EXTREME constipation post partum?

[Night Flower]

Any other mothers dealing with extreme constipation after birth?

I am extremely constipated. With Abdomenal pains. Nausea. Etc.

Im on pain meds every 4 hours and have been prescribed stool softeners 2xs a day. I'm also taking double my needed intake of fiber.

I have not been able to go in a week! Just a tiny very hard terd here or there (sorry, tmi).

My husband is about to run to walgreens and get me some Gas X and very good over-the-counter constipation meds. Im hoping with these added, with what I'm taking AND drinking 3 cups of coffee this AM, I'll be able to pass a good one.

(I am drinking 32oz of water every hour or two, so I am keeping hydrated and up until this morning, I've been eating very healthy meals 3xs a day).

 

[mrsmummy2]

I had this for two weeks after giving birth to my first. I was prescribed movicol(?) which just made me sick! I think it was partly because the feeling of pushing from down there made me extremely nervous. Hope you feel better soon

 

[misspriss]

Pain medication can make you extremely constipated. For me, staying on top of the stool softeners worked, but I distinctly remember sitting on the toilet crying to DH that I was never going to be able to poop and I needed to so bad.

Hope you feel better soon!

 

[julesmw]

My DR told me if I have any problems I can use Miralax, glycerin suppositoroes or any of the other products out there. I'm nursing, too, and he said it was safe.

 

[julesmw]

There is a thread about this in Postnatal Support in the Baby Forum section of B&B - you will probably find some good advice over there!

 

[wookie130]

Night Flower, I'm sorry, I can't remember how you delivered your LO...was it a c-section, or vaginal birth? I was HORRIBLY constipated for about 4-5 days after my c-section, but I did take colace every few hours from the time of surgery on, and eventually, I was able to go. It was NOT a lovely experience, I'll tell you that. The painkillers do constipate you. Try to up your water intake (which will help if you're nursing anyway), and up your fiber intake a bit. Try 3-4 prunes, a bowl of oatmeal, etc. Even a nice cup of coffee or tea...the caffeine can get you going, too.

 

[Gizzyy]

I'm the same.. I managed to yesterday but was like bullets lol!

 

[baileybubs]

I was the same after my EMCS with dd last year, as a pp says, painkillers can make it worse especially dyhydrocodeine which was what I was on so I started reducing them as much as possible. Also if they have given you iron tablets see if you can stop taking them. I asked my doctor because I was so constipated and had an anal fissure to boot (sorry tmi) and he said as the cons outweighed the pros to stop taking them and eat as much iron rich food as I could instead.

Also take as long as you can on the toilet, do not push. I would spend half an hour in there at least! Take a magazine and a warm drink to help stimulate the bowels, seems weird but it helps!

 

[tryfor2]

Ugh, sorry you're dealing with this. Though I didn't have it pp, I was extremely constipated throughout my last pregnancy as well as this one, so I feel your pain. On the bright side, you are no longer pregnant and can therefore take much stronger, more effective stuff that isn't allowed during pregnancy. Obviously, double check with your dr or a pharmacist, but I believe you can take up to 4 stool softeners per day. Make sure you take them with enough water, but that doesn't sound like a problem for you. Eat lots of fibre-rich foods--apples and pineapple are especially good apparently (what a pharmacist told DH last night) and try some Metamucil. Like pp said, even a glycerin suppository if you can bear it (I can't anymore and you may be too sore from birth still). Some gentle walking should help move things along too. I can't recommend meds bc I'm not there yet, but I think there is a lot you can take once you're no longer pregnant. A pharmacist can advise you there. All Bran buds cereal is helpful as well--doesn't taste too bad when mixed with fruit and yogurt. Good luck. No one knows quite what it's like unless she's been there, and unfortunately I have (am)!

 

[Teri7489]

Have you tried fybogel? It's not a softener but bulks your stools up loads which encouraged the bowels to empty quicker so the water isn't drawn out making you constipated. You can take it with softener as well. After a 4th degree tear I absolutely had to avoid getting constipated, so took 2 sachets of fybogel, 20mls lactulose softener, drank 3lts water a day, added bran to cereal (it works really well) and lived on fruit & cereal. Try to keep as active as possible too, it helps to get things going

Oh and a little nursey tip - pop something under your feet when you are sat on the toilet. Like a little stool or something. It helps to open your bowels better and encourages movement without you straining and pushing xxxx

 

[Night Flower]

We delivered via C section. And its been terrible so far. Distended abdomen, gas, constipation. I can barelly move if I dont take percocet. Ive tried decreasing it several times and I was in such extreme pain, I could barelly rotate my hips while sitting or laying. Right now DH has to help me sit up and do almost everything. Im miserable. I cant lower the percocet just yet. To top it off they have me on ibuprofen for inflammation.

They said I was well enough to go home and everything is normal. But how is this normal? Even vaginal birthed woman get this? How did we as women do it for centuries with this constipation.

Im literally crying on the toilet because I am so backed up and my body will barelly let me pass urine because its saying its time to poop. Takes 20 minutes to fully empty my bladder sometimes.

 

[tristansmum]

I think you need to go and see your doctor. Not being able to pass urine is not good and you don't want to go into retention. Sounds like you may need an enema x

 

[baileybubs]

Yeah I would definately see someone if you are struggling so much and there's no way to reduce the pain killers or move about.

 

[Gizzyy]

I didn't have a c section but it really feel for you when I try and go it feels so heavy down there I'm scared to have a prolapse or something.. :/ might ask the nurses or midwives for a stool softener.

 

[eris]

It's normal post surgery to be stopped up for a few days, but I agree go see your doctor if it's bad enough that you can hardly urinate.

When I had my gallbladder surgery last year, which was open with the big scar, I couldn't poop for almost a week and that was with taking lots of laxative type stuff. It was magical when I finally did go though.

 

[wookie130]

Awwww, shoot. Well, what you're describing sounds like a call to your doctor is in order. It's normal to have pretty horrid constipation after either birth method...but it interfering with your ability to pee, and the level of agony you're experiencing just sounds like you need to be looked it. I mean, recovery after a c-section is no picnic, but with each passing day, I found it to be slightly easier. And I was able to poop about 4-5 days post-op...I know it can happen up to a week later. I'd give your doc a call.

 

[Snufflepop]

I was majorly constipated after birth (normal vaginal delivery) for a good 2-3 weeks. I was on iron supplements which I ended up stopping as they made it even worse.
Best thing that helped me was lots of water and a few glasses of prune juice every day. Doesn't taste the best but it works!
I feel for you though, I remember sitting on the toilet crying to DH about how badly I needed to go- it was almost worse than actually giving birth by the time I went!

 

[Night Flower]

Thanks ladies. Im doing better now. Was finally able to go and with extra fiber and stool softeners, I can pass daily now. If I forget to take them though, yikes!

 

[baileybubs]

Phew, glad its better for you, dreading it myself so I will be reaching straight for the lactulose and the fibogel once I've given birth lol!