15 weeks and awful constipation!

[Anyat212]

So I’ve finally just over come the ‘morning’ sickness, which funnily enough lasted every single minute of the day since week 6. This is with the help of sickness tablets as I was drastically loosing weight but one of the side effects from the medication is constipation.

I’ve unfortunately suffered with constipation since I was young (I’m 26 now) so I would of thought and said I had a high tolerance for it. However, it’s complete torcher I’ve not been for 8 - 10 days (which sounds horrific but that’s not unusual for me) it’s effecting work as I can’t sit still especially in the dreaded meetings.. I’m like this twitching crazy lady, who has to sit on her side in the corner!

Can any recommend any medication they’ve been prescribed or anything natural? (I’ve tried prunes, fruit, veg, exercise and plenty of water) I have a fairly healthy diet (think the sickness hasn’t helped tho!) but nothing is shifting it. My OH is currently at the pharmacy hunting down lactulose but I’m going to call the doctor again tomorrow. I’m sick of hearing eat more Fibre, which now I feel is a myth as it’s not helped at all lol. My poor OH is having to deal with me throwing 13 year tantrums every two minutes as my hormones are crazy. Any help or whinging would be more than welcome here, everyone I speak to loves being pregnant and is glowing.. I’m like the walking dead at the moment!

Movical and Lactulose are both safe to take for constipation. I'm going to have to get some myself 😭 just started today I'm 17+4. Apparently Fybogel is good too. Hope they work for you. I'm trying to drink loads of hot water and lemon too.

Ps I was glowing with dc1 now I can relate to the walking dead I've symptoms galore! Headaches, thrush, cold sores, sore pelvis/hips, pins and needles at night!

Dried dates and apricots.

Angelmiracle Thanks for your response! Ah I actually have movical in never thought, I think my brain just registers that anything effective can’t be used during pregnancy. I’ve just got my hands on Lactulose although the pharmacist has mentioned to have a 30ml dosage and I’ll be on the loo in 2 hours - although I’m desperate I’m also thinking about sleeping tonight! Lol

Ah isn’t it strange how each pregnancy can be so different? This is my first but I hear about it all the time, very jealous you were glowing first time around! I’m the same with cold sores aswell, hope your symptoms improve soon and you start to feel better

Thanks I’ll give the dried dates and apricots a try too

Are you taking Pregnacare or any other supplement with iron? I've had to switch to one without iron as it was making me constipated.

Oh god i know your pain but don't do what I did...In desperation to get things moving I took the max dose of Lactulose, drank a pint of fresh orange with bits in, had half a tin of prunes and drank the prune juice. Well lets just say that within two hours I was crippled with cramps and then the eagle landed along with all of its ancestors for the rest of the night. I though I was turning inside out!!! However...it did work but I'm just doing the Lactulose now as that seems to work without the drama lol hope you get things sorted I know hard it is especially in work xxx

Fresh orange is my saviour!!

Have you tried a strong coffee in the morning? Works like a charm for me if I haven't been for a few days.

From a pharmacy perspective, if lactulose or movicol doesn't work for you, then speak to your doctor about glycerine suppositories. Or you can buy them OTC if you are comfortable doing so (and they're widely considered safe in pregnancy).

Lactulose and movicol might not help if you already have a hard blockage by the immediate exit, as they work further up the bowel to soften the stool. I had this issue in my last pregnancy and have to use suppositories to clear the way, so to speak... and then kept things moving with lactulose.

This link talks about the various options during pregnancy and what's safe to use: www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/Medicine--pregnancy/Glycerin-suppositories/

Hope you can find something to sort you out. Are you drinking plenty of water?

Plenty of water and a strong coffee in the morning helps me (you can have one filter coffee a day).

If it makes you feel any better, I went the other way and actually shit the bed, for no apparent reason Glamourous business, this pregnancy lark.

Thanks for the replies - it’s really appreciated! It’s crazy to think I’ve sat there thinking why me?! I’m not taking any iron type of medication - I think it steams back to the morning sickness of not keeping anything down maybe..

I’ve read your message too late and done exactly what you have!! This morning I had a cap full of lactulose, a full carton of prune juice and so much water I thought I was going to explode so I’ve definitely went the other way now! Luckily I’m working from home today (I’m currently sat in the bath hoping nobody rings or questions my existence right now) I’m not usually someone who slacks to be fair but I just can’t be done with work today to be quite blunt!

