So constipated

[Shahhhh]

As the title says really. I haven't had a bowel movement in about 6 days 😬 and it's getting so uncomfortable. I feel like I have to go but no matter how long I sit on the toilet/strain (trying not to too much anyway), it's just not happening. After looking online I've ordered some Fybogel and have had one sachet this evening.

Just wondering if anyone has any tips to help move stuff along? I drink so much water and have tried eating all the right stuff in terms of fibre. Thank you!

Prune juice! Glass every day, keep it chilled

I have always had constipation issues. During pregnancy it’s worse, also on iron tablets.

I now make sure to have bran flakes mixed with Frosties each morning and it does help. DH has done it since a child. The days I miss it I notice. It doesn’t make me go daily, maybe every 3ish days but it’s halved the time it used to be 5-7 days and I used to really struggle- hard poo, blood after pooing due to fissure. This has reduced a lot, not solved it. DH goes daily, I have never been a daily person.

Go to your GP and ask for help. Or ring the midwives team. They'll give you a laxative that is safe for pregnant women. You'll need to soften 6 days of poo or it'll hurt a lot when you pass it. A suppository from the pharmacist could be an option too but explain the situation to them, I suspect they'll advise you to call the GP or midwife after 6 days.

Try Lactulose

I had the same, first time in my life and it was horrendous. Could drink laxido for fun with no effect. Midwife told me suppositories and they were game changers. Good luck.

Ah OP, I feel your pain! Happens to me every pregnancy and I had no idea how uncomfortable it could be until I experienced it. Beyond all the usual stuff about hydration and fibre. I find a morning walk with a coffee quite helpful! If I don’t walk to work or take the kids to nursery then I struggle with the pain all day.

I've been given magnesium citrate and it's the only thing that's actually helped me. I'm still having linseeds in hot water every evening, but the magnesium citrate has been a godsend.

I'm taking a German brand called "magnesiocard", I take two sachets of the 5mmol strength a day. It's OTC but I'm being prescribed it (helps with costs), maybe you can find something similar at the pharmacy, or as your doctor about it?

Be careful with the constipation, it turned into haemorrhoids very quickly for me 😬

Footstool for the loo, making sure you take your iron tablets far away from mealtimes. Switching to gentler iron tablets.

I had such bad constipation last week that I genuinely thought I now know what birth is like once I finally passed it.

I've been taking lactulose which helps. But what got me moving was being on all fours on the floor then rock back so your arms are outstretched and your bum is between your feet then back up to all fours. Keep doing it and you should suddenly feel very desperate to go. It will still be painful but it should move.

Sometimes you need more than one rocking session but you need to do it for a good 15 mins at a time. Sometimes you're lucky and it's less time. Hope you feel better soon