Backed up and miserable. (TMI warning!)

[lunarlady]

Okay, so I know constipation is a usual complaint during pregnancy, but I've never had it this bad before. I'm going on day 3, and I'm totally miserable.

I've tried all my usual remedies -- lots of water and juice, fruit and greens, even some coffee. I've actually managed to have some BM, but they don't seem to help! I just have this terrible backed up feeling, and to top it off, I'm starting to feel a pressure around my rectum when I'm sitting down, which is making me think I'm creating a bad case of roids with all this straining. And by now my abs and back are achy for the same reason. But I can't seem to help it. It is almost like labor pains in that I can't seem to help but push. All that pushing is getting me nowhere but more miserable. I'm going several times a day, but each time I'm lucky to get a little cat sized poop out. Sigh. (Sorry, TMI.)

I look online, and most places say "prevention is key". Well no duh, but what can I do now that I seem to have backed up the pipes? If I wasn't carrying a little tyke in my belly, I might consider not eating for a few days and doing a juice fast to clean things out, but I don't think that's a good idea when preggers. Any other foods I should try? Or foods to avoid?

I'm also wondering if my lovely little bump is sitting on my nerves or something. The only other time in my life I've felt this backed up was during labor when baby dropped onto those nerves and gave me a constant "need to go" feeling. It's too early for labor, so I'm hoping it's not that!

Gosh, I never really value the importance of good pluming until it stops working. No way I can make it 10 weeks feeling this way! Any suggestions welcome. Thanks mamas.

[Honey693]

This is gross, but McDonald's coffee always makes me poop within an hour.

[beachlover]

A bowl of All Bran Cereal every night really helped me as did Activia Yogurt.

[MommaMoo]

Hmmm...maybe a glycerin suppository? I've never used them but I've read they are safe while pregnant.

[ASusan]

Two Ruby Minis, fries and a salad from Ruby Tuesday.


Or an Epsom salt bath before bedtime.

Liquid Calcium-Magnesium before bedtime.

[llfoster]

I second the probiotic yogurt... works well, and it's tasety!

[annettemarie]

It is miserable, isn't it? Between pregnancy, my vitamins, and the Zofran, I miss pooping more than I miss my waistline, LOL! I've actually taken stool softener, which helps a little. And if it's any consolation (OK, probably not much) it is a bit of a wonder how your body slows down digestion when you're pregnant so it can squeeze every tiny bit of nutrition out of your food.

[HeatherB]

Natural Calm magnesium is an option. You don't want to overdue it or it will cause intestinal distress, but you can take it until your intestines start moving again. Safe for pregnancy, too.

When my 2yo has gotten super constipated from withholding, we've had to go as far as giving him Miralax. It's over-the-counter, and has worked very well for him, typically in just one dose. (Then, we avoid things that might be allergens and he gets better! Amazing!)

[Sobranna]

Ugh. This, my doctor tells me, is totally normal. I take a small cup of Metamucil every day, and it seems to be helping. Good luck with the bm, mama!

[noobmom]

Ugh! I didn't have too much of a problem during pregnancy, but after birth I was only going every 3-4 days. Talk about torture! And the stool softeners could hardly touch it.

Exercise can help your bowels get moving, so maybe some light walking? Also, try to put your feet up a bit while you're on the pot--just so you're in more of a squatting type position. Try to stop straining, you don't want to give yourself hemorrhoids!

[karika]

with dd1 I was so bad I had dh get me two bottles of prune juice and a cereal made of bran. I ate a bowl of the cereal dry and drank a bottle of the juice and it worked. With dd2 I had it really bad through most of the last part of pregnancy. I used an enema when I could tell there was something there and I just couldn't get it out. I too had deer sized and cat sized only.... It didn't really get back in order until I went GFCFSF and mostly corn free (oh and canola free) about 6 months ago. Now everything is swell.

[NorthernPixie]

I think I read somewhere on here recently about another woman's solution, after trying everything. Chia seeds. She said it was like a miracle for her. Not sure how they're prepared, or how much, but try searching on chia seed and constipation and maybe the thread will pop up.

[mistymama]

I had this very same problem a few weeks ago - it was bad enough that I called my dr. to see if there was anything I could take. I resorted to taking the natural laxative he recommended, Senekot. It didn't work right away (it's pretty gentle) but after a few doses, coupled with shots of pure prune juice several times a day, things finally got moving again.

Now I work on prevention. But trust me, I've been there and totally understand the need for RELIEF as soon as possible!!

[juliebird]

I've struggled with this issue when not pregnant, so when I'm pregnant, it's really really bad! So I totally sympathize.

For this pregnancy (my fourth) I started taking chia seeds (chia like in chia pet of all things!) and it's working like a charm. I got the idea from someone on this board but couldn't say who or when.

Chia seeds have a tremendous nutritional profile but even better they work wonders on the digestive system and cleaning things out (ahem). One website even called it an "intestinal broom" (eeew). It's also supposed to be really good for pregnant women (high omegas).

For me, I mix 1/3 cup chia seeds with 2 cups water. Together it forms a gel. I take 3 tbs/a day mixed in water or juice or whatever tastes good. The gel doesn't disappear, you can still see the seeds but they are tiny (so I think of them as spices or mini vitamins) and they have no taste. They don't dilute the drink either.

I've read taht most people get relief after several days but then it's smooth sailing from there.

I googled chia and found all kinds of places to buy online (I get mine from raw food world) but you might be able to find at health stores.

Good luck, I hope soemthing works well.

[BarnMomma]

I switched my probiotic to MegaFoods MegaFlora around 3 months and I've never felt better in my entire life! Everything is running so smoothly and I don't have the gas, bloating, burping. It's amazing.

[bananabee]

I third Activia yogurt!! Amazing stuff!!! Senokot also worked for me, but once I started eating Activia yogurt twice a day, I started having much easier stools twice a day. I cut down to once a day when things are going smoother, and bump it up to twice or three times a day when things are not going so well.

[MaryLang]

I had a bad case last pregnancy. What finally worked after all of the usual tries at juice, coffee, greens, everything, was Metamucil, and an enema. Not fun, but it had to be done. And the culprit was too many TUMS, I'll never have another tums as long as I live, lol!

[mizznicole]

I had a horrible problem after my c-sec. I was NOT informed that the narcotics would block you up so bad, and that's why they were giving stool softeners in the hospital. That would have been good info. After about 5 days of no movement, and utter misery, MIL set me up with suppositories and a bulb syringe. You put warm water in the syringe and shoot it up there. It actually was the key to getting things unstuck. (eeeewwww)

I have also found the "yoga" techniques here helpful. They say on the site not to use them if pregnant, so I'd check with someone in the know.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...1/ai_80088295/

[2sweetboysmom]

If you are feeling like nerve compression is the problem you may want to try this.

On your outer thigh roughly 1/3 of the way between your hip and knee you will find some VERY tender areas almost like you ran into something and bruised the area. Gently masage the tender spots with your fingertips as often as you get the chance. They are pressure points directly related to your bowels. For me this is as reliable and effective as anything else (short of milk of magnesia)