Severe pregnancy constipation - nothing is helping!

[DecemberRose19]

I'm 10 weeks pregnant and have had the worst constipation and bloating for the past two weeks. I think I've managed to go to the toilet three times during this period and only very small and hard deposits 😅 I'm usually very regular!

My stomach is killing, just so uncomfortable.

I've been taking fibogel twice a day, drinking loads of water and eating lots of a fiber rich food. Is there anything else I can do? Can I take laxatives that are actually going to work?

Finally- will this get better as I move into the second trimester? I never had this with my previous pregnancy.

I would switch from fybogel to movicol or cosmocol (you can buy these over the counter)
I also take the occasional senna in the evening that works the next morning.
Really important to get on top of constipation early in pregnancy or it can cause haemorrhoids

have you tried

https://www.superdrug.com/health/stomach-bowel/laxatives/califig-syrup-of-figs-with-fibre-100ml/p/660701

I have the opposite problem i am meant to take iron as i get low iron but my body hates it.It causes explosive diarrhea =/

Thanks I will try these! I'm seeing a GP later about a different issue but plan on asking what I can safely take, its awful!

You need an osmotic laxative like movicol or lactulose. Too much high fibre food is not good in pregnancy. So, for example, avoid things like all bran as it sets like concrete, but do eat things like prunes, porridge, stewed fruit, lentils, vegetable soup. Prunes are good.

Oh bless you - I had a bad phase with this when I started progesterone pessaries and it was miserable! In addition to the recommendations above, try a prune yoghurt each day. I had the Actibio ones. Mine did clear in a couple of weeks and thankfully hasn't returned (currently 30+4). Good luck!

I have just got mine under control at 33 weeks, as am ondansetron and was on iron tablets. what has finally worked for me is lactulose 25mg twice a day, at least 3 litres of water as well! I tried prune juice but it made me want to throw up. So instead I have two kiwis a day, which I look forward to! (skin on - get the sungold ones they aren’t furry with the skin) and some grapes.

I hope you are able to get it sorted, I have ended up with a thrombosed haemorrhoid from letting it get so bad, which is incredibly painful…don’t be me 😂

Thanks everyone some really good advice here! Having Dahl tonight and off to buy some lactulose and all the recommended fruit 🤞

I just want to say that you are absolutely not alone. All 3 of my pregnancies I have suffered with terrible constipation, I'm 11 weeks with the third one and experiencing the same thing. My second pregnancy I was straining so hard at 37 weeks I actually started bleeding from my cervix it was that bad 🙈

Prune juice!!

Things that help:
-Blended fruit smoothies
-butternut squash soup
-Actimel (lots of sugar in these btw)
-pears and live yogurt
-Peaches

Things to avoid:
-Fizzy drinks, especially Coke
-white bread (brown or 50/50 is fine)
-Processed meats like ham or reformed chicken
-Any processed food

Do also get a laxative that works for you to clear the backlog. Hope it eases up for you soon!!

I had this with each pregnancy and nothing helped but lactulose.

this pregnancy I had very low iron levels and put off taking any medication for it as I couldn’t face being even more constipated. But the levels got so low that I had no choice but to go on iron tablets and surprisingly they did the opposite on me and loosened everything up and ended up going 1-2 times per day for the rest of my pregnancy once I started taking them.

so if you’re even slightly anaemic maybe ask the midwife if you could be given some iron tablets as these may actually help!

Prune juice.

you can get glucose suppositories if you're really bunged up

Chia!

It's awful! The weird thing is I have absolutely no urge to go so I'm not even straining- but my stomach is sooo bloated and full and it's so uncomfortable 🙃

I'm not recommending this, but i once ate an entire packet of polos in a couple of hours.

Man alive! 😫 I had such a bellyache.
Never again.

I’m 31 weeks and had awful issues with this a couple months ago. Lactulose sorted me out and I’ve found the best way of stopping it reoccurring is to have high fibre granola for breakfast each morning.

Hi lovely
had this too….tried movocol with no luck. My mum has always banged on about papaya as she suffers with constipation she bought me one and told me to have a big slice every day. Honestly it was a god send and I felt much better that it was just a fruit and could eat as much of it as I needed. It can be tricky to get hold of if you are Uk based, try an Indian or Pakistani food shop.

I had this and went for a very very long walk which got everything going, I think I had to run the last 100 m to get to the loo. Walking will help with so many pregnancy related problems. Especially the constipation.

Sounds like you need some laxatives when you speak to your doctor.
Having Ibs my whole life and spending hours looking into this issue I came across a study where they found that too much fiber can cause blockages / make the situation worse. They removed fiber completely from their diets and it eliminated constipation issues. I tried it myself and I couldn't believe it, no more bloating or constipation. It's bizarre why they don't at the very least caustion too much fiber can be a bad thing.

Prunes (not prune juice) and kiwis sorted me out.

Also, stay away from bananas.

Lactulose is the only thing that worked for me! I was incredibly sick and could not go the entire pregnancy despite downing prune juice, water, herbal teas, and eating fibre foods. My body just completely stopped. It was horrible.

Fybogel did nothing. Laxido helped for a bit, but it tasted awful and eventually stopped working. Then I took magnesium citrate which worked a little but then also stopped. I begged for lactulose and it was a lifesaver. Worked until the end of pregnancy and postpartum.

If you are so desperate, beg your doctor for lactulose - don't except anything else!!

Lactulose and glycerine suppositeries - then once you get things moving, lots of soluble fibre - like tinned pears and apples.

Lactulose, and plenty of water.

I ended up having to take it daily, as I needed iron tablets, which can make you VERY blocked up. Lactulose can make the bowels a little looser than normal, but I would rather need to poo several times a day, than try to pass the horrendous blockages I’d get without the lactulose, especially post c-section. Constipation during c-section recovery is absolutely horrendous. I wouldn’t wish that pain on anyone.

I was told not to use glycerine suppositories by the pharmacist, when pregnant, as they can cause cramps.

If you’re not pregnant then glycerine suppositories are great, but they do give you bad cramps.