It's "just" constipation...

[anotherday22]

I feel awful. Lethargic and tbh quite unwell. I'm never unwell but I really do feel ill this time. It's getting worse. Family say try this or that (as if I've not thought of it) and you'll be fine. It's "just" constipation.

I've been to the GP and midwife who have been kind and I get their situation - that so many laxatives are just not tested enough so they are reluctant to prescribe stronger things.

...the thing is it's not "just" constipation. It's making me unwell. Making me worry about my baby and I'd just like it to be treated with a little more care. If I had sickness I feel this would be different. Maybe I'm hormonal but I suppose I'm just reaching out here because it feels quite frankly like I have no one else just now.

Oh gosh OP. I echo PP who despaired at some GPs. Please do not let one misinformed medic’s actions stop you taking treatments which will work.
You need a macrogol laxative: Laxido, Movicol, Dulcosoft even does one now! Measure the water carefully, stir the powder in, down it and repeat as per instructions on box depending on the severity of the condition. Constipation is horrendous!
In case you’re a FTM, I would also pack some Movicol sachets in your hospital bag to try and prevent the horrific post-partum constipation that feels like you’re giving birth all over again but through the wrong hole… I was on the Laxido within hours of giving birth and it saved my bacon.
Good luck OP.

I really feel for you, constipation is not taken seriously enough. You need to approach the problem from the other end, by using glycerin suppositories. It ain't pleasant but they work very quickly.

I was constipated in pregnancy and got totally fobbed off and blamed for not eating enough fibre. It still makes me mad! For some people pregnancy hormones really affect digestion, it isn't your fault!

Use suppositories - I'm 35 weeks pregnant and suffered horrendously. Seriously, get some!

the only thing that worked for me was - on my midwifes recommendation- eating kiwi fruit everyday.

Along with fibre, exercise and water- your physical position when on the loo has a massive impact on how easy or difficult it is to poo. Look up squatty potty. A western, seated toilets makes the bowel go into an S bend and makes it far more difficult to poo. A squat style toilet, straightens the bowel out and makes it so much easier. Just by raising your feet up- whilst sitting on a western toilet, will have a similar effect and help so much. Even your feet on a childs stool/step, large tins, bricks etc will help.

Squatty Potty - The #1 Way to #2! | SquattyPotty

-Squatty potty (or, as I bought, a cheap fold-up stool)
-Macrogol!!!! I take one sachet every day. It's fine.
-tons of water
-glycerin suppository when needed

op, I have every sympathy. In frequently went a fortnight between poos when pregnant, and but much better when not tbh.

I'm a bit 🙄at your GP though, senna stimulates the bowel which is why they are shy off prescribing laxatives in pregnancy in case the bowel kicks off why chevrons. I can't take it as they cramps are just too painful.

Movicol though, is just like taking those little gel beads that swell up in water. As long as you drink enough (which really is key) they just make your poo more liquid so it comes out more easily.

Often you have to take a few sachets to clear the blockage (you can tackle from both ends, suppositories to clear the hard lump and then Movicol will clear what's behind).

Once you've cleared out you can then work itt what you need to keep you going each day, normally one or two.

There's also fybogel which didn't work for me but does for many and was what I and SIL were prescribed in pregnancy.

Have some 💐though, as they're studying the gut/brain link there's more understanding of how being considered affects your mental health. It is awful and people not afflicted just don't get it

Hope it all passes soon

Thanks so much for all the support.
After the whole can of prunes and yoga plus the laxatives I have been given, Unfortunately no change this morning. I had some cramps overnight and was hopeful ...but nothing.

I'm waiting until the gp opens to phone and ask/beg for the movicol and some suppositories.

I am also surprised they prescribed a laxative (senna) which causes contractions in the bowel and not a passive laxative like macrogol.

@anotherday22 you don't have to wait for the GP! You have the Movicol and you can buy the glycerin suppositories over the counter! Why are you waiting?! Get the suppositories, insert one, chug some movicol, lie down for 20 mins and relief!!

Thanks @Regenbogen22 I know you're right. I'm just really scared now. It's been my GP, the doctor at OOH and midwife who were all reluctant to prescribe.

