Let's Talk Poop

azerimama

Ok, feel free to skip this thread if you're feeling queezy today....

This is my second pregnancy, and it's like night and day. 1st time around, no nausea, no morning sickness, no constipation, no major issues at all.... but this time.... yeesh. I'm dying here. I've had morning sickness every day since about 4.5 weeks. I've been constipated every week for the last month, and this week has been the worst. The pregnancy constipation is so bad, I am literally having to add fiber to almost every glass of water. It has now been 4 days since my last BM, and I am in agony. I don't have an appointment until next week on Tuesday, and I work full time. To make it worse, I'm home alone this week with my 3.5 year old, because DH is out of town for work training. I woke up at 3am this morning and could not go back to sleep because the pain is so bad. The worst part is, that I haven't been able to pass anything. Nothing at all. Straining has lead to a hemorrhoid already. A frigging hemorrhoid!!! Anyone else having constipation this bad?? What are you taking to prevent it, and what are you taking to relieve it? Anyone know of something safe for pregnant women once you get to the point where you're impacted? Sorry for the TMI, but it's about to get real for all of us here, so I may as well be the first to make it awkward. Someone has to be the first.  

mylittleversailles

I'm fine but my friend swore by a kiwi a day. She was like you, a lot of trouble from the beginning, hemorrhoids early (and vegan so absolutely, positively no shortage of fibre) and about half way through she did the kiwi thing and that stopped her constipation entirely.

Cythe

I think Colace is recommended for relief at this point. Just be sure you're not overdoing it with the constipation meds. Drink extra water, also at your point I'd probably go for the at home enema (ew, I know). 

azerimama

Cythe I'm so worried about using an enema, I have never had to use them before, and since I work today, I'm afraid I'd end up.... "having issues" at the office if you catch my drift. If it isn't better by end of day, I'll have to buy one at the store on the way home.

Cythe

azerimama said:

Cythe I'm so worried about using an enema, I have never had to use them before, and since I work today, I'm afraid I'd end up.... "having issues" at the office if you catch my drift. If it isn't better by end of day, I'll have to buy one at the store on the way home.

@azerimama oh, for sure! I would want a lot of time at home, preferably by myself. If you're heading to the store, may as well grab some Colace to keep things moving in the future. I hope you feel better!

canonmom413

I take target fiber plus calcium gummies and haven't had an issue yet. 

emwj10187

Girl! I feel you on the constipation thing. It has been so bad. I finally got a break this week. Unintentionally  i added more Garlic to one of meals this week, and the next morning it was a HUUUGEE ( and i mean huge sorry TMI) relief.  I forgot that garlic can act as natural laxative. I made zucchini noodles with my homemade vegetarian tomato "meat" sauce ( and added like 4 cloves of garlic).

ac1259

I wouldn't do an enema without talking to a physician, I forget where I read it but I believe I had seen during one of my other pregnancies that it can cause preterm labor (which I know is not entirely likely at this point but I would avoid it). I've had a lot of issues in the past and when not even Miralax was helping, dried prunes did the job. They taste like raisins, they work really well, and they're natural. Worth a try?

shan24

I can't poop either!  And last week, I had the opposite problem!

rawr1131

I was cleared to use an enema during my first pregnancy... I don't remember how far along I was. Maybe halfway? It sucked but I only did it once and didn't have much trouble the rest of the time. But ask your doctor first!

beautyundefined

Have you tried orange juice?  It works wonders for me!

sjohns908

Oh how much I feel your pain! I have issues on a normal basis, but pregnancy just makes it so much worse. I'm so bloated, crampy and uncomfortable. 

-I take a daily magnesium supplement (also helps with headaches, which I personally am super prone to)
-eat mini wheats for breakfast
-I try to eat my fruit salad once a day (it's cool whip, strawberries, grapes and bananas, while bananas can be constipating, they give you the potassium you need to ward off leg cramps)
-take a prenatal probiotic
-avoid dairy, applesauce, toast, rice (the BRAT diet that they suggest for diarrhea)
-drink at least 64oz of water a day
-avoid caffeine since it's a diuretic and will suck water out of you, which your intestines and colon need to help move things along
-if you're taking a prenatal with iron, consider switching to one with plant-based iron, I use Rainbow Light, which you can get at Target

I know that's a lot, but it's been so many years of dealing with this for me, so I've learned a lot along the way lol

ETA: spelling is hard haha

lovehorse77

Prunes!  Also, I got a gummy prenatal vitamin that has no iron.....this had made a huge difference for me and pooping this time around. Thank. Goodness. 

