ooh this is a thread after my own heart! I had the worst constipation (for the first time ever) of my entire life at 21.5 weeks, and ended up going to hospital by ambo with suspected umbilical cord prolapse or visible (externally!) membrane. Turned out to be nothing more than a vaginal wall prolapse and bubby was fine.. it was all thought to be due to straining (even tho - weirdly, I didn't have any 'roids or anything like that! So wouldn't that mean I didn't strain too much? I was trying to NOT strain. Or mebbe I strain weirdly??! ).

Anyway, so my motto is a huge "avoid avoid avoid!". interestingly I had already been taking some metamucil (but I think a combo of headcold/accidental dehydration sent me up nasty creek without paddle). Plus I also am unable to eat pears/apples/sultanas/prunes/bran/coloxyl etc due to a malabsorption problem with fruit sugars, so can't resort to many of the typical remedies.

So it didn't hurt bubs per se, but I could have lived without the stress! (given we were told that bubby probably wasn't going to make it, and I was taken to a birthing room ready!). Ever since, I take my metamucil religiously, eat as much fibre as possible and ALWAYS take a book in (like an old grandpa hahaha!) because I relax and don't think about it, and then it always happens (and believe me, there's nothing like making you paranoid about pooing than to have it result in a trip to hossie!). And touch wood - no further prolapses/problems since. Haven't tried the bookshop thing tho .. might have to trot off to Borders!

Hope i've scared u all enough to eat prunes by the bucketload! Seriously, think I was pretty unlucky... or just "special". haha.