Constipation- sorry to be that person!

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I've been taking lactulose prescribed by the doctor and have stopped taking my prenatal suppliments as they contain iron which is known to slow the whole process down. I have been told by the midwife that I'm slightly iron deficient so can't stay off the suppliments any more. Does anyone have any advice? Thought about taking a normal laxative but the one I have says they have no evidence on its effects in pregnancy. It's Bisacodyl. Thanks...

Stool softener will be better for you than a laxative. No cramps, no risk to baby. I took movicol (also goes by laxido) for my entire second pregnancy, prescribed by my GP. You can buy it over the counter though. It's a powder you mix into water. Very effective. Prune juice is helpful too. I took both.

Also I found lactulose rubbish, did nothing for me at all.

Hi OP

It’s awful isn’t it, the constipation is so brutal. I wouldn’t take anything until you’ve spoken to a GP particularly laxitives. Although as PP states movicol and laxido (I’ve never used laxido) are safe during pregnancy.

Depending on your symptoms and what your GP says, they may recommend glycerine suppositories which I didn’t want to use at all! However, they are really good, effective and completely safe in pregnancy. I couldnt recommend them enough. It depends where the blockage is though (sorry tmi) they only work if the blockage is lower in the rectum, if it’s too high they won’t be effective. I’d still continue to use the lactulose as it will be softening things if you are drinking plenty of water and just check if you can use movicol or any other things like the suppositories etc.

I had brutal constipation earlier this week, I was prescribed CosmoCol that’s another similar product to movicol and laxido. Wasn’t as ‘gentle’ and I did have awful cramps but it did work just another idea if GP isn’t too sure to prescribe you anything.

Hope you feel better soon

My doctor recommended All Abram. I found it to be really good and a lot nicer than fibogel, which was revolting.

That should have read All Bran. Stupid autocorrect.

Glycerine suppositories to shift the initial blockage (honestly they really work and within half an hour as well, I was reluctant but the relief was bloody amazing)

Fybogel twice a day with lots of water to keep everything moving, along with blended fruit as a drink. It’s basically a fibre supplement and bulks stools to make them soft but you have to drink lots of water throughout the day or it will have the opposite effect. It works by drawing water into the bowels.

The problem with both Lactulose and Fibogel is that you need to drink loads and loads of water with them. I'm watching this with interest not because of pregnancy but because they're the 2 commonly prescribed for the elderly and I have an elderly relative struggling too.