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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Constipation help!

25 replies

Pregnancyq · 18/07/2023 08:50

Hi all,

Definitely not a poo troll! I'm on the pregnancy threads for my due month etc but I've NC as it's embarrassing.

I'm really, really struggling with constipation. I'm just over 10 weeks and this has been going on for almost 3 weeks. I can only go every 3-4 days and it's always painful and takes a really long time (sorry if that's TMI).

Is this something I need to call the midwife about or does anyone have any advice on what's worked for them? It doesn't help that my diet is crap at the minute because I can't stomach the thought of most foods. Trying to at least get some fruit in every day but the rest is pretty much just carbs like toast or potatoes.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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RGxo13 · 18/07/2023 08:51

Buy lactulose over the counter from pharmacy. 10ml twice a day. It’s about £7. That’s what my midwife recommended me and it really helped. Do it before it’s too late and you get haemorrhoids! X

CindersAgain · 18/07/2023 08:54

I’ve tended this way since pregnancy and magnesium citrate supplements are enough to keep it just about ok. I first starter taking them to help with sleep, so it was an accidental benefit! I take one at night.

https://amzn.to/3NZsqYS

Peony654 · 18/07/2023 08:55

I’ve been using lactulose, it’s safe in pregnancy and has helped me. And see if you can have some prunes

Original poster

Pregnancyq · 18/07/2023 08:58

Thanks all, will definitely get some lactulose today as I'm in agony!

OP posts:

Original poster

Pregnancyq · 18/07/2023 09:00

I haven't heard of that @CindersAgain thank you!

OP posts:

Spottypineapple · 18/07/2023 09:20

Lactulose to start you off.

Then fibogel drink once or twice a day to keep things moving from then on. And lactulose if things get stuck again!

I got a bulk pack of fibogel off Amazon not too expensive

A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 18/07/2023 09:24

Warm water and lemon, orange juice with bits, a coffee in the morning (if you can stomach it), and dried dates. I'm also taking the Zita West psyllium husk capsules this time around.

I had it really bad last pregnancy, and someone recommended wrapping loo paper around their fingers and pressing on the bit between your vagina and bottom as you're going. That really saved me as I got to the point i was tearing slightly.

snoopy18 · 18/07/2023 09:29

When eating carbs try to have wholegrain so wholegrain bread and pasta etc.

Original poster

Pregnancyq · 18/07/2023 11:00

Thanks everyone I definitely need to get on top of this x

OP posts:

blodyn91 · 18/07/2023 11:47

not sure if taking iron supplements, but I would stop. And take individual supplements and take iron as spatone, much kinder on the guts

RJ2023 · 19/07/2023 08:53

I've found that raising my feet (e.g. using a step or the side of the bath) when on the toilet helps me to go. You feel a bit silly doing it but it is better than being constipated!

I had to spend a few days in hospital recently and the medication stopped me from being able to use the toilet - one of the nurses recommended doing that when I was really struggling and it worked.

Hope you feel better soon

difficultlemons · 19/07/2023 09:09

Chia!!! It works miracles

Pollywoddles · 19/07/2023 09:11

Lactulose, horse the water into yourself and have a big bowl of bran flakes if you can manage it. It’s the only thing that saved me and during and after pregnancy.

Whataretheodds · 19/07/2023 09:13

I take Zita West Pysllium husk capsules. I have lots of extra, I can send you one if you like to see if it helps. PM me if so.

AuntieJune · 19/07/2023 09:24

RJ2023 · 19/07/2023 08:53

I've found that raising my feet (e.g. using a step or the side of the bath) when on the toilet helps me to go. You feel a bit silly doing it but it is better than being constipated!

I had to spend a few days in hospital recently and the medication stopped me from being able to use the toilet - one of the nurses recommended doing that when I was really struggling and it worked.

Hope you feel better soon

I got a squatty potty during first pregnancy (nearly 7 years ago!) and I'd never be without one now, plus DC use it as a step to get onto the toilet. I actually miss it when I'm on holiday or out and about :)

You can get off-brand ones for peanuts.

