? for you Colace users

NatureLovers

My constipation has reached the point of desperation. I just did an enema: nothing happened. I then inserted a glycerin suppository. Nothing has happened yet, but there's still time for Ass Explosion 2014. For those that use Colace, how many pills do you take at once? The bottle says 1-3.

karla1301

I take 3 night. Did that with my last pregnancy too.

elleswarth

I usually take them throughout the day, but they haven't been helping this pregnancy at all. Did you use a fleets enema? I try to leave it in for 5+ minutes and that seems to do the trick. Never thought my life would come to looking forward to an enema

NatureLovers

I just used a Walgreens brand, but it was a mineral oil one. I kept it in for 5 min at least. I never understood how miserable constipation can be.

Beauxbaton

I only take one. But only when I really need it. I don't get super backed up often. It must be my amazing diet if entirely starches and tomato sauce *sarcasm* if it gets too too bad I'd call.your doc and ask if there is an actual laxative that works better than colace or something that works better.

elleswarth

The saline one seems to work best for me, but it does cause some temporary bowel cramping. Momentary discomfort for a bigger gain though, since I've learned constipation is pretty much the worst.

tripletoe

I have to take 3 or else it doesn't work.

NatureLovers

I took 2 a little while ago, I guess I'll try a 3rd. Still nothing, even with the suppository.

NatureLovers

CuppyCakes721 said:

I only take one. But only when I really need it. I don't get super backed up often. It must be my amazing diet if entirely starches and tomato sauce *sarcasm* if it gets too too bad I'd call.your doc and ask if there is an actual laxative that works better than colace or something that works better.

I'm on Zofran, which is causing the epic constipation.

Stargirlb

Are you open to trying marijuana? I know I mentioned before a friend of mine found it a life saver with her pregnancy, (has a gorgeous baby girl,) and I know many others have found some relief and benefits with that as opposed to zofran. If you do try it, vaporizing or eating might be even better if smoking it is not your thing. 

Local survey done here on relief with cannabis:

https://safeaccess.ca/research/cannabis_nausea2006.pdf

NatureLovers

I'll skip the drugs while pregnant, thanks.

AHemm1986

I had to do colace and one big dose of milk of magnesia a few weeks back. Did the trick...a little too well actually, but I was happy to finally go! I kept on taking one nightly colace for about a week.

Stargirlb

"skip the drugs?" you mean specifically *illegal* ones? Marijuana can be compared to a great number of highly prescribed legal drugs, and in many cases it can be safer AND more effective.

Sorry, I'm not here to start an argument, I wish you comfort and relief for your pregnancy, and just wanted to share what has been effective for many, without extremely uncomfortable side effects. Good luck with what you decide

NatureLovers

Thanks, but I'm just not comfortable with marijuana during pregnancy. Not to mention (anyone else please chime in), but I think they do drug screens on newborns, and having THC in your system is a great way for your newborn to wind up in the hands of CPS.

NatureLovers

I finally had a very small poo. Really disappointed as I feel like there's a 10lb brick in my colon.

Stargirlb

The US routinely drug tests infants? Wow, that's completely fucked, but I can't say I'm surprised. 

https://www.alternet.org/drugs/new-mother-who-failed-drug-test-due-poppy-seed-bagel-gets-baby-back

This woman lost her baby for 75 DAYS because she ate a poppyseed bagel. She sued, and she only got 140 grand from the hospital. 

another reason to be scared of this phenomenon, false-positives: https://www.alternet.org/drugs/why-are-we-testing-newborns-pot

okay, seriously fuck america. Land of the free, does anyone actually believe that?!? You could not pay me a million dollars to move there.

NatureLovers

nursesouder said:

I try to take a 100 colace daily. When desperate 2 pills....emergency, I add 2 senna as well. Sometimes it takes 2-3 days for success.

I guess I should have tried to get a handle on this sooner.

NatureLovers

Yes, the extreme hyper vigilance of parents in the U.S. gets ridiculous. Then there are kids truly being abused that get overlooked because social workers are over worked trying to investigate every allegation.

NatureLovers

After reading that story, it further underscores the fact that my baby will only be getting Earth Mama Angel Baby or California Baby products.

