PLEASE PLEASE can someone help my friend? She is three months pregnant and has terrible constipation <sad>

[DANCESwithLordPottingtonSmythe]

It's really affecting her ability to enjoy her long waited for pregnancy and anyone who has suffered it will agree it's mostly uncomfortable but can also hurt like a b'stard. She has been to the doctor who prescribed some sort of laxative (name escapes me, it's some sort of herbally one) but it hasn't helped. There MUST be someone out there who found something that worked
Thanks!

What is her diet like?

Increased fluid intake and lots of fruit and veg could help....dried apricts seem particularly effective.

Prune juice and lots of it.

Homemade popcorn, you can get the kernels in Sainsburys.

After that, lots and lots of water.

Oh yes, apricots are good.

Didn't know popcorn helped!

As far as I know her diet is pretty balanced. I'm going to pass on all your ideas, anymore would be great. Like the sound of the popcorn one...YUM!

Dried apricots. Lots of em. Does the trick.

Senna does the biz - and add lactulose if she needs extra oomph

Ah, senna, I think that's what she tried.

i suffered from this as well inpregnancy and i found bran flakes and apple juice are great for constipation (obviously not in the same bowl) coffee might help and baked beans are also great. get her to drink as much fluid as she can as well.
good luck, hope it helps

Is she taking those pregnacare vitamins by any chance? I was on those for first three months and had the same problem. As soon as I stopped taking them the problem miraculously vanished and I am dreading taking them again. If she is on iron tell hr to take a few days break - should help no end!!

Fybogel orange. In fact at one point I was taking fybogel twice a day and lactolose (sp) prescribed by GP when I was about 8 or 9 weeks preg. Did the trick!

I would go for lactulose. I had terrible constipation with my first pg and drinking gallons of water and eating tonnes of fruit made absolutely no difference. I was constipated from before I knew I was pg (about 1-2 weeks after conception) till about 7 months and then it suddenly got better. 2nd pg took lactulose right from the start (was terrified of constipation because I had an anal fissure) and had no problems at all.

Fybogel is now called Sennokot BTW.

Lots and lots of water and indeed any liquid.

fruit and veg galore yes dried apricots very good.

Bread with poppy seeds or other seeds and nuts.

Yes if she is on iron tablets they can exacerbate {sp?} the problem. There are alternatives to ferrous sulphate, try a liquid remedy from the health food store

Maccy D's used to work for me sometimes too.

Maccy D's?! Unsurprising

Orange juice can help.

Squatting can really help! Squat on flat feet, knees apart, sink bum towards floor. If this is difficult (can be until muscles adjust) place books or similar under heels or straighten back against a wall, and, reeelaax.

For as long as possible, as many times a day as possible. Can help at any time but particularly in pregnancy when it might not only be hormone/diet related but also 'mechanically' awkward. Can also help with trapped wind of the painful variety!

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I had to eat way way more fruit &veg than normal (like 10 portions a day rather than 5).

I stopped eating any white bread as that really bunged me up....

Lots of juice and water. Prunes... and sennokot if it gets really bad!

Lots of water and dried fruit or tinned prunes. I also found packets of mint sweets helped me as well...and I mean a whole packet at a time of something like softmints. Not as healthy as fruit though

I don't think Sennacot and Fybogel are the same thing, actually. Sennacot is a laxative (ie makes you go) whereas Fybogel is a stool softener, so it just bulks out your poo and makes it easier to pass. Fybogel available on prescription too.

Things which help me (a constipation veteran, despite more F and V than you can shake a stick at)

• using a stool on the loo to help me squat. The step the kids stand on to brush teeth is ideal. Pull trousers right down to ankles for maximum effect and take your time. Don't strain otherwise you'll get piles.

• dried prunes, apricots and apple good. Beware too much apple though as it can have an explosive effect

• muesli for breakfast. I put a cup of oats, a tbsp of bran, a grated apple, a bit of orange juice, some milk and some chopped up dried fruit in a bowl over night in fridge. In am add fresh fruit of choice (raspberries and blueberries great) and enjoy. Delicious and helps no end.

• wholemeal everything

• plenty of water - about 2 l a day.

HTH. Constipation is vile but the above (plus daily fybogel if things merit) help enormously.

Muesli with a coffee chaser and lots of water usually does the trick for me.

I'm sure I read some laxatives aren't suitable in pregnancy. If not prescribed best to check with the pharmacist.

It's horrible - I really sympathise. I've been afflicted for years.

Chocolate - definitely - and lots of it.

Curry from the indian, made with ghee. Go for a lentil based one and that will really sort things out! Lentils generally are also very good.

Coffee - strong - but depends on whether she's drinking it or not. Just the thought makes me go green.

Water.

Apples and pears.

Put your arms above your head when on the loo, or squat - as chutneymary said - try to get your knees up. All learned courtesy of Gillian Mackeith!

Failing that, back to the GP and ask for a better laxative - Senokot and Lactulose never worked for me. I was taking a really strong one before I found out, and I was worried, but I was told that the majority of them are safe in pregnancy.

But she MUST check, as some give quite strong bowel contractions.

Warm orange juice with a spoonful of brown sugar stirred in.

It will be hormonal, so a lot of the remedies just won't work. I feel sorry for her though, it hurts!

Some laxatives should be avoided in pregnancy. It is important that she checks carefully before taking any that they are safe.

Oooh, I had this at 3 months, it's awful. Liquorice, dried apricots and dried figs and lots of olive oil (on pasta, salad, with bread dipped in) sorted me out in a few days. Lots of water too.

I had about 5 or 6 apricots/figs/liquorices (in total, not each ) 4 of 5 times a day, then eased off as things started to ease.

Now 25 weeks and have the opposite problem!