Absolutely buy the Movicol and there's also other brands cosmocol and laxido which you can ask for over the counter and which are considerably cheaper.

It's far less risky than the senna, honestly

Also be careful, I have a 'habit' of firing the suppositories back out

Agree with Matching, absolutely no reason to wait for the GP bun fight on a Monday morning. Get yourself to a pharmacy and buy them.

Been out and got them but of course they state "constipation relief suppositories should not be used in pregnancy unless your doctor has told you to do so". My DP has told me to not take them until I'm given the ok by the GP...

And yet you've already got many women on this thread saying it's fine and they used them, and a GP who prescribed a laxative that could theoretically cause uterine contractions and which should only be suggested after things like Fybogel, Macrogol, and who prescribed you something that hasn't worked in weeks!! (Lactulose).

The only reason that warning is on so many bloody things is because companies don't test their products on pregnant women.

The suppositories just cause what's up there to slip out easily.

Please please give yourself some relief!! 😜

@Regenbogen22 Thank you . I do appreciate the support I've been given on here. I know everyone has commented with intention only
go help.

It's just difficult to move past stark warnings. We are just so worried about this baby.

I have spoken to another gp now who was very kind. And told me to take movicol along with the suppository alongside the lactulose and senna and I will be reviewed tomorrow. So I've duly done that and now patiently wait some relief.

Yayyy! Fingers crossed for some action later on 😜😜🚽

@anotherday22 as well as what @Regenbogen22 said about medicines not being tested on Pg Women there's also very much a 'you need to get checked out in case it's more sinister than 'just' constipation' thing going on.

Genuinely sticking a glycerine suppository (not bisacodyl) is barely different from sticking a Haribo up there.

So glad you found a GP who was sympathetic and I've their stuff, I think the training on constipation IDs woefully lacking for GPs as it's, add in pregnancy and it's much worse.

You might want to have some wipes/soft flannel and sudocrem for after as it may be a bit sore

Nurse here. Also 30 weeks pregnant.

Pharmacy easily recommends and sells me Movicol whenever I am constipated throughout this pregnancy (which is often)?
I am in Australia.

Also please use Glycerin suppositories if you are 4+ days constipated! You really need unblocking. You can actually be hospitalised after 3 days of no bowel movement.

Good luck OP! As someone else recommended kefir is really good. Once you’ve got moving again with the big guns, I really recommend it as a daily thing to help stop being so backed up again

How are you finding greasy foods? I had a chip shop kebab. It gave me indigestion all night and the next morning it cleared everything in my bowel just about.

I've also used glicerine supositories in the past when not pregnant and they got everything moving. Much better than senna I used to use.

Constipation is evil - you have my sympathy!

With my first pregnancy I remember a particularly traumatic episode when it happened on the toilets at work and people kept using the cubicle next to mine so I had the stress of both being constipated and having hardly any privacy! 😬😬

Oh god I had this awful with my first it was awful , prune juice from Holland and Barrett was my saviour

Thanks everyone, it's meant a lot not to feel alone with this.

So it's been a long day. For anyone wanting an update on my bowels -
I had a some pellets pass following the glycerin supp. But sadly nothing else. Tummy still bloated. Hoping the evenings dose of laxatives will work overnight followed by more glycerin in the morning. Spent the day making a variety of soups hoping they will help too.

@Spottybutterfly - don't seem to help unfortunately. I've tried a few different takeaways with that in mind over the last 2 weeks.

@anotherday22 I'm sorry to hear this. It's the pits!

I was insanely constipated after having a craniotomy and tried all the over the counter stuff as well as all the fibrous foods. It was making me so panicky as nothing would help.

One morning my DH had a brainwave. He came home with a McDonalds coffee. Apparently every time he would have one, it would run through him like a steam train (sorry, tmi). I had nothing to lose so went with it. Low and behold, soon after the coffee worked its magic and I was no longer constipated. The relief was incredible.

A year or so later, a friend had a major surgery and ended up in the same boat. She got herself a McDonalds coffee on my recommendation and it did the trick for her too. I think the NHS should consider prescribing it 😂.

I know coffee isn't ideal in pregnancy but in this case I would imagine the benefits far outweigh the cons.

If you do try it, I really hope it works for you! ☕️ 💐