Constipation is killing me

[MatronicO6]

So, the title says it all. I'm currently 10 weeks and despite a range of symptoms the constipation is by far the worse for me.

I've gone from being a daily person to maybe twice a week. I am so bloated, uncomfortable and just miserable. Tried loads of natural remedies, including drinking prune juice in warm water, veggie meals, fibre cereals and nothing has worked. Even my usual trick of a cup of strong instant coffee had no effect. I would like to avoid taking medication but feel it may be my only hope.

Any advice on things that effectively sped up their digestive systems?
I'm desperate at this point.

Fybogel.
Safe to use daily in pregnancy. It’s just Ispaghula Husk
www.boots.com/fybogel-hi-fibre-orange-30-sachets-10052725

Also you need to move, which I know you probably don’t feel like but lots of water and a good brisk 20-30 minutes walk every day. I found jogging on the spot in the kitchen works well!

Omg I completely sympathise. I too have been suffering. I’m 20 weeks now and haven’t had a bowel movement in 13 days. Fybogel, laculose and a high fibre diet is just not helping. I hope you feel better soon!

If it’s any consolation it does get better! I found it unbearable for a while but it’s been ok since about 15 weeks now.

Start taking a sachet of movicol once a day now!!!! And stick with the good diet, lots of fibre and water. I'm also avoiding too much gluten as that makes things worse for me. You really need a stool softener and there's lots that are safe in pregnancy, movicol being one. I'm 20 weeks and it hasn't got any better :(

if you get properly impacted you can shift it with eight sachets of movicol in a litre of water drunk over six hours. I top up the water with juice and then it tastes alright.

I accidentally discovered that Tesco value/miss Molly midget gem sweets can be very helpful in this situation...

Make sure your vitamins dont have any Iron in them.

I was the same with DS3. What finally cured me was hospital baked beans on toast.

Baked beans, Coca Cola and fruit juice like orange juice would be my next none medicated attempt OP as well as some walking or climbing stairs. Failing that I’d try movicol or similar. Good luck, it’s horrible you have all our sympathies!

You have to use the medication if the natural ways aren't working. I eat fruit before anything else in the morning, a massive handful of raisins, leafy green veg and drink coffee but if I don't use the stool softeners it doesn't help.
I used fybogel my first pregnancy but this pregnancy it didn't work so well so I resorted to movicol which works much better. I also take lactulose in Max quantity.
I actually ended up going to hospital when I was about 13 weeks pregnant as the stool got so stuck and impacted that I fainted from the pain and was leaking all over the place. It was one of the most horrendous experiences of my life. So since then I have taken whatever is needed.
I have still had to resort to miralax which is a glycerin enema you stick up your bottom so if all else fails it works within about 5 mins.
Good luck but please don't just stick with natural ways. Lucky if people can solve constipation with OJ and dried fruit but for lots of us that does nothing!

Forgot to say I am currently 40 weeks and it hasn't really eased, so you have my full sympathy!

Drink a lot of water every day. Walk, have fresh fruit and vegetables. Pregnancy does weird things to your body sadly.

Have you been put on iron supplements? They can bung you up, ask a pharmacist as there is a type (fumarate I think) that is much better.

Bran flakes, I was suffering really badly for weeks in the first trimester and fibogel did nothing for me - started eating bran flakes for breakfast every morning and been fine since (24 weeks now)

You can ask the midwife/doctor to prescribe you something to help. I’m pregnant with my second baby and have had a lot of experience with pregnancy constipation 🙁 I currently eat a high fibre diet, take senna and docusate. I’ve tried lactulose (not keen on the side effects) and fybogel in the past. I find bran flakes or a big bowl of alpen helps. Iron in tablet form will bung you up more so if you need to take it I suggest using Spatone - it’s kinder on the bowel.

Good luck, constipation can be hard to manage on pregnancy but if you keep on top of it and take things regularly it will improve x

And using a little step to put your feet on when on the toilet will help, puts the body in a better position to pass a stool. Google it x

Nothing natural helped me during my last pregnancy. I tried everything. Fibregel didn’t work either. Ended up 9-10 days with no poo. Glycerol suppositories were a god send for me.
At the same time I got issues with my stomach and almost 3 years later I’m still on medication. It may or may not be related.
Don’t suffer just because you don’t want medication.

[quote Whentheydontmeanwhattheysay]Fybogel.
Safe to use daily in pregnancy. It’s just Ispaghula Husk
www.boots.com/fybogel-hi-fibre-orange-30-sachets-10052725[/quote]
Yes.

You have my sympathy, op. Back in my day we were told not to take a laxative until after the three month stage. I used to be constipated all the time as a young person, not just in pregnancy.

Comfort yourself with this: you will be well prepared for labour! I felt as though I'd been doing it all my life.

My GP prescribed me Dulcolax and I just take 10ml before bed if its been a few days and I've been struggling. It's worked wonders! I have used it in this way for the past 15 weeks since I was 10 weeks pregnant. 10ml is less than the suggested dose but it's all I have needed. In the past when I have taken a higher dose, it sometimes has the opposite effect (diarrhoea) 😬

Thanks everyone, definitely got some new tips here. Will happily pursue all, but going to contact my GP tomorrow for advice on which medication may be best.

Think it's the only way forward, as I cannot go through this for the whole pregnancy.

2 weetabix morning and night at the worst of mine, the only thing that works for me!

Might be worth changing your multivitamin if you’re taking one? I was fine on the pregnacare max ones all through pregnancy but after I had my baby I started taking the pregnacare postnatal ones. Both types seem to have 100% of your daily iron in them yet I could fully smell the iron off the postnatal ones and I literally could not ‘ go ‘ even in the few days I took them. As soon as I stopped them I was fine!

Olive oil always does the trick for me. Dipping bits of bread into it.