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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Anyone got any solutions to pregnancy constipation?

28 replies

Jane7 · 31/03/2008 11:07

It's not so much that I don't go - I still go every day. But, well, without going into too much detail, it's not as easy as it used to be. Everything's a bit hard and painful to get out.
Sorry if TMI...
Any suggestions appreciated - I'm trying to drink lots of water and eat fruit and veg, but it doesn't seem to make much difference.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

StressTeddy · 31/03/2008 11:08

all bran at least once a day
and lots of water

Breizhette · 31/03/2008 11:09

Eating prunes and drinking around 2 litres of water are the only thing that works for me. If I get banged up, glycerine suppositories work every time.

Smittals · 31/03/2008 11:10

I'd forgotten about this! It was awful! I tried fybogel which was revolting and didn't make any difference, but dried apricots (ready to eat ones straight from the packet) helped a lot, washed down with plenty of water. Good luck...!

sophiewd · 31/03/2008 11:10

fybogel shifted the last problem

3littlefrogs · 31/03/2008 11:11

Lactulose, glycerine suppositories, loads of water. Don't eat bran - it solidifies into a huge blockage (sorry TMI). Stewed apples, cooked carrots, porridge are all much better.

Your gut slows down when you are pregnant, so you need to keep more fluid in the gut - lactulose helps with that and is safe to take when pregnant.

francagoestohollywood · 31/03/2008 11:26

I second glycerine suppositories.

pinacolada82 · 31/03/2008 11:35

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

francagoestohollywood · 31/03/2008 11:36

Yes, you'll find the glycerine suppositories in Boots. Don't know about lactulose, you might need prescription for it.

nobodysfool · 31/03/2008 11:39

My midwife gave me Lactlose when i had the same problem worked like a treat!

pofaced · 31/03/2008 11:42

Dried apricots definitely: eat your way through a bag every few days. A few sticks of raw celery. All bran/ bran flakes and lots of water. Do this every day for a week and you'll feel much better. Fybogel etc unpleaant imho: always better to it with healthy diet

franke · 31/03/2008 11:44

I drink a glass of prune juice every day - keeps everything moving gently.

AHLH · 31/03/2008 11:46

I posted the same question on Friday, and have had a "successful" weekend by chomping on dried apricots, dried figs and liquorice, and by increasing my fluids to 3L a day.

I have been on Lactulose in the past, but it was dehydrating me so my dr took me off it.

Have a scroll down and see if you can find my post called "Constipation!!!!" as there were all sorts of other suggestions about squatting rather than sitting etc.

Good luck.

nauseous · 31/03/2008 11:48

Jane 7 - try eating porridge every morning, with some dried apricots in if you like them. Cinnamon goes well with it too. Worked a treat for me! Good luck.

Clairedaz · 31/03/2008 12:57

I suffer from IBS so my workings at the mo are all over the place - but every day I take "Actimel" and before bed half a glass of prune juice. Not the nicest taste but it beats the bloat and constipation.

Orissiah · 31/03/2008 13:20

This may sound strange but it works for me - I meditate on the toilet - visualising everything moving smoothly and efficiently (sorry if TMI!!!) and also massage the small of my lower back - doing sweeping down movements. And it really really helps me!

Piccalilli2 · 31/03/2008 13:37

Dried apricots, and if you can raise your feet when you 'go' e.g. by putting them on a step stool that helps enormously.

hotHELL · 31/03/2008 20:03

Been eating lots of dried apricots too, dp says that i should be careful as they contain vitamin a, and too much vit a can harm the baby. Is that true? I do love my dried apricots...

chaoskay · 01/04/2008 14:23

I find eating crystallised ginger is a sure thing, it is an excuse for me to eat tons of the stuff too - which is no hardship as I love the stuff.

Maybe it will help?

3littlefrogs · 01/04/2008 14:29

hotHELL - you would have to eat a huge amount of apricots to do any harm - but you should never take vitamin supplements containing vitamin A when pregnant or TTC. There should be suitable warnings on all supplements containing vitamin A to this effect.

Libra1975 · 01/04/2008 15:03

hotHELL - I worried about that when I started eating dried apricots for the iron but apparently the type of vitamen A found in say Liver (which is a definte NO-NO) is different to the type of vitamen A found in apricots (have a read of this www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/nutrition/life_pregnancy1.shtml)

Dried apricots seem to be some sort of pregnancy super food! Iron, calcium, vitamen A. Pity they taste so horrible"""

Leenie · 09/04/2008 11:29

recently went and got Lactulose from my GP ..what a relief to be able to go again,lol.. i had forgotten how constipated you can get, Prune juice is also good, but with lots of ice to make it bearable, i think also a lot of the pains stitches ect that i have been getting were down to constipation.

BecauseImWorthIt · 09/04/2008 11:31

Thorntons Diabetic Toffee!

Just don't eat the whole packet. Trust me.

hanaflower · 09/04/2008 11:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Qally · 09/04/2008 21:33

Vegetable soup. Fluid and fibre all in one go! (Not the creamy ones, though - just your basic boiled veg and stock.)

cityangel · 12/04/2008 00:47

raisins, olive oil and liquorice

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