Constipation Misery

[Everlore]

I'm nearly 21 weeks pregnant, had our 20 week scan yesterday and baby was looking good, thank god!
I've had very few symptoms through my pregnancy, the one thing I've been suffering from since the early days is chronic constipation. I know it doesn't sound like much, but it's making me miserable and, while I know it doesn't pose a direct risk for our baby, I can't believe that it's going to be doing her much good, especially as I have so much difficulty eating while I'm constipated, I just feel so full that it's a truggle to force more food down myself. I'm uncomfortable sitting or standing when the constipation is at its worst and can only get a little temporary relief by lying on my side. My bowels just seem to have ceased to function on their own accord.
I eat well, lots of fruit, vegetables and whole grains and drink plenty of fluid, diet and lifestyle changes just don't seem to touch it. I also stopped taking iron supplements recently as my midwife advised me that my iron levels are healthy now and that they may have been contributing to my constipation, but it doesn't seem to have helped. Lactulose also doesn't touch it, I take it every day as reccommended by midwives and my GP, but that seems to make no difference, glycerol suppositories are similarly ineffective. The only thing that remotely works is the Movicole powders, and then only at full dose as a nuclear option when constipation at its worse, taking a sachet or two each day as a preventative, as my midwife suggested, doesn't seem to help much either.
I have a couple of days respite after I finally manage a bowel movement, but I always know that another incident is only a few more days away. I have persistent piles as a result of the constipation. I have cream which works on them when they appear but I'd like to avoid them endlessly recurring in the first place.
My midwife and GP seem at a loss to suggest anything else, just advise continuing to tackle it when it recurs rather than preventing it in the first place which would be my preference. I'm aware that constipation tends to get worse in later pregnancy so I'm quite keen to get on top of it before I reach that stage.
Anyone who has experienced the same problems with constipation, I'd love to hear what you find helpful please.

One thing you don't mention is exercise - I found walking helped. Moves the muscles. Or yoga type exercises at home, cat stretch etc.

When you say lots of water, how much are we talking? I used to have flax seeds soaked in water as well, then down water and seeds - they go slippy which helps things move. You can do the same with ground flax.

You could also try acupuncture or reflexology, if you can afford it. Sounds daft but worth a try.

It's miserable, commiserations!

Laxidoo in your drinks to soften, then glycerol suppositories, pop it in, straight in for a warm bath and hopefully then you’ll be able to go. I also swore by fresh orange juice, twice a day. A large glass! I was constipated throughout my second pregnancy and was miserable but those things certainly took the edge off.

i would take fig syrup with meals maybe worth a try

My only recommendation is just stick to the movicol. 32 weeks pregnant with my second and I suffered constipation with my first, resulting in awful piles so I’ve been taking movicol every day along with a massive glass of prune juice and I’ve really gotten on top of it this time round. Increase your dose if you feel you need to to 2 a day even more, but with movicol you need to make sure you drink water like a fish for it to help. It’s not a stimulant laxative but it will help you go when you need to. Would also highly recommend looking at elevating your feet when you go, a toilet roll under each foot is enough, that will help. Agree with PP as well about exercise, even going for a walk will help get things moving. You have my sympathy, it’s an utterly miserable part of being pregnant!!

In my last pregnancy I tried everything. The only thing that worked was prune juice. A took a shot glass full of it every morning. After the initial four days it took to work, it worked like a charm. I would take it in a morning and by mid afternoon I had been to the loo.

Just a warning though, it tastes awful but much easier to drink when ice cold.

You can double up on the laxido and take it morning and evening together with sodium docusate.

Ortis fruit and fibre cubes, works a treat

Only thing that helped me then (and now) is kimchi and magnesium citrate. Latter is out of the world amazing clears up old stuff but best to ask gp if ok …I was with a consultant and he was totally ok for me to take it

it’s sold everywhere , pharmacies , amazon , HB..

Thanks for the great suggestions, I'll definitely look at giving them a go! I do drink fresh orange juice every day but will give prune juice a go too. A bath would be lovely, unfortunately we only have a walk-in shower, I was just thinking how nice it would have been to have a long soak in a bath when I was bad with constipation last night, think it would help ease the piles too, maybe I need to ask a relative or friend if I can have a bath at their place! I do need to try and exercise more when the constipation is at its worst, the problem is that I find when I'm standing or walking the fullness in my lower colon puts a lot of pressure on that area and it's quite painful to stay in an upright position for long, sitting is much worse, I do try and go for a brief walk but anything more than that and it's just too uncomfortable, sorry for going into the grizzly details! I've no idea why Glycerol suppositories don't work for me, my GP says they're usually realy effective but, usually, they fail to make any impact on my constipation. Thanks again for all your advice!

Have you tried magnesium tablets? Really helps me go when I'm bunged up. I'm 20 weeks and still take them when needed.

With exercise, it can be a vicious circle as the discomfort makes you move less, then lack of muscle movement makes it harder for food to move along. Stretches at home might help if you can manage that.

Came on as someone said about lifting your feet - I got a squatty potty when pregnant and never looked back! It's a stool that goes round the toilet and lets you lift feet. Honestly makes pooping easier. I miss it when I go on holiday and it's been a good toddler toilet step if nothing else!

And word of warning - constipation is also a common problem post birth, so take dried fruit or juice or whatever works for you to hospital and stock up.

Labour messes with the muscles that usually help with digestion. Hospitals are hot and it's easy to get dehydrated. If you breastfeed that can be dehydrating too.

Hi op
I rolled my eyes so hard at my mom when she suggested this but I PROMISE you it works..I tried all kinds of laxative as I was so so uncomfortable but honestly papaya is a god send. If you have a good wedge of it after each meal I guarantee it will get you going. You can buy if fresh from a standard supermarket you need to go to one that stocks Indian/pakistani foods, buy a whole one and cut it into big wedges to have after each meal x

I suffered too OP. What worked for me was a big bowl of bran flakes, lactulose, lots of water and a squatty potty.

I kept it up in the hospital and I didn’t have any dreaded post-birth poo issues at all.

I’ve never had this as bad as your experience but I recommend psyllium husk, it’s a natural bulk-forming fibre that is very good for improving transit, softening stools etc
You mix one soup spoon in water and drink it immediately with a meal

I suffered badly with this in my second pregnancy. My GP gave me movicol, which I took daily.
Agree what others have said about moving/exercise. Up your water intake, it can make such a difference, at least 2.5-3 litres/day.
And linseed - 1-2 tablespoon daily (in cereal, salad, smoothies) help me to this day.

Large glass of water, then do 5-10 minutes of cat/cow stretches. Every day.

This really helps move things along but as a bonus it also helps make sure the baby is head down and spine forward for birth (altho at 21 weeks you don’t need to worry about that yet).

In general try to make sure you are sitting in a slightly leaning forward position - rather than slumped or leaning back, eg if you have a desk job lean on your desk when you can rather than back into your chair.

@Everlore Hope it improves for you soon. I find that a cold drink followed by a hot drink in the morning can help get things moving. Plus raising your feet when sitting on the toilet.

I've unfortunately had lots of occasions when I have had to sit on the toilet for ages trying everything possible to go (and still can't!) so I know how uncomfortable it can be!