TMI alert!!!! horribly constipated!!!

[LittleDonkin]

I am 7+6 with my first pregnancy and for the past week I have been horribly constipated!!! I am scared to force it incase I push the bean out! Is this a normal symptom of pregnancy??

Yes, very much a normal symptom I'm afraid = apparently the hormones slow your digestive system down and this causes constipation. I'm taking fibre supplements, but it may take a while before it...ahem...helps things along. Could you call a doctor/midwife/NHS direct to ask whether you can take a stool softener?

Prune juice, tastes unusual, but keeps you regular

Totally normal.
Prune juice and lactulose and Fybogel.
Pmsl at pushing the embryo out.

You need lactulose. Safe to take in pregnancy and is very gentle but works.

nickytwotimes that is how hard I am having to push to get anything out! I will try the prune juice and the fybogel! I may have to get some all bran in! It just scared me because I am normally so regular same time every day!

Oh no I really feel for you - it's hideous. Like Frizbe says, prune juice is a good one. Generally loads of fruit is a good idea. Linseeds can help to do the trick too. And drink PLENTY of water to keep both you and "things" hydrated. If you haven't been for a week you should seek some advice about taking something to get things shifting. Don't know if lactulose is OK for use during pregnancy - but if it is BEWARE! When I took it when I was constipated for a week after surgery one time it did nothing but make me fart , which just makes the problem worse! Seems this is not uncommon - about 20% of people who take it report the same.
As for stopping it happening again, I've found that eating either types or quantities of foods that would normally give me the runs, keeps things more or less OK now that I am preggers. Good luck!

Another bit of TMI advice for when this current "episode" is behind you, so to speak. Since getting preggers I don't even realise that I need to do a number 2. Getting none of the usual sensations at all. So just have to make a point of giving it a go once a day or whatever is usual (sorry - really TMI I know!). I think if I waited until I felt that I needed to go I'd end up more constipated than I have - the longer stuff's in there the more it dries out and the more difficult it is to shift. Much TMI. Sorry

im feeling the same!! read somewhere you should drink applejuice - i drank a whole carton last night - its helped a bit but not as much as id have liked- still a little improvement is better than none!

I had awful constipation in my last pregnancy, I tried everything but the only thing I found worked was taking senna at night.

3 dried apricots a day did the trick for me.

apricots, dates, prunes, and lots of water and a walk every day to get things moving.

Drink LOTS of water.

Bran flakes with prunes and apricots.
Drink apple juice and lots of water.
Eat lots of fruit and veg.

I feel for you I'm almost 23 weeks and have spent the last week feeling like a blocked pipe with heartburn and constipation. Managed a little poo last night but I wanted it to be bigger I'm eating all sorts of fruits and it's not shifting! I keep looking at OH in excitement thinking the time has come... get to the loo and nothing. It's so bloody glamourous! Good luck with the pooping! x

Lactulose! I have had this problem REALLY badly this pregnancy, and lactulose has been working like a dream for me. Two pharmacists have told me it is totally fine to use.

Hot water and lemon first thing in the morning if you can stomach it. Works for me!

Kiwi fruits worked for me or I have to agree that for truly tough cases; get some prune juice in there. But don't blame me for the explosions that may result

not reccomending you have lots of caffene but a cup of strong coffee did it for me...just one and i was back to normal xx

Thanks for all the advice ladies I shall be trying them! It's just I really feel like I need to go get to the loo and nothing! I feel so bloated and sluggish.

Milk of magnesia is a fantastic pregnancy safe laxative, works way better and more quickly than lactulose so use it for a clear out and then use lactulose daily for miantenace.

Oh great 8 weeks today still constipated and now the sickness has started tonight and I keep getting headaches on an evening. I feel like I have been hit by a bus!

I think the headaches are probably due to the constipation, I'm suffering from regular headaches too...a handful of dried apricots may help.