I Can't Poop! (Probably TMI :) )

Updated on October 24, 2011
M.M. asks from Lake Charles, LA
18 answers

I'm 33 weeks pregnant and I haven't been able to take a poop in FIVE DAYS! I drink a ton of water, I don't eat a lot of junk and I take benefiber every day! On top of taking Reglan (it's an anti-nausea but it helps your stomach empty and helps with acid refux)... the not being able to poop has made my reflux HORRIBLE.. I've thrown up stomach acid 4 of the last 5 nights, I still have a small appetite but I can only eat a tiny fraction of a normal meal because it has nowhere to go. Now I can't eat past 5 (and this is while not laying down until 11) or my acid reflux is hell and I just end up puking all night.. I do have bad hemorrhoids and in the past my #2s have gotten stuck before (gross, I know, I'm sorry!) but at this point I have NO urge to go at all.. I'm able to pass gas just fine but that's it.. I know this isn't healthy and it's horribly uncomfortable what the heck else can I do?! I refuse to do the saline laxative and miralax hasn't worked.. what the heck is wrong with my stomach?! I go back to the doc today at 3 but I was just curious if anyone else went through this.. I'm over putting more pills or more stuff into my body.. as far as foods go I've tried salads, hot coffee and other stuff with fiber with NO luck.. help please!

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So What Happened?

I did get anemic with my first pregnancy so they put me on an iron fortified prenatal vitamin specifically to deal with anemia.. I remember seeing those red rubber bag-like enema things at my grandparents house when I was younger, i guess you just put warm water in the bag and use that as an enema.. it sounds horrible but do they still use those?

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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.H.

answers from Chicago on

Try cheerios.. my doc recommended that for me.. Might need a different prenatal pill as well.

Good luck

1 mom found this helpful

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J.S.

answers from Hartford on

No laxatives, but it's probably time for an enema or suppository. Then be prepared to spend some time on the toilet since you've been ingesting whatever you can in order to get things moving. I hope your doctor is able to help you.

EDIT: Don't eat bananas when you're having problems with constipation and being compacted! Bananas are binding like rice and peas. Keep your fluids up so you don't get dehydrated from here on out and keep up your fiber. Yogurt with live active cultures is really good for your digestion too, especially the Greek yogurts without sugar like Chobani. You need to get your gut health back on track as much as possible, and if you're taking iron fortified prenates that can definitely throw you out of whack. They nauseated me badly and made my hyperemesis gravidarium worse so I had to take prenates without iron. Everything we eat tends to be fortified with iron anyway, but you're good if you eat green veggies.

2 moms found this helpful

E.S.

answers from Dayton on

Have you tried stool softener? That helped me a little bit.
My 2nd pregnancy I was so stopped up I thought I was going to have to go to the ER.
Be sure to check w/ your Dr. about the enema...seems I read something that is putting a red flag in my head.
http://www.drugs.com/cdi/fleet-enema.html

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M.R.

answers from Phoenix on

Grapes, grapes, grapes....lots of red or green fresh grapes.

Hon, you sound compacted now....and this is not good. The gas is moving around the stool

You should try an enema. Even a baby glycerin suppository to stimulate your bowels.

Do you know how to use them? Lots of moms can explain it here.

1 mom found this helpful

K.A.

answers from San Diego on

We swear by pear juice. This is what our pedatrition recommended for my son when he was little and we made the mistake of trying rice cereal. It made him sooo constipated and in so much pain. We didn't want to give anything harsh to a 6 month old.
We use it for anyone in the family when we are having issues. It never takes more than a couple days to break everything loose.
I ate a lot of pears when pregnant to help with things as well.
They're much tastier than prunes and I found they work better.

1 mom found this helpful

A.G.

answers from Houston on

switch to "non heme" iron in your prenatals........and drink a cup of french press coffee

1 mom found this helpful
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A.H.

answers from Chicago on

Dulcolax is safe during pregnancy and worked great for me.

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P.B.

answers from Spartanburg on

Lots of prune juice and dried (or fresh) figs. An enema should be used to melt the initial part ( I know, sorry for being graphic!). Give it a try!

1 mom found this helpful

G.M.

answers from Phoenix on

Red Seedless Grapes!!! They are a natural laxative! Eat plenty of those and you will go! Raisins will also help. :-)
I went through the same thing. I found this out by accident on the red seedless grapes. Then when I looked up natural laxatives, they were listed. Neato! :-)

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M.P.

answers from Portland on

Have you tried a glycerine suppository? It's not fun pushing it in but it's always worked for me.

Also might be time for an enema. You can buy Fleet enema in a one use bottle.

The doctor may prescribe a medicated suppository.

1 mom found this helpful

R.D.

answers from Richmond on

HAHA! I posted this a while ago and got great feedback :)

I'm scared of suppositories and laxatives... BUT, Dulcolax laxative, that's what finally worked for me, and I'm pretty positive it's safe to take while preggers. I bought the CVS brand. I took one around 8/9pm, then finally felt better right around 8 the next morning :) No cramping, no waking up to go, it was like clockwork, and worked beautifully :)

J.P.

answers from Lakeland on

My sister had to take meds for nausea too. She also had two back surgeries that left nerve damage, so she has trouble pooping no matter what. Someone mentioned bananas, but they will just bind you up. Stay away from rice too. Have you tired prunes or prune juice? It sounds like you will probably need an enema. I hope the Dr helps you out and can find a way without any more pills.

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B.C.

answers from Tampa on

Banana a day, you never have a problem.

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R.K.

answers from Boston on

Call the doctor today or tomorrow. Please don't wait, you are important. When this episode is "resolved" be sure to eat your red grapes and prunes, and avoid bananas, rice and chocolate. And remember rice is in many products (rice cakes, rice puff cereal). My best to you.

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B.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

I had this problem just once.

I didn't feel like I needed to go. But, like you, I hadn't gone #2 in several days. I began to have a fever, acid reflux and I still didn't have to go.

I finally just sat on the toilet and forced myself to go. The feces was very hard and I had to flex my sphinxter muscles so it wouldn't hurt. When it finally started, it exited rather quickly. My fever went away almost immediately and so did my acid reflux.

I only had that problem once. After that my stools were normal and occurred on a regular/normal basis.

Good luck to you and yours.

✿.R.

answers from Boston on

Try Ultimate Aloe juice. I don't poop without it. :)
2 ounces every day and you'll go everyday.
http://bit.ly/vNCQ0z

E.M.

answers from St. Joseph on

I know that coffee makes me have to go poo, I know that caffeine is an issue while preggers, but maybe you can try to drink some de-caff coffee. or, maybe eat some fast food one night. I stopped eating fast food for like 5 or 6 months and was determined to not eat it again. but, a long dr appt trip and we were all hungry and an hour drive from home at least so we went through the McDonalds drive through and got their dollar mcdoubles....lets just say it didnt stay with me for to long. now, anytime i eat fast food it does that....i know, tmi in my response, but maybe it could help?

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