Stupid question about pushing

[Sammiejane]

Hi,

this may sound really stupid, but i dont know the answer and figure that someone will enlighten me may also be TMI !

I have been getting bad constipation over the last month or so (on and off) and i am worried about pushing too hard... two reasons, Hemorrhoids and maybe this can do damage, like maybe bring on early labour.... i mean full on straining not just pushing a bit

Also was wondering one day while sitting there straining if it was anything like pushing a baby out... sorry if this sounds completely stupid

Thanks

[Heaven]

I don't know the answer but just wanted to tell you......no question is stupid no doubt others are wondering the same thing

[sneakysparkle]

Hey Sammie,
Well I don't think it can bring on early labour, but I can tell you that that is EXACTLY what pushing is like!
All the best darl

[Spring Angel]

Sammiejane: Not a silly question at all. I wouldn't be full on straining, I don't think it will cause labour but it shouldn't be that hard to go to the toilet. I was constipated during pregnancy and it was terrible, u can get something to help I used Nulax and it was great. It is all natural and bascially just helps get things moving IYKWIM.

The pushing you do in labour is a different type of pushing. It feels like you are doing a poo because as the baby decends it's head puts pressure on your bowel. The pushing you do in labour is with every little bit of your body and soul. It is a very empowering feeling, you will have strength you never imagined.

HTH
Spring xx

[Trish]

I don't like your chances of pushing bub out like that. But it does feel like that when you are in labour. You are right though, straining too much can and will give you hemorrhoids (sp) this can also happen with the pushing in labour though too.

Try and up your fibre intake, and make sure you are drinking plenty of water. Trust me, there is nothing like going into labour constipated. My labour with Tehya was held up because I was so badly blocked up (sorry tmi)

And hey, your 36 weeks preg, full term is anytime from 37 weeks. Getting out of those last few weeks is great

[Ozstar]

Like SaraJane said there are no stupid questions. Have you tried increasing your fibre intake or trying some metamucil (sp) to releive the constipation? I dont know about pushing bringing on early labour.....I wouldn't think so but hopefully someone can answer that for you.

I guess it is similar to pushing a baby out, I was told when pushing to push like I was doing a poo. Anyway hope that helps.

[Nelle]

Hehe, keep your water up mate, and all those other anti-traffic suggestions.

But I totally get you, once bub is engaged, sitting on the loo, it sure does feel like you could push bub out hey! And it is a similar sensation - similar muscles that get used. A midwife told me she gets many women who insist they need to poo, and she's like um, okay, and ends up catching their bub over the loo - they don't believe it's the baby, cos it feels like they need to poop!

All the best!

[Ilithyia]

I had very bad constipation in both of my pregnancies. 1 because of normal pregnancy hormones. And 2 because i was on iron tablets which caused constipation. Due to this is i had bad hemorroids.

Straining is more likely to cause hemorroids. Sometimes they are painful and sometimes they are'nt. I only once had to use a hemmroid cream in both my pregnancies.

As the girls have said, increase your fibre intake. This can include things like medamucil or their is a natural laxative you can buy from the supermarket called NuLax. Its made up of compounded fruits such as prunes etc.

RE: Pushing - When you are pushing a baby out you do have to push into your bottom. Just like you would push out a poo.

[MrsFabuloso]

I had and have bad constipation when I'm pg. I agree you probably need more fibre and to keep up the water intake. I take metamucil every day and I'm really aware of my fruit and vege intake and eating whole grain bread/cerial.
When I was in labour with DD, the nurse asked me how long it had been since I'd pood- it had been at least a day or two, so she gave me an enima...it was absolutely disgusting, but it worked! And it also helped bub move down a bit.
And yep it is the same sort of sensation to pushing bub out

[Sammiejane]

Thanks guys!!
the problem has been the water intake lately, been very slack and have paid for it! fibre intake is great as i dont eat red meat, so eat loads and loads of fruit and veg (and i am additcted to nectarines at the moment)
Im not straining as i am too worried and also just get off the loo if nothing happen (TMI i know)

Trish - wouldnt mind getting out of maybe 2 weeks of pg, anything before that would be a nightmare - house is covered in a fine layer of sanding dust from reno's!!! ahhhhhh

[Enchanted]

Sammie- have a read of this from the main site

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/...bowel-movement

[Sammiejane]

Thats great Oshani...

On another note about bowels (a bit off track), you can die from not pooing - as a new nurse asking people about their BM was drilled into us and we ask on a daily basis ' so mr smith, have you used your bowels today?' and we get very concerned if they ahe not for several days. 10 years down the track i ask DSS if his 'fluffs' are gross and take note of all things poo in the family!!!
I looked aftera guy that hadnt gone for 17 days - my god the smell when he finally did Ahhhhhh TMI i know.
Another patient got to about 10 days and dies as he obstructed his bowels so badly!

[The[cookie]Doctor]

Hey SammieJane - i know what you mean about the 'straining' - if you're lucky maybe it'll settle like mine did. TMI to follow...

I spent nearly my entire pregnancy going maybe twice, at most three times a week, and for now more than two weeks i've been able to go at least once a day. I got excited in the hope that maybe labour was getting closer as i know diarrhea and soft bowel movements are signs of pre-labour - but nothing as yet...

[Rachel]

Hope the constipation settles, it must be horrid.

As with pushing for the baby, yes it feels like you are going to push the baby out of your bottom, but i don't think it felt at all like straining to pass a bowel movement, it is an uncontrolable push that takes over everything and you (well i did) use your entire body to push. So no i don't think it is at all like straining for a poo, but obviously everyone is different.

[sasha]

SammieJane, ikwym about the nectarines! When I was in my last weeks of pregnancy with S I ate SOOO much fruit, DH thought it was hilarious. He would get home from work and ask what the fruit intake for the day had been. More often than not it was about 8 plums and 5 nectarines a day, with some grapes thrown in here and there (really, I'm not exaggerating!!) Needless to say I didn't suffer from constipation at all LOL

Re the water I've found it really hard to drink enough this time round and I find if I have it cold and add a squeeze of lemon juice it's a lot more palatable and I can drink a few glasses. HTH and you get some relief soon! (And poor guy, dying from not pooing! What an awful way to go

[Jenstar]

With my first birth, they told me that I was pushing down with my neck and to focus on pushing like I was doing a poo. It's so hard to focus on doing that when you are numb from the waist down with an epidural. I've given birth twice and both with epidurals so I don't really know what pushing is supposed to feel like. I just know it was long and tedious and they needed to assist me with episiotimies (spelling?) and forceps to get both bubs out in the end.

[JadeLil]

Hi Sammiejane- All I can say is that in my experience it felt like I was pushing out a bowling ball made of concrete from my bottom!! Once the heads out it is a huge relief...