JimmyNJodi

You should call your doctor.  

azerimama

Hey ladies, just an update... 

I took prune juice yesterday and it didn't do anything for me at all. I finally went and bought a Fleet Enema, and Milk of Magnesia (recommended by doc). I took the MoM about 6 hours ago, and so far nothing. If I don't have a BM by the time I get home, I will attempt to do the enema. If that doesn't work, doc recommends taking Colace  before bed, and says it should provide relief by morning. I hope this resolves today, because I didn't get much sleep last night from being in so much pain. 

ForwardnBackward

@azerimama just an FYI colace is just a stool softener, not a laxative.  The mush without the push, if you will.  I think it'll be important for you to be on preventively but it's unlikely to really make you go, the MoM is much more powerful

sjohns908

ForwardnBackward said:

@azerimama just an FYI colace is just a stool softener, not a laxative.  The mush without the push, if you will.  I think it'll be important for you to be on preventively but it's unlikely to really make you go, the MoM is much more powerful

There is a type of Colace that is both a softener and a laxative, just have to make sure you get the right one

ForwardnBackward

@sjohns08 yes that dulcolax (senna + colace) - I'd have to double check if senna is OK for pregnancy 

Maksim's Mom

Well I'm so frikin glad someone finally posted about this! Haha let me tell you omg how uncomfortable it is to have constipation. I had it with my first pregnancy, the entire time! It was awful. I used to take miralax but feel it's so chemical so I thought of fiber but I forget to mix it into stuff. My fault. Anyway, I'm struggling again and daysss go by without relief lol eek

i war prunes and drink the juice. But nothing helps. I've never tried enema but I may have to resort to it. I'll talk to my doc about it first. 

dogperson11

Load up on water. Seriously. I ate 2 prunes a day and that helped last time. Fiber 1 bars are easy snacks to keep on hand and they're pretty tasty. Stay away from tea as it's constipating.

dogperson11

azerimama said:

Hey ladies, just an update... 

I took prune juice yesterday and it didn't do anything for me at all. I finally went and bought a Fleet Enema, and Milk of Magnesia (recommended by doc). I took the MoM about 6 hours ago, and so far nothing. If I don't have a BM by the time I get home, I will attempt to do the enema. If that doesn't work, doc recommends taking Colace  before bed, and says it should provide relief by morning. I hope this resolves today, because I didn't get much sleep last night from being in so much pain. 

Any relief? I'm about to reach for my glycerin suppository...

nataliepants

Hey uuhh I have poop problems too, but it's the opposite. For the last TWO WEEKS it's just super watery. I do drink a lot of water, but this is ridiculous. I'm not sick, it's been going on for so long I'd have noticed sick symptoms by now. I'm also bloated belly. Dr Google says that your digestion slows down during pregnancy, but really?

riababy4

Maybe try fig syrup (or figs) instead. That helped me during my last pregnancy.

emwj10187

I'm telling you guys... garlic has cured me from my constipation. I've been putting 2-3 cloves every other day in whatever I'm making for dinner. Works like clock work the next morning, every time.

firefly72533

I'm with you! The constipation is the worst. My max has been 3 days so far, thankfully.  I was given the go ahead to take a stool softener, which I also had to do when I was pregnant with my son.
I think @emwj10187 is onto something though.  I had some major relief after I made Spaghetti and Meatballs, last week, one night for dinner.  I make the sauce from scratch, so there's roughly 3-4 cloves in there. 

floyd1rl

I got the wrong Colace but didn't realize that until I was dying at 1am this morning. Couldn't get off the toilet and had to keep the trash can on my lap. I'm still feeling the effects 12 hrs later and can barely move without having to go to the bathroom again. 

mommac2017

I'm with you @nataliepants. No constipation here! The opposite problem!!

nataliepants

mommac2017 said:

I'm with you @nataliepants. No constipation here! The opposite problem!!

