I know how you feel. I'd be asking your doctor before you take anything, herbal included. Or even give the L&D ward a quick call for some over-the-phone advice. They do that, I had to do it last pregnancy to ask them a question about meds and they were more than happy to answer.

Failing that, a good dose of licorice (preferably Darrell Lea) works for me every time. And then once I've cleared the "backlog" I try to eat heaps of dried apricots, prunes and figs to keep things moving. Along with drinking heaps and heaps of water to try and keep things softer.

Good luck. Hope you can get it all sorted soon.

Lisa