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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Severe constipation HELP

37 replies

NnathalieN · 25/12/2022 22:36

Hello everyone,

I am severely constipated and have been since my three year old was born. But since becoming pregnant (7weeks) it’s worse than ever!!! I’ve been needing laxatives at every toilet visit this past two weeks and I know that’s not good for your colon function.
I have tried prunes, flax seeds, chia seeds, oatmeal every day, drinking lots of water. But nothing works!! I’ve also tried mild over the counter laxative but no results.
Today was the worst, I think all the straining caused some kind of prolapse. Something is not right in there :-(
I need your advice!!

Please - what can I do??!!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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fairgame84 · 25/12/2022 22:38

Have you tried laxido? GP can prescribe it for you.

I had severe constipation and impaction at 31 weeks. It was awful. It got better once I went on laxido.

vintagechristmas · 25/12/2022 22:39

I got through it on senna and lactulose. It's grim, you have my sympathies

Original poster

NnathalieN · 25/12/2022 22:43

Yes! I was prescribed laxido this summer by my GP but midwife was not sure if I could use it during pregnancy so I tried a milder laxative. But I got all clear by a doctor to use 1-2 doses laxido when needed. But I feel like I need it everyday! I’m on day two know, took one dose yesterday and took two today.
What was your dosage? And did you use it everyday for the entire pregnancy?

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itsagranddayfordrying · 25/12/2022 22:44

What's the cause of your constipation? I suffered for years and had recurring uti and bladder pain. Turns out my pelvic muscles are too tight and now I go to a specialist physio . Just something to be aware of .

Original poster

NnathalieN · 25/12/2022 22:44

Lactulose did nothing for me unfortunately 😭… I really wished it would be a success for me but no nothing.

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Original poster

NnathalieN · 25/12/2022 22:46

I’ve never been examined nor sent for testing. They’ve just diagnosed me with chronic constipation and put me on a prescription for laxido to take when needed. 😩

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Yellowrosesblue · 25/12/2022 22:48

Try popcorn it helps.

IToldYouAmillionTimesAlready · 25/12/2022 22:50

Pure orange juice, Weetabix, chocolate, (not all in the same bowl!) should help

LadyEggs · 25/12/2022 22:50

The thing that worked for me (and I read it on MN) was warm prune juice. You really shouldn't start too far from the toilet after a glass of that

LadyEggs · 25/12/2022 22:51

*stray

babynoname22 · 25/12/2022 22:57

I had severe constipation. You have my sympathies. It's awful.

2 laxido sachets a day. Rather than as and when. A few days in you should see improvements. More water than you could handle and a squatty potty

jclm · 25/12/2022 23:02

There are two types of constipation medicine: 1. A stool softener such as movicol and 2. a type of medicine which stimulates the bowel to push the poo out such as senna or sodium picosulphate. You can buy all of these from Amazon for next day delivery.

Perhaps you should try movicol first to soften the poo. If you still don't have any results after a day or so, then try senna or sodium picosulphate alongside movicol. It will not hurt as the poo will already be softened.

Then you will need to find the maintenance dose that works for you so that you are not in this position again. My son is on one movicol sachet a day and 15ml sodium picosulphate a day for instance. You may have to experiment before you find the right dose for you as it depends on why you are constipated.

There is a Facebook group called movicol mummies who are real experts that you could join for more info and support.

Blue2020 · 25/12/2022 23:05

I’ve had constipation issues for a while pre pregnancy. I’m now pregnant and on iron tablets.

I decided to copy my dh, he has a bowl of cereal each morning- half bran flakes and half frosties. The bran flakes help, the Frosties are to mask the taste of bran flakes. I’ve been having these maybe 3 times a week and it has helped me go a bit more frequent. I wouldn’t say daily like he does, but every 3ish days which is an improvement. I don’t eat them daily though so it could be that.

Fathercrossmas · 25/12/2022 23:10

Have you tried going dairy free for a few weeks?

