Constipation problems!

[20viona]

On Monday I spent 6 hours in MAU with reduced movements and back pain.

They decided it was a kidney infection so Iv been taking trimethoprim, coedine and buscopan for the pain - all prescribed. I'm 32 weeks pregnant btw and baby is measuring very small.

I haven't had A number 2 since Monday! My stomach is hard as a rock and I am miserable!

I feel like the buscopan and coedine combined is a bowel disaster! Any advice?

Yes I bet you are constipated on that combo, you poor thing!
So basics are drinking enough water and having enough fibre in your diet, wholemeal bread and pasta, nuts, lentils, high fibre breakfast cereal, loads of fruit and veg. Avoid eggs and red meat
Walking if you are up to it will help, be aiming for at least 7-8000 steps a day.
You can buy movicol over the counter in pharmacies if water, diet and walking alone are not cutting it.

Forgot to say, really important that you get on top of constipation in the run up to your labour as it can become a problem, so if it's not improving with the above measures then you should contact your midwife or GP and get a prescription for something more

Thank you for your help! I used to have some lactulose but I can't find it, I'd be necking it if I could!

If you’re on codeine I’d skip the diet and exercise bit (great for pregnancy related constipation but not opiate related) and go straight to laxatives. Ask a pharmacist if you’re unsure which to take.

I agree with above - diet and exercise for the longer term, but right now you need a "clear out"!

Get some Movicol/Macrogol and take a lot of it, several sachets (no experience with Lactulose, sorry, apart from hearing how gassy it makes people).
Also get some glycerin suppositories and use those!

Maybe plan on staying at home through the "treatment" 😂

I had terrible constipation at week 33 (week 37 now). It was a weekend and I knew pharmacies wouldn't sell to me without me contacting a doctor.

Prunes have sorted me out. I am very sensitive to them so started with 2, went up to 4 a day, now only need one every other day.

You will probably need more as I'm sensitive to sorbitol. But I was so pleased to find something to help.

I've been prescribed Laxido/ Movicol as pregnancy has made my digestive system slow right down. It's not a laxative so is very safe in pregnancy. I was prescribed it over the phone by my GP and they recommended 1 or 2 sachets every day for the rest of my pregnancy.

No amount of diet changes or steps in the day worked for me without the Laxido 😬

Hope you get sorted soon.

So I took 2 constipation tablets from the pharmacy, the only ones that didn't mention not to take when pregnant and Iv successfully been 🙌🏼 hoping for a good clear out tbh 🤣