like a new woman after!
I've been keeping topped up with about 30ml a day now and had no more issues
Good luck OP!

I ate a lot of celery (fibre) and that helped me