Original poster

NnathalieN · 25/12/2022 23:10

Thank you very much for the recommendation! I will search for the group on Facebook. I did one dose movicol yesterday and two today. Did you do it all throughout pregnancy? Praying for results soon. I’ve been using the rectal irritable laxative for the last few toilet visits which is not good for your colon at all as it becomes dependent on it.

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jclm · 25/12/2022 23:19

Don't worry about softeners such as movicol as they are extremely gentle - it literally just takes water to the poo to soften it up.

The way to look at it is - your bowel will become stretched with lack of feeling if you can't pass regularly, as it is holding poo from many days so it gets larger and larger. The poo must come out and you need whatever medicine that will enable that. Sounds like this is a pregnancy related problem that will stop after birth so I would overly worry about long term effects of using the stimulant medicine. Many people are on constipation medicine for life.

HarryBlaster · 25/12/2022 23:19

Movicol made me feel ill but I find Dulcolax excellent. I take 1-2 a week to keep things moving.

jclm · 25/12/2022 23:21

Yes, I would use movicol throughout pregnancy - perhaps try two sachets a day if one sachet is not working.

Piffle11 · 25/12/2022 23:26

Do you perhaps have an intolerance to something you think is good for you? I used to think I was being healthy by eating foods including bananas, salmon, baked beans ... all of which I later discovered I couldn't digest properly. They were creating excess wind, bloating, and constipation. And immense fatigue.

Hohofortherobbers · 25/12/2022 23:26

Prune juice every day. 2 tbsp Jordans bran sprinkled in your cereal every day. Cut back on eggs, bananas, rice white bread and white pasta, all very constipation.

jclm · 25/12/2022 23:31

If you are concerned, you could also use a glycerine suppository, which is inserted. It takes 10 mins and will produce results. You can buy these at pharmacies or on Amazon. A You Tube video can show you how to do it.

Original poster

NnathalieN · 25/12/2022 23:34

Yes! Dulcolax works for me although the very first bit in rectum is still always hard. Didn’t know you could use this during pregnancy. Was it ok by your doctor/midwife??

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Original poster

NnathalieN · 25/12/2022 23:40

Thank you!! I didn’t know there were such thing as glycerine supps. I’ve only used the tubes such as microlax. Is the glycerine more gentle? I’ve been using microlax for more than a week which is not good but no other option before the movicol starts to work.
midwife told me to eat more fiber but it’s made things worse!! Worried that it’s a severe blockage and that it won’t move but just build up. That’s how I ended up with a fissure three years ago. I appreciate all your advice!

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PeanutButterFalcon · 25/12/2022 23:54

Has anyone x rayed you to see if your blocked? (Obviously harder when pregnant and may be postponed)

theres actually 3 types of laxatives. Movicol/laxido draws water into your poo so it sounds like you need to drink more water.

i would get anything you want/need to take okayed by a GP first as some are not suitable for long term use.

check you are in a suitable position for pooing, stay active, and prune juice mixed with orange
juice was always a good one, but if your bowels are used to regular laxatives before pregnancy you’ll probably only be able to get a good result with them.

(nurse here, we love to talk poo)

Original poster

NnathalieN · 26/12/2022 04:41

The only thing that’s worked for me in the past has been Dulcolax. Movicol haven’t given me any results in two days and I don’t know if I can can go any longer without Dulcolax. I’ve been drinking sooo much water I’m almost nauseous by it.
I haven’t been doing any x rays or any other testing and I’m not sure what’s suitable during pregnancy.

I feel like the midwives and doctor’s recommendation to get more fiber has been making it much worse. It’s already a slow process for me to pass things through and now there’s just no movement.

when I talked to a GP she said to continue movicol but that midwives knows more about remedies and medication suitable for pregnancy… that felt… kind of weird. It takes my midwife days to get back to me. And since I’m only 7 weeks I haven’t even met her yet.

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