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Totally TMI - But... cannot Poop!

1K views 21 replies 14 participants last post by  KelleyMom 
#1 ·
The Title says it all. I remember it quite clearly from my pgcy with DD, it was like I practically ceased to have BMs. I even remember trying to gulp down some Milk of Magnesia. :puke (No fun when you are already slightly nauseous.)

Any ideas? I'm desperate! I feel so bloaty and gross. I was thinking of trying prune juice, maybe mixing it up with some ginger ale, making it like a "cocktail".

 
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#4 ·
Are you taking prenatals? Some seem to be more constipating than others depending on the iron. A different brand may be easier on the ol system.
LOTS of water, cherries, prunes, and other fiber rich food can help. Too much dairy, bananas, refined grains can also slow things down.
Good luck! Not a good time!
 
#6 ·
put some metamucil in your prune juice! that'll get things moving! and quit taking artificial iron....very constipating (it's in your prenatals). pregnant women do NOT need to be constipated (not that anyone does). I deal with this all the time...I have resorted to the kids http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fletcher%27s_Laxative if warmed prune juice and metamucil doesn't work
 
#8 ·
Thanks for all the ideas!


I did use colace post-birth with DD (due to very large hemorrhoids after birth) and that worked great. I just don't know if my OB would be okay with using it during pgcy. I will ask at my first appointment, just to see if it could be a last ditch effort!

I bought some prune juice and I'm going to make my "cocktail" shortly.

I can see so many red flags though with my diet. Even though I've been trying to eat an apple or pear a day, otherwise it is definitely lacking in ruffage (just not liking the look or texture of it these days), high in carbs, I'm probably not drinking enough water (or liquids), and I'm sure my prenatals are constipating. However, I was very anemic throughout my pgcy with DD, and I'd like to have my iron levels checked before I switch to one with less or no iron.

Sigh. I guess I just hope the prune juice helps! At this rate I'm going to have giant hemorrhoids pre-birth and post-birth they will be so, so scary!
 
#9 ·
As far as the iron in the prenatals....I believe different vitamins use different sources for their iron, some more constipating than other. I take a whole food vitamin (rainbow light) and they claim their iron is non-constipating...19 months of taking it and no issues (and I actually sometimes have "issues" when I haven't been taking it) So, you may not have to settle for less or low iron, a different brand may just agree with you a little better.
 
#10 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by lisko15 View Post
Thanks for all the ideas!


I did use colace post-birth with DD (due to very large hemorrhoids after birth) and that worked great. I just don't know if my OB would be okay with using it during pgcy. I will ask at my first appointment, just to see if it could be a last ditch effort!
My Dr. said colace was fine (I take a generic version) in pregnancy. It has been a lifesaver!
 
#11 ·
I had horrible constipation with my last pregnancy and actually went 7 days without a BM at one point. *THE HORRORS* It was bad. My midwife also told me to go get some Colace and it worked like a charm. Now I have it on hand just in case...
 
#12 ·
I will definitely ask about Colace at my appointment, I remember it helping a ton post-birth with DD.

The prune juice helped some. Not to my satisfaction, but more than not using it! I'm hoping with drinking it nightly it will help my digestive system regulate better.

I have some Rainbow Light vitamins... I didn't notice a difference between them and my regular ones when it came to "this matter". Maybe I should try again for a longer period of time.

Thanks again for all the help! I'll be looking into the malic mag supp and the coconut oil! I should have DH make some Stir-Fry with roasted peanut oil. I had asked him to stop making it with that particular oil because it caused my bowels to be in an uproar pre-pgcy - but maybe it would help at this point!

 
#14 ·
I know exactly what you mean...going through some of that right now! I didn't have any problems with this in my first pregnancy, but this week has been rough for me. Wheat bread and whole grains usually help me. I make honey wheat bread in my bread machine, it's so dense, but it really helps to keep me regular. I haven't made it in a week, hence the constipation problems I've been having lately! Hope this helps
 
#15 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by jannk View Post
Smooth Move tea works just like it sounds. If you drink a cup before bed, all will be fine the next morning. My midwife said it was fine to use during pregnancy but you might want to confirm that for yourself.
This last week it has been getting bad again for me...3 days of taking the Colace once a day, drinking prune juice, mag supplements, whole wheat bread, eating apples & drinking apple juice, skipped Zofran today, and I still can't go. Ugh.

So I just sent DH out for some Smooth Move tea. Here's my question: Must I wait till bedtime to try it? If I have it this morning, will it work before bedtime? I'm on a strong sleep med at night and don't want to have an accident. Plus I want to feel better asap.
 
#16 ·
7 hrs later...nothing's happened yet.
Wondering if I should have some more tonight or not...

Just talked to my mom and she said she had a terrible time with constipation w/her first pregnancy...I'll spare you the rest of the story but I think I'll call my nurse tmw and see if we can get a suppository. Ugh. I hate those.

ETA: Nevermind! I was finally able to go right at bedtime. PHEW. Yay. Finally a peaceful happy end to a very gas-crampy bloated day.
 
#17 ·
Oh bananabee... it sounds horribly awful!
Mine has gotten better, I can still go one day in between - but if I take the Colace I definitely get some relief (although the Colace seems to make me rather bloated and gassy, along with the "relief").

I hope that by suppository you can get some relief. I know the Zofran is constipating, but if you need it to keep food down, its a necessary evil.

I've been mixing 100% cranberry juice (the real organic kind) - like 2 tbsp of it with water in my 20 oz bottle. It helps me drink more water (something about plain water I just couldn't stomach this time around), which of course, helps the bowels!

I hope you get relief soon!
 
#18 ·
Good news here. A friend brought me Senokot, which has senna like the Smooth Move tea....I found I was developing hemorrhoids as things were so bad and the tea is a "stimulating laxative", which was too much for me (the gas alone was worse than ever - thought I was going to burst something). I tried taking Senokot last night, and today around noon things moved gently and quietly. I love it. Got the okay from my OB's nurse before I tried it, of course. She said I can take it daily. I'm still taking Colace once a day to be safe.
 
#21 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by amberdcm View Post
Apples, baby! Apples, apples, apples! A couple a day, with the peel. They make beautiful magic happen.
I third this.

If I can't wait for natural remedies, I use fleet baby suppositories (the adult size don't feel comfortable). 10 minutes after insertion, miracles occur!
 
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