Stargirlb

or.... Apothebaby!

elleswarth

Zofran was doing that to me too. I was trying to go without it, weighing which was worse, constipation vs. barfing. Due to working 12 hour shifts, barfing won out and I still took it. Finally off it around 15 weeks (on it since 6) and while I feel better, I'm still not regular. It really does something to your system... Sorry you're having the same problem.

bustysinclare

I usually take one every morning but they started to fee it was not as effective so I last week I started taking 2 every morning. Darn pregancy. It's the only time I need help in this area

robsbabygirl08

I take two every morning and still only poop once a week. It sucks. I broke down and took Ex-lax Friday night, Saturday morning was amazing ;-)

growingfamilyof4

I don't get constipated, (didn't with my first either) but I get the worst upset stomach pains. Almost feels like labor, when I have to poop which is multiple times a day sometimes. Other days it's once a day with the pains then normal poops throughout the day. I don't understand where and why the pains are coming.

ScienceMama

NatureLovers said:

CuppyCakes721 said:

I only take one. But only when I really need it. I don't get super backed up often. It must be my amazing diet if entirely starches and tomato sauce *sarcasm* if it gets too too bad I'd call.your doc and ask if there is an actual laxative that works better than colace or something that works better.

I'm on Zofran, which is causing the epic constipation.

I Had To Cut Back To 1/2 Zofra B/c That With Prenat Had Me Stopped Like Rush Hour Traffic. Only Tip With Colace Do Not Combine With Exlax. I Felt Like Dumb And Dumber! Sorry For The TMI :-)

NatureLovers

I'm going to wait 24 hours before I try anything else.

nolansmom08

When I'm desperate I take 2 pills 2x day. Otherwise usually 1-2 per day. Good luck. It sucks. That was me last week.

longcat07

i have to take 2 colace daily (i think mine are 50s), but i take one in the morning and one at night.  i'm not on zofran though...you might need something heavier-duty.

NatureLovers

Oh, I have no issue with responsible marijuana use. We need to decriminalize it like yesterday. I'm just not comfortable using it during pregnancy.

MelissaBergstrom

Taco Bell helps too. lol! But seriously- I've been taking 2 a day. And now that I've been taking it regularly, I've found relief. Not on my usual schedule before pregnancy but way better. My Dr. suggested I stay on it the rest of my pregnancy.

LaStella25

I've had constipation problems for years. While pregnant, I was taking three Colace pills at night. Not every day, but every 3-4 days. Now, my Dr out me on an Rx prenatal called CitraNatal Assure. It's been amazing. I would also suggest the decaf fancy coffe like PP said. Try it on an empty tummy. Or sometimes I make a black bean burrito, covered in cheddar cheese and sriracha. Hope you find relief soon. My #1 suggestion is to not let it go too late. I've been to the point of tears because I was in so much pain.

NatureLovers

I have hyperemesis. I can't eat gross things unfortunately.

MaPetiteFamille

Stargirlb said:

The US routinely drug tests infants? Wow, that's completely fucked, but I can't say I'm surprised. 

No! Well...mostly no. Drug testing pregnant women without their consent was ruled unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court in 2001. And the 2012 guidelines for perinatal care that are published by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) do NOT recommend universal testing of pregnant women or newborns using biological specimens (e.g. blood, urine, etc.).

What is recommended is asking pregnant women about substance abuse during pregnancy and following up with asking for permission to do a drug test if they answer in the affirmative. If the woman declines, no one can force her. I'm not sure of the specifics regarding drug testing an infant against the parents' wishes (maybe the L&D RN on our board knows?), but I would imagine it would require the hospital to obtain temporary guardianship to do anything without the parents' consent. That sort of thing can be expedited when a child's health is in danger. And in that case, there would have to be a justification such as the baby showing symptoms of withdrawal.

That having been said, there are some hospital systems that still have a policy of universal infant screening despite the recommendations. I agree that it sounds horrible, but there's evidence that when the decision is left up to the hospital's discretion, low-income and minority infants are screened at much higher rates. Screening every infant sounds like a bit much, I agree, but at least the same set of principles is applied to every family in that situation.

mellie86041

I take 2 pills at night, and one in the morning if I'm having a real tough time. My OB also recommended taking it at a different time than your prenatal to help counteract the effects of the iron better. (I take my prenatal in the morning).

Also, on the subject of drug testing babies... Does anyone remember a couple years ago when newborns in NC (I think?) were testing positive for THC when neither of their parents had any history of drug use? (or something along those lines...) It wound up being due to something in J&J baby lotions. That's scary!

Stargirlb

ok so I think some weed for vicious nausea would be good, and if anything wonky happened, like a surprise drug test, just tell them you use the johnson & johnson baby products every single night