Pregnant and constipated! Anyone else?

[Alicia870]

19 weeks with second baby and suffering badly with constipation. Unfortunately have really bad piles from first pregnancy and delivery and looks like they are back with a vengeance.
Find myself going maybe every other day but so hard to pass - and never feel properly finished?! Also feel super swollen down there and don't think straining on the loo is helping.
Please is there anything that actually works that I can take or do? I'm drinking loads of water but doesn't seem to be helping.

Hi, I suffered badly with this in my last pregnancy. Doctor prescribed lactolose taken once a day which worked! You can buy it over the counter too.

www.boots.com/lactulose-3-3g-5ml-oral-solution-500ml-10074963

Hi, I suffered throughout this pregnancy, now 38 weeks and things have gone the other way 🙈 I used dulcosoft, don’t strain though... you need to take it on the first day you can’t go, and then when heavily constipated it may take 2/3 days to work. There might be a cheaper alternative but as it worked for me I was reluctant to change.

The constipation is awful!!! I'm taking fybogel.

I’ve literally been suffering so bad! Same as you constipated and swollen down there! I’ve added changes into my diet over the last few days and it’s helped so much! I have added a small cup of prune juice in the morning (yuck but what the doctor ordered), I’ve been having plain yoghurt with milled flax seeds, flaked almonds and abit of honey for pudding, decaf coffee a lot (don’t know if this has helped at all!) normal fruits and vegetables, lots of apricots and have bran flakes every morning!

I just looked at things to add more fibre into your diet on internet and just picked the ones I didn’t mind doing! I’ve never had problems before but as soon as I got pregnant, it was my first symptom and had just got unbearable!

Great tips thanks so much. Definitely worth changing up my diet which prob isn't helping matters. When they say eat lots of fibre I honestly never know what foods that even means so those tips were good and will also try the medications. It's really awful as I know it'll only get worse as the months go on and feel it's just putting so much pressure on my pelvic floor!

Lactulose and glycerin suppositories are your friends

Could I also ask - I find the pregnacare vitamins make me so much worse. How important is it to take these? I haven't been great with them this pregnancy for this reason

Same! 11 weeks here and suffering every few days.

My nurse (IVF) recommended Fybrogel, and I try and have things like dried apricots on my cereal as well. Lots of water too and peppermint capsules (normally I drink peppermint tea which helps but I've gone right off hot drinks)

I'm only 10 weeks but suffered loads at first. Currently I've found porridge with flaxseeds and berries for breakfast and then German 100% whole rye bread for lunch helps + a lot of water to keep hydrated. It's really eased the pain and bloating, and kept me more regular. So definitely echoing lots of fibre and keep very hydrated. I also take pregnacare so it seems to have combated that as well.

🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️ Me too !!

I’m 15 weeks and it kicked in about a week ago . With my first pregnancy I didn't get constipated until closer to my third trimester. I’m trying to drink lots of water but if I drink too much I feel sick 😔

You don't need to take pregnacare, only folic acid and vitamin D. I found those pregnancy multivitamins made the constipation so much worse.

You don't 'need' the vitamins at this point - it will be the iron in it making you constipated. So you could go without especially if your diet is good and you haven't had anything like anaemia in the past. I would recommend lactulose though, you'll really need to drink lots of water with it though especially in this heat.

I also bought lactulose, only takes me a little bit to get me going again.

Just an update on this!
Tried the prune juice which has worked wonders for regularity - seems to be a very effective laxative! Also been eating better in general and much better overall.

However - still have sore piles! what can I use that's actually effective? Hoping that once I get them under control then as bowel habits are a bit better it will all get a little easier over time!