Constipation pain!

[confusednewmama]

I'm really sorry about how stupid this is going to make me sound...but I can't work out in the pain I have in my stomach is constipation pain or something related to the baby.

I'm 17 weeks pregnant, dry stools when going to the toilet and definitely not as regular as I should be and finding the last few evenings I've been having pains in my stomach.

Is this something I should call my midwife about, or should I get something to help me go the toilet instead?

I'm ready for the comments calling me stupid, but If I can get at least one helpful one that would be great!

I had piles from quite early on 🙈 weetabix is the main thing that seems to help me. Some days I’ll have two in the morning and two at night even and it’s sooo much better without even taking anything else

I'll have to give those a go! Want to try and avoid taking something medicinal for it if I can sort it out myself but I just want for this pain to go! Definitely feels like nothing I've had in my pregnancy up to now

Up your water as well!

It could be! Def up your water and I introduced a high fibre cereal 3 times a week. I’ve also bought myself a squatty potty because of the various toilet issues I’ve had through pregnancy and what a game changer! Would def recommend if you continue to struggle!

@confusednewmama yeah definitely, I haven’t taken any medicine since being pregnant and trying to avoid it til the end if possible 🙈 water and high fibre food does seem to really help. It’s the progesterone that slows down digestion I think and if you don’t keep on top of it you end up so uncomfortable 🙄

Laxido or lactulose!! Get yourself some stool softener, your midwife can recommend.

Sorry to hear you are in pain! I'm 23wks and I was in the exact same situation about 2wks ago. I was in agony and felt really bloated.
Things that helped me were keeping hydrated, moderate exercise, ,eating branflakes or shreddies at least once a day and trying to get as much fibre into meals as possible and taking lactulose for a few days. To be honest one thing that has really helped (and I'm probably going to get flamed on here for saying this) is having a strong cup of coffee in the morning. It really does help get things moving in my case. My caffeine consumption is well below the 200mg recommended NHS limit and two separate midwifes have OK'ed this "solution" as safe for baby ;) I'm actually more comfortable with having a shot of espresso than taking a laxative (I didn't want to take lactulose or anything else longterm) However if you can't stand the taste of coffee in pregnancy or you have chosen to cut out caffeine then obviously take my advice with a big pinch of salt! I hope you feel much better soon. Pregnancy can be rough on the body in all kinds of weird and wonderful ways that seem to change each week, or at least that is my experience as a rookie/first time mum! To be honest, if in doubt, call your midwife. I've called mine about literally the most ridiculous things (I have no shame!) and never once have I been told I'm being silly or wasting their time

Thanks for all the comments! Decided to get in touch with my midwife as the pain is still there when I've woke up, although obviously not been the toilet in my sleep haha, she didn't seem too worried and said I'm at the point where a growth spurt would be expected so the pain is normal, but obviously to go A&e if it gets severe or I have any bleeding.

Hoping it'll just go off soon cause my body is fully stocked up on fibre at the minute so surely nature will call soon 😂

Glad you managed to talk to your midwife. If the pain resolves when you poo (even if only temporarily), that's a good sign it's just constipation.

The powerful triple attack to constipation is:

1. Tinned pears. Our children aren't allowed them because of the potent consequences.
2. Prunes.
3. Grapes.

Eat as much as you can stomach. Dairy is often very, uh, "binding", so avoid if possible.

I highly recommend lactulose. It's an OTC stool softener, with zero contraindications for pregnancy because it remains in the bowel and is not absorbed by the gut. However, use with caution! I recommend starting with half the usual adult dose for three days before trying the full dose. And drink a lot of water with it, as that's how it works - keeping water in your poo to make it softer. It's easy to stop taking or just take once in a while, so don't worry about getting dependent on it. And it's fantastic for the first post-birth poo!

Movicol is not a medicine, it just helps retain water in your gut and is very safe in pregnancy. Ditto lactulose.
Prunes, cooked carrots, stewed fruit, vegetable soup are all good.
I would never recommend high fibre cereal or dried fruit because both absorb water from your gut and can set like concrete in your colon.
Bowel transit times are greatly reduced in pregnancy and the muscles are relaxed, so roughage takes much longer to go through. You want to keep everything soft for as long as possible.
If your stools have been hard and dry, you need to avoid bulky, hard, dry food.

Keep drinking water and eat sultana bran . I used to go 3 times a day before pregnancy and now I'm lucky to go once a day and it's so much worse when I don't eat Sultana bran 🙈

A pessary always worked for me

Alternatively, read the reviews of this cereal: www.amazon.com/Poop-Like-Champion-Highest-servings/dp/B0186GEX8E?ref_=d6k_applink_bb_marketplace&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

@confusednewmama you're not stupid at all!

Hopefully your constipation eases up a bit, but sorry to say I experienced the same as you and it hasn't eased up at all. During the second trimester I made myself a fig tea (literally dried figs steeped in hot water) and that seemed to work. But the more pregnant I become, the less effective that has been.

Adding more fibre and water to your diet is a must, although the latter also impacts your sleep and other things because of the amount of times you need to pee.

You might be in for a rough time, my stools have been rock solid for weeks, very large, and I'm swollen as a mofo down there from all the straining. Not to mention the piles! (Pregnancy is so glamorous!)

I'm currently 39 weeks and taking Lactulose. It's not really working very well in terms of making it easier to go, but stools are a little softer.

Hang in there!

Just a little update on this! Woke up today with no pain and after filling myself with fibre the past couple of days I finally went the toilet too!! 🙌🏻

Think it's been a mix of constipation and growing pains but I'm feeling normal again today and I'm so happy about it!