Is an enema safe at 32 weeks? ...TMI alert...

[threestars]

I'm afraid that now my needs outweigh my embarassment...
I've had terrible constipation all through pregnancy, despite drinking lots of water and eating a ton of wholegrain and brown rice etc, but this week I'm really worried and have got pains from the constipation - I haven't been able to produce a thing. Not even a little raisin-sized thing
I can't bear eating much more fruit to just load on top of all the other crap (literally) inside me, and am wondering whether it's safe to use a self-administered enema?
About a year ago, my SIL gave me some mini camomile enemas for self-administration when I had horrible constipation on holiday, but I no longer have the information leaflet. I know they work, but don't know if they'd have an adverse effect on the pregnancy...
Any advice welcome!

It's not a good idea no. It can cause contractions and you don't really want to be going into labour at this point do you. A better idea would be to go see your midwife or your GP and explain the problem.

How long is it since you have gone? If it's more than three days you do need to see someone if that's not normal for you. The docs sometimes prescribe safe laxatives in low doses I think.

But you can also try exercise, a long walk drinking lots of water will certainly gee up your digestive system.

Are you straining to go and finding it hard? Is it possible you don't want to go because you are worried it will hurt? Blowing raspberries or making horsey lips can help with this.

Oooh, no don't want contractions.
I'll call my GP. Appt would probably be Monday/Tuesday now, but this is an ongoing thing so good idea.
It's been since SUNDAY MORNING! And that wasn't great as Saturday and Sunday I had a little bug, I think, and had diarrhoea (as did DH. Lovely, glad we didn't have guests...) and even then I still felt blocked up.
I don't mind the pain of pooing, as it's only temporary. It just feels like nothing is shifting down to where it should be to even start attempting to push. But I will try anything. So I shall try to blow raspberries and make horsey lips without laughing and hope there's no hidden camera in the bathroom.
Sorry again for too much info.

Message withdrawn

Ah you have reactive constipation then - happens after diarrhea - don't fret that's not so bad. If you keep drinking, eat a high fibre breakfast and walk about a lot things will start moving again. Anything up to a week is normal after having the trots. Your bowels are recovering. If you are not actually feeling poo in your bum you probably don't need to go yet. Make the appt anyway though just in case things haven't ahem, moved on, by then

BTW there is no such thing as TMI on this board!

Thanks chocolate and pruners (mmm, reminds me, had tinned pears last night, maybe prunes on the menu tonight...)

I just have this horrible vision of you eating prunes and instantly exploding 'down there', that's pretty much what I do if I even think of eating prunes, but it sounds like you might have a little more to come out, haha!