Natural Stool softeners

[hipmummy]

I am 10 days pp and did not have any issues with Bm until two days ago. I ate something that bound me up up Not sure if it is a fissure or hemmorhoids (I had them pregnant). But wanted to keep loose to avoid straining. What natural ss's are compatible with Bfing? THX

[MsBlack]

I don't know about stool softeners, but there a few things I check with for pp moms having a hard time pooping--

plenty of water/fluids? Are you sure?

plenty of calories? It takes a lot to make milk!

plenty of fiber in your diet, not just from grains but from fruit and veggies?

enough sleep/rest--naps when possible, if your baby doesn't let you get good sleep periods at night?

any gentle exercise going on? should be very gentle and slow--a bit of walking or stretching (but NOT laundry or vacuuming!)

Are you taking an iron supplement? If so, or if you're taking a prenatal multi with iron still, then you might want to stop for a few days to see if it's part of the problem. Iron--and calcium, if not combined w/magnesium--can be constipating.

Hopefully others can clue you (and me) in on stool softeners safe for BFing.

[hipmummy]

Check on most of those. Except for the vacuuming and Laundry. I just go downstairs and put the load in Dh carries them down and up and I sit to fold. I will stop the Vit. But I think the vit is keeping me alive. I have been eating non binding fruits ie. blueberries, tomatoes and lots of lettuce! plenty of healthy fats. Ie olive oil, hummus etc.
The pharmacist and my mom and IBCLC recommended the senna with stool softner but a low dose. I will cool my jets on the house cleaning and get more ruffage. Thx.

[Peppamint]

liquid chlorophyll should help with stools and also with any blood-building you might need...

[mwherbs]

others have given good advice. I would add stewed prunes with a bit of butter,or prune juice with a bit of lemon and butter.
drink a glass of warm water in the morning - a short evening walk
magnesium by it's self - up to 1000 mg

also try a hot sock on your belly sometimes it can help to relax your intestines

[leavemealone]

try some flaxseed oil either in capsules or oil form.

[mamamoon89]

Traditional Medicinals (brand of herbal teas, I've seen them in supermarkets as well as health food stores, co-ops, etc) has a tea called "Smooth Move" that works wonderfully.

[AllofGrace]

Do you like kiwi? According to my OB, nature has made a much better (and yummier!) product than the pharmacist. In my first few postpartum weeks, I always eat 3-4 a day, and it works marvelously. Even after DD1's birth and an episiotomy plus a third degree tear (ouchy for weeks!), I still had comfortable BMs and no problems getting stopped up.

[likemorning]

So this is too late to help you, but maybe will help someone later on in a similar situation: alfalfa! I was taking it during the last month or so of my pregnancy to help with vitamin K and to support good clotting -- I noticed if I took more than 4 capsules my poo got, well, soft! So I've continued taking it (I'm now just over four weeks pp) and it's been a big help. My midwife says it's absolutely fine and can even help with milk production.

[mamakori]

Lots of fruit and flaxseed oil!