That's oddly comforting actually. 

lin1019

Omg. I'm so sorry to hear about your current situation! We're on the same boat! Actually I think mine is worse. I've had really bad constipation as well and I can't pass anything for like 4 - 5 days. I've strained so hard! I've been crying on the toilet, the whole half of my lower body is trembling, I'm straining until I can't anymore. I hoad blood clots show up on my face. It was so bad. It hurts a lot, I was bleeding and yes, I realized I had hemorrhoids. I went to my OB that same day and she referred me to a surgeon to check how I'm doing down there. Nothing could have prepared me to here that my hemorrhoids were so bad, I was diagnosed with THROMBOSED MIXED HEMORRHOIDS that needed surgery stat. I got admitted and had the operation done that same day. It was the worse thing that could have ever happened to me.
Since I was 8weeks pregnant I can't be put to sleep. I had regional anesthesia. The worst part is that I cant take any strong pain killers because of baby. It was so bad. I had to bear all the pain. I just got out of the hospital last wednesday. It still hurts down there but so far I'm getting better.
Sorry if TMI, I hope yours wont need surgery, I suggest you stop trying to strain and don't wait for your appointment, see if you can get a hold of your doc immediately to help you out. I hipe you won't end up like I did, because I wouldn't wish it happen even to my worst enemy. I'll be praying for you.

lin1019

P.S.

I can see this has beem posted even before I got my operation, why did I not see this before. Will be reading more threads in the future.

TurtleMeg

This is my 2nd pregnancy as well and I have had the opposite problem...I have sudden boughts of diarrhea...sorry TMI. The tummy problems are real!

nataliepants

TurtleMeg said:

This is my 2nd pregnancy as well and I have had the opposite problem...I have sudden boughts of diarrhea...sorry TMI. The tummy problems are real!

Same here! Do you drink a lot of water?

rawr1131

nataliepants said:

TurtleMeg said:

This is my 2nd pregnancy as well and I have had the opposite problem...I have sudden boughts of diarrhea...sorry TMI. The tummy problems are real!

Same here! Do you drink a lot of water?

Also dealing with regular bouts of IBS (??) every morning. It gets really crampy and painful before I can do anything

JNAthanassious

I take a fiber & calcium gummy daily and it has helped tremendously! Also, try LOTS of water! I have done prune juice too which helps! Eat lots of fruit! And try some exercise if you can tolerate it!

samyv

I was constipated for like 5 days. I'm indian so I had my MIL make me lentils. Had it for dinner Friday (didn't want to but I was desperate). Went Saturday and Sunday!! I literally walked out of the bathroom smiling and DH laughed so hard. 

kreese-2

I'm the complete opposite! My body won't stop- I get bad stomach pains all day and then I have to poop all day long! I thought maybe my body was skipping the puking part and just going another route lol.. TMI I know - i'm sorry! lol

azerimama

Hey ladies, I realized I never got a chance to write back... that night was bad, and per my doc I ended up using the enema (fleet). Problem is, it only sorta worked.... the blockage was so hard that it basically caused a back up. Once I finally passed it several hours later, I ended up having the opposite problem from the MoM that I took earlier in the day. I literally spent the entire evening in the bathroom.... which is super hard to do when you have a 3 year old and your DH is out of town for work. Not a good day. 

I finally saw my doc on Tuesday, and discussed that I've had morning sickness round the clock. She thinks that because I'm sick, I'm getting dehydrated which is making the constipation worse. She had me up my fluid intake, start taking a magnesium supplement (called Calm), switch to a different prenatal which is a multiple per day instead of a 1 per day. I also got switched to one with folate instead of folic acid, and it also has a probiotic in it as well, which should help with the constipation. I hope the rest of you get relief, because this shit (pun intended) is starting to get old. 

canonmom413

Guys, with me cutting back coffee so much, now when I do drink it my poop problems are solved. It never used to affect me when I drank a ton a day, now that I'm at 1 cup a day or even every 2 days, it helps relieve that issue.