And on that note how horrible is prune juice though? I feel that should just be a subject on its own? Surely it’s only constipated people who would EVER buy and drink that! It’s grim! Even the smell of it!

Thanks for all the information on the medication side and the link, I’ll have a read of that now. I feel people automatically judge you when you take medication during pregnancy, simply because they had no symptoms at all!

Haha - that made me laugh my boyfriend keeps telling me to be careful in case I have the same accident in bed! Little does he know what I’ve done today with the lactulose and prune juice..

@Anyat212 oh dear I feel your pain! I agree regards the prune juice I think I have a phobia over the bloomin stuff now! At least you can chill out today xxxx

@cowchickenduckdog thanks and glad to hear the lactulose is helping you! How far along are you? Xx

I’m 9 weeks today so still early how about you? Xx

Has the morning sickness been bad for you? I was awful around that time! 15 weeks I just can’t wait to find out if it’s a boy or girl now

Just read the title of your post again lol it says how far you are on there whoops! The ‘all day sickness’ has just been nausea luckily. I’ve been feeling horribly bloated, knackered and can barely remember my name which is ace when running my own shop!!! I’m just desperate to be able to tell everyone that I’m pregnant (so I can whine openly lol) and like you desperately want to know if it’s a boy or girl so I can plan and make lists lol However...other half doesn’t want to know till the birth which is lovely for him...it’s a battle I don’t need to win yet so I’ll leave it till just before the scan and see how I feel then!! this is my first and I’m old nearly 39 so this is all very much wanted and I’m not whining really

A tablespoonful of flax seeds (also called linseed) soaked in water overnight or for several hours. Drink it including the seeds, have extra water with it.
It works a treat - the soaking makes the seeds get a slightly slimy coating which makes your poo slippier, basically. Less likely to cause smelly farts than dried fruit!

PS do it daily or more, it can't hurt so long as you have lots of water. Without the water the seeds can be a bit absorbent and make things worse.

Have you pooed yet OP?

This is like an alternative "am I in labour?" thread... I need to know the outcome.

You have my sympathies. I have had it severely too, including in the last week when I thought I was ok and stopped the Movicol. Once you get it, take it regularly as maintenance. Lactulose gave me severe wind! Orange juice with bits in and avocado if, like me, you hate prune juice.

Thought I’d replied to these! I did manage to go but I still don’t think it was ‘everything’ (tmi probably but is it really with this topic of conversation?!) I’m back on the sickness tablets I’m on Ondansetron which I try and use when I’m really bad, was awful last night with the sickness - looking online it does cause really bad constipation to the point several people said it felt like giving birth! I felt slightly relieved as I’ve been telling my other half this so at least I’m not being a drama queen for a change! Just a thought if the doctor recommends those tablets to anybody really.. It’s a horrible choice though - be sick and completely bed ridden or not go to the loo properly I’m still just sticking to lactulose, water and the dreaded prune juice. Thank you for the recommendation on flax seeds and avocado I think I might try them, someone mentioned cranberry juice too? Has anyone tried that? I haven’t had cranberry juice in years!

The lactulose is giving me terrible wind too, I’m hoping it’s a good sign though!

@cowchickenduckdog I’ve completely got baby brain too! When I went to my booking appointment I forgot my partners DOB, his job title and my doctors name! Feel for you having to deal with customers all the time though and running a business! You must go straight to sleep when you’re home! I was the same I couldn’t wait till the 12 week scan to tell friends and family, the majority of my team knew as we share a small office and I was back and forth from the loo and did have 3 weeks off with terrible sickness including a trip to A&E so they needed to know. Still awkward at work though as I’m not showing at all and don’t really know how to say to other people “I’m back now, oh and I’m pregnant!” I’m not usually an awkward person but it’s probably me overthinking though.. Plus the majority of them think it was food poisoning

I wish I could keep it a surprise - it will be lovely for your OH. With the naesua I had this all day.. have you tried the sea bands? They really helped but I’m not 100% if it’s my mind making me think that or them actually being useful and also chewing gum or mints helped ease mine.

Ah how lovely - it’s my first pregnancy too so congratulations