AuntieJune · 19/07/2023 09:33

Seconding the chia recommendation, or flax seeds are good too - soak in water overnight, they go slippy, this helps to assist your natural gut lubrication to get things moving.

Avoid anything too starchy like biscuits, white bread, potatoes. Bread and meat are bad too. Cereal and fruit/veg is good. You could do an oaty fruit smoothie that you can down if your appetite is not too good.

Re iron there are different types, my midwife moved me from one to another because it was less likely to constipate. One of them was ferrous fumarate, can't remember what the other was!

Movement helps - cat and dog stretches, walking, swimming.

You could also look up the hand and feet pressure points for constipation, or see a reflexologist/acupuncturist.

And also lactulose!

I found constipation was bad at the start, then again at the end and really bad after birth, so you might as well become an expert! It's a thing people don't really talk about but can make you miserable.

jollydollyirl · 19/07/2023 09:39

+1 for chia seeds! Honestly miracle workers! Take a tsp in a glass of orange each morning. I've been doing this all pregnancy and haven't had a problem since.

RJ2023 · 19/07/2023 09:39

AuntieJune · 19/07/2023 09:33

Seconding the chia recommendation, or flax seeds are good too - soak in water overnight, they go slippy, this helps to assist your natural gut lubrication to get things moving.

Re iron there are different types, my midwife moved me from one to another because it was less likely to constipate. One of them was ferrous fumarate, can't remember what the other was!

Movement helps - cat and dog stretches, walking, swimming.

You could also look up the hand and feet pressure points for constipation, or see a reflexologist/acupuncturist.

And also lactulose!

It's awful after the birth - completely agree - everything was so sore and painful it made me avoid going and then when I finally built up the courage to try... nothing happened! Don't make the same mistake as me!

MayMi · 19/07/2023 09:45

Taking a probiotic e.g. Yakult really made a difference for me. Also helps with gas and bloating if you have that too.

endofthelinefinally · 19/07/2023 09:49

It is so difficult if you are feeling very sick.
I could not digest any vegetables/roughage at all until I got to about 24 weeks - it all came straight back up (sorry, TMI).
I put lactulose in hot fruit squash and sipped it very slowly. Taking around 15 mls of lactulose a day that way kept everything soft.
Small amounts of porridge were manageable.
Once I was able to eat I added stewed fruit, cooked vegetables (beans and carrots were good). Wholemeal everything, but not bran because that produced enormous stools that were very hard to pass. Prunes, figs and kiwi fruit are good.
Lots of fluid.
Anything raw was completely indigestible for me, I did have hyperemesis though.

Pollywoddles · 19/07/2023 10:17

I had heard so many horror stories about the after birth poo. I was on Oxynorm in the hospital so I really pumped myself full of water, ate the bran flakes and took the lactulose. I remember the look of shock on the nurses face when she asked if I’d had a bowel movement and I said I had. It was completely painless too.

Rudimental · 19/07/2023 10:18

What's a poo troll? 🤔😂

CR7 · 19/07/2023 10:25

RGxo13 · 18/07/2023 08:51

Ditto this. Exactly what I did. Took it for a couple of days and haven't needed it since xx

AuntieJune · 19/07/2023 12:39

Rudimental · 19/07/2023 10:18

What's a poo troll? 🤔😂

Creepy buggers who get off on toilet-themed discussions

Original poster

Pregnancyq · 20/07/2023 07:24

Thanks everyone, I've heard a lot about chia seeds before but never tried them. I've actually been using an upside down bucket to put my feet up on ha!

I used to have a cup of tea every morning and I think cutting this out was working against me so I've reintroduced that and already things are improving.

As for staying away from meat and carbs, that sounds like a dream! My nausea currently won't allow this and vegetables seem like a distant memory...

@Rudimental I've never actually seen one for myself, but apparently there are people who get off on starting threads about poo

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