Has anyone successfully dealt with this? I have been on and off uncomfortable for one month. I usually only miss one day but it feels awful. Ob says occasional Miralax or stool softener is ok. I feel concerned that I am getting very backed up bc not much comes out. The sides of my belly hurt ongoing, most of the day. Not labor. I try prune juice, high fiber fruits/veg but with minimal results. Ideas?
U mamas rock! Ob just said Colace 2x day which I don't really want to do. Thanks so much.
A friend of mine grew up in India. He told me that his Mom always drank
a cup of hot water (not super hot) w/ some fresh squeezed lemon in it as soon as she got up in the AM. And a second cup mid-afternoon.
Walking outside always helps, too.
Probiotics !
Fig newtons.... mandarin oranges (especially the canned ones packed in water/juice). Water, exercise, probiotics.... and eggplant parm. always worked for me :-)
More fiber is great but the fiber requires more water to keep it loose otherwise the fiber can make the constipation worse.
Pregnancy and constipation almost go hand in hand.
Besides getting your innards shifted around and shoved aside (and kicked as your baby grows larger), your muscles, joints and ligaments loosen up to prepare you for birth.
Unfortunately loose muscles means your intestines are not as efficient at moving food along through your gut.
Walking can really help to move things along.
You can try probiotics too.
Miralax worked with me. Is your iron level high? If you haven't had blood work done you may not know but Miralax worked like a charm for me. Even use it for the baby now. Of course water and exercise along with fruits and veggies. Wishing you comfort!
Take a dose of Miralax every day. It's a natural substance that draws water into the bowels. It is not addictive. I suggest that once you get regular that you can try dropping the Miralax. My grandson was chronically constipated and took Miralax everyday on the advice of his doctor. It is medically safe.
Drink more water and make sure you eat at least 3 pieces of fruit a day. Also, you need to exercise.
Excercise, water, water did I mention water. Try pear juice. (baby section, unless you get the organic stuff.)
Cheerios, and check with your dr. if you can take Kolace.
Congratulations and good luck
Drink water all day! Try the Miralax. It works wonders.
Have you tried dried prunes? I could eat those all day and they're so much better tasting than the prune juice.
Try sprinkling bran powder on top of your cereal in the morning and on your meals like spaghetti or other pastas.
Feel better!
Pear juice or pears works wonders and tastes a lot better.
That's what the kids' pediatrician recommended when they had issues when they were little and we didn't want to use anything harsh. We now use it for the entire family.
Of course, make sure you are drinking enough water during the day and move around as much as you can to make sure everything can move through your system.
Your pre-natal vitamin can be causing problems as well. The high levels of iron. You may try another type to see if it helps.
Here are some suggestions my midwife gave me:
Blueberries, fresh or frozen, no more than one cup a day. (I swear by this, as will any other parent of a blueberry eater!)
If you choose to do dried fruit, do stew it first, otherwise it will pull more water from the colon. Raisins, too, require some plumping up first...
Steel cut oats are a great way to plump up those raisin as well as a good source of fiber. You can also add in flax seeds for added fiber.
Also, you can make a smoothie with psyllium seeds in it. Psyllium is a natural laxative; you can buy whole psyllium in bulk or at health food stores.
Foods to avoid: bananas, white rice, pastas, cheeses, white bread, peanut butter-- anything constipating.
And as everyone said, lots and lots of water.
A daily glycerol suppository can be a good way to guarantee you move your bowls daily. When I travel or am taking certain constipating medications, I take them prophylactically and don't even wait to get backed up. I have never had much luck with stool softeners. Mirilax makes me so bloated I can't tolerate it. High fiber is great (try some chia seeds), but if you are taking certain medications, sometimes you just need more. Keep some dulcolax suppositories on hand if you get really backed up.
Our family secret is fresh squeezed lemon juice. Straight.. no sugar..
1/4 a cup.. if after 30 min no movement.. Another 1/4 cup..
pear juice, prune juice, miralax stool softeners..
because your belly is so full of baby.. there is not much room for poo.. so even a little bit of poo feels like you might just pop.. you do not want to be constipated when you go into labor.. so keep trying to figure out the right combinatioin to get things moving.
Ask your doctor if the baby is laying toward your back. If so the baby may be pressing against your colon and blocking at least part of it.
Maybe if you lay a bit on your tummy or as close as you can the baby will shift a bit and you will be able to go.
Try a heaping tablespoon or two of ground or whole flax seed (I buy Red Mill) every day. You can add it to cereal, oatmeal, yogurt, or any sauce. It tastes nutty and will really help you 'move.' in a healthy way with NO side effects. Keep away from bananas and too much dairy, as they will stop you up. Juice won't do anything for you; if you want prunes, eat them whole.
Great answers so far. Constipation is my first sign of pregnancy....3 pregnancies & 2 kids I've done it all. One of my nurse practitioners told me flax seed was a natural laxative, it did help & i used it everyday on cereal or salad. Also warming your drink in the morning, whether its juice, water or decaf tea/ coffee this helps to get your intestines moving. I was told a stool softener every day is fine during pregnancy but it didn't help me to go but I did that in my 3rd tri. Berries too! Here's to a healthy pregnancy!
My best solution was to take a ton of probiotic supplements to help populate the gut with lots of beneficial microorganisms. I recommend New Chapter's All-Flora, which has 8 strains. I took 8 capsules (32 billion cells) each morning on an empty stomach and the same before bed. They won't hurt you and they will keep everything going. Your pH shifts when you are pregnant so it's important to keep your healthy bacteria thriving. Any good quality probiotic will be sold in a refrigerated section at your local Whole Foods or health food store.
I took stool softener twice a day. Every. Single. Day. The additional supplemental iron was the culprit, yet necessary. Drank water constantly. Tried *everything* else but nothing eased the constipation completely. I went weeks at a time without "going." Also sat in warm water to soften the bowel area. TMI! Don't be concerned about not going. It's not dangerous, just horribly uncomfortable. How far along are you? Sending you hugs and best wishes for a safe delivery. Hang in there, just remember you're growing a baby and your discomfort will ease after you give birth.
