TMI - bathroom stuff

[Mrsmummy90]

This is really embarrassing but I'm at my wits end!
Since being pregnant, I've been badly constipated. Lactulose literally does nothing so is there anything that anyone can recommend?

Glycerin suppositories - I was on ondansetron for most of my pregnancy, and they became my must have. Not glamorous, but they’ll sort you out. It’s miserable, you have my sympathy!

Suppositories and endless movicol. Works eventually and my constipation eases as I hit third trimester (when heartburn takes over for me- but a welcome relief from being bunged up!)

A friend mentioned suppositories today but I thought she was joking 😂🙈 I'll definitely have to get some. Do they sell them at pharmacies or will I have to get a prescription?

You can get them in a pharmacy, so if you’re a bit embarrassed (I was at first), find a Boots with a self-service till! Honestly, they made me feel so much better. Total lifesaver.

Prune juice! It’s rank but it definitely works!

@Mrsmummy90 I've also had this and it's awful! I've found eating lots of prunes helps - like 12 a day. Can't stomach the juice but actual prunes are quite tasty. I add them to porridge, and also just eat them straight - morning and night. Good luck!

I've been wondering about prune juice and fresh prunes but I'm nervous to try them 😂 I know that sounds so silly. I'll see if I can find any recipes that will hide the taste lol

@Guineapiggiesmalls I think I'll do just that! Thank you 😊

Google ‘squatty potty’ and try to incorporate the principles - try and get your knees parallel too or above your hips ... I can just about ‘grip’ the sink with my tippy toes to get my legs straight ... straightening out the colon rather than bearing down has been a game changer. Figs, dates, prunes, prune juice, breathing out and releasing when you push, hot drink ( even just water with lemon) first thing, trying to go after a warm shower or bath when you are relaxed

Thank you! I will give it all a go!

Just be careful with prune juice/prunes after pregnancy if you're breastfeeding... It'll open up your newborns bowels too!

Everything that everyone else said is what I would say. I too suffered badly. As for prunes try blending them (minus the stones obviously!) with chocolate milk. Or eat with hot custard.
After I had given birth to my third (I was 42 +3 so had been induced) I was kept in for a couple of days. I wasn't actually constipated then but owing to stitches and tenderness felt nervous about pooing. I was given a liquid to drink which I actually felt going down, warm like alcohol--but within minutes I was able to go. Amazing stuff but I have no idea what it was.

I found probiotics worked better for me than laxatives pr prunes! Yoghurt/kefir drink/supplements. Worth a go OP!

I need to second prune juice - it's really not as bad as you think, just knock it back! It worked for me within an hour, and this is after 4 days of no movement whatsoever I've also added loads of fruit to my diet and it seems to help.

@Poppins2016 I'm still breastfeeding my 1 yr old. Will she get diarrhoea if I have prune juice? Really don't want to make her unwell

@Mrsmummy90 I ate lots of prunes in late pregnancy due to constipation and continued to eat them after delivery in anticipation of 'the first poo' (2nd degree tear but genuinely no issues in that department, I can recommend my strategy!). I'd probably say I ate 6-8 every day.

Then I carried on eating prunes because I like them and they were there by my hospital bed and I was hungry... Then continued at home accompanying my breakfast cereal because I had a bag to finish (good old Holland & Barrett)... But thought it was unusual that my newborn had so many dirty nappies!

It turns out (according to an IBCLC midwife I spoke to) that they recommend eating prunes/drinking prune juice if baby has constipation. What you eat affects your milk (spicy, acidic, strong taste, etc.), so the effect of prunes will reach your baby. Oops! I cut out the prunes and DS had fewer dirty nappies. It wasn't totally disastrous (not diarrhoea level and he didn't seem unwell) but it certainly affected him and wasn't exactly ideal for a newborns delicate system...

In your position, if I was breastfeeding an older baby, I'd be comfortable trying the prunes. Just keep an eye on the nappy situation! I've eaten a few prunes on the odd occasion since the newborn days and it's been fine. Worst case scenario, just stop eating prunes!

Thank you! I'll definitely give it a try and keep an eye on her nappies! Tbh, she was a little bunged up the other day so it might do her good as well lol