Gross question...

carringtonchase · March 2014

But here goes. I am still. so. constipated. I feel like i am gaining weight merely in backed up food. So gross, I know. I have tried cheerios, kiwis, lots of ruffiage, and even metamucil. I would LOVE to get a colon hydrotherapy treatment (basically flushes your system out). The hydrotherapist here says they do these for pregnant women usually between months 3-6. Has anyone done this? Wanted to? Any advice. Gross. Sorry.

lesleyn21 · March 2014

I have been really bad even stool softeners weren't working. Activia had helped though!

megs2011 · March 2014

Last pregnancy I ate a bowl of raisen (sp) bran everyday and it kept me from getting backed up. I heard Fibre One cereal is even better.

Tussie Mussie · March 2014

I second the laxatives. I had never taken one before so I was hesitant. I let my constipation get really bad while trying everything else I could think of. I took some laxatives yesterday and finally pooped today. I wanted to shout it from the rooftops. I feel so much better now. It seems like it should have been common sense, but I didn't realize that constipation could really start to make you sick.

purplestarz · March 2014

Someone told me 100% pineapple juice awhile back. That seems to do the trick for me. It probably just relates to getting lots of fruit (and fiber) in your diet.

an02102 · March 2014

Make sure you are drinking a ton of water. You can eat all the fiber in the world but without water it will actually back you up more because you need liquid to soften your stool. I second raisin bran. I eat that every morning and keeps me pretty regular

Ceridwen21 · March 2014

All Bran and lots of water. No need to get complicated.

Pearl1982 · March 2014

Prune juice. Just make sure you don't have anywhere to be for like 10-12 hours, though. I had some before work a couple of weeks ago. Worst. Idea. Ever.

salsa_wifey · March 2014

Take citrucel. I had some horible, immentionable issues with constipation that I would not wish on anyone.

I have not done the treatment you mentioned.

SmarieMcB84 · March 2014

Oj, yogurt, coffee, bananas are my go to but it sounds like your past all the dietary tricks. Good luck!

Sweetest116 · March 2014

I feel like I'm the queen of poop issues because I had a fecal impaction after my son was born. Increase fiber, prunes, prune juice, push liquids, metamucil, milk of magnesia, enema if needed - a stool softener can help if what's in your rectum is really hard, but otherwise it's not going to help a ton right now. A warm bath can help encourage a bowel movement, hot water bottle on your abdomen, massage your intestines... stay active, don't just sit or lay down, get moving.

Stay away from: bananas, toast, rice, applesauce (the BRAT diet is used to plug yourself up!)

mrsH1112 · March 2014

Have you tried Probiotics? You can find them in yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, Keifer , and even caplet form. It might help you get regular. I would also try prune juice and drinking lots of water.

ashley.hamilton13 · March 2014

I had this problem last week...it got so bad I almost went to the ER. I did take a stool softener even thought I knew it wouldn't help the problem at hand much. I ended up giving myself a suppository which was suprisingly easier than I thought it would be (I had myself all freaked out). This worked in my case after about an hour or so. Thank god because I had my husband on the way to the store to get me an enema (UGH). I am not really sure if that was a safe thing to do but when I called my midwife in hysteria she didn't say it was wrong.

ashaw512 · March 2014

My Dr says drink any kind of juice that starts with p. Pear, pineapple, prune. Or eat p fruit. U can even put like 2 tablespoons of white Karo syrup in a glass of milk. You can't taste it, it will deff help!!!

MMason12 · March 2014

I have to take 3 Colace pills, 4 Fiber Chews, and I eat a bowl of Raisin Bran ever day just to keep things moving. Oh, and drink tons of water. I was having a rough time until I added the Fiber Chews and those seem to really help me.

carringtonchase · March 2014

zoeygirl1105 said:
I've heard these do the trick.

This made me laugh out loud at the office. My little brothers have threatened to get me these as a prank for my birthday. The reviews are amazing.

And to the rest of you ladies, thank you for all your advice. Going to down lots of water this afternoon and pick up a quart of prune juice

mrsdanielleM2010 · March 2014

Even prepregnancy I was irregular. Since BFP, I'm eating three activia, taking three colace, two doves of Metamucil, and at least 8 glasses of water a day. Even with this, I'm pooping every other day if lucky. My doctor said enemas/colon hydrotherapy are really a last resort or to deal with impaction, because doing them frequently can make you dependent. I'm sure like most other things, once or twice won't hurt. Make sure you're sure the water they're using has the right balance of saline or whatever else goes in those things so you don't absorb all the water and get sick.

rebennett06 · March 2014

MILK OF MAGNESIA AND MIRALAX!!! The milk of mag should work pretty quick- the miralax may take a day or two but you can take it twice a day at first and then work your way down to every other day to keep regular!!

kirstynikole · March 2014

an02102 said:

Make sure you are drinking a ton of water. You can eat all the fiber in the world but without water it will actually back you up more because you need liquid to soften your stool. I second raisin bran. I eat that every morning and keeps me pretty regular

^^ this, Fiber is crucial, but too much and not enough water will make it even worse. Most people don't know/realize that! I also second the stool softener idea. I've given enemas to patients at work and it just seems mortifying and awful..

meganmccr · March 2014

Pears and grapes are the only things that work for me:)

Jayhawkali · March 2014

Flax seeds with activist yogurt

iualum05 · March 2014

Constipation is a result of a slowed digestive system which is caused by an increase of hormones during pregnancy. Fiber One bars, cereal, and other "fiber" processed foods are not the answer. If you want a healthy digestive system, you need to build the right environment with a good quality probiotic (in pill form) and digestive enzymes. Look for a probiotic that requires refrigeration (I prefer Innate Choice) and has cultures in the billions vs. millions. Standard process makes some very good digestive enzymes, but if you have have access to a Nutrition Response Practitioner in your area, I would highly recommend working with them to find the right enzymes for you. Believe me, I know how miserable constipation can be. I dealt with it almost my whole life until I worked to recondition my digestive system. Since then, even through pregnancy, I have been regular and happy!