More frequent 'hard' bowel movements?

[~*Niadalla*~]

eeewwwwww..... I know this is TMI.

So STOP NOW if you're likely to become squirmish! hehe

I have noticed that in the last week or 2, my bowel movements have become.... harder ( aka constipated!)

I have not had ANY problems with this at all my entire pregnancy, adn was just wondering if it had anything wo do with me getting closer to my EDD??

Did/does anyone else suffer this?

cheers...

*runs out of forum with head in hands!* lol

[Karina]

hmm I cant say it happened to me (i had the opposite!! - though I know some people do get constipated during pregnancy) but just wanted to sympathise.. I was SO constipated after giving birth!

[KirstenFleur]

Hi Squishee,

I've had a few problems with this, but it dramatically worsened when I had to start taking iron supplements two weeks ago.
Not even half a packet of prunes helps terribly much.
I do wonder if you're right though, and when we get closer to the EDD everything starts relaxing in preparation. Hm. We need somebody who knows about these matters!
Hope things go well for you
Kirsten

[Trillian]

Try drinking more water, get some more fibre (either metamusil or fibre rich foods) and even having fresh fruit or prune juice can help soften things up for you without taking a laxative. Not sure if it has anything to do with you getting closer or not as everyone seems to vary so much in this department. It could do though.

[Tracey]

As I have just recently had to take Iron supplements, I have started having 6 prunes each morning & heaps of wtaer & I had baked beans for brekky yesterday, I was worried I was clogged up as i felt a bit clogged, but this morning I went & there was definately no cloggage or constipation...

So definately eat prunes, drink water & salad/veggies!!!

[Shontelle75]

Hi there,

Yes - this is happening to me! I am 32 weeks and up until now have had quite soft poos, but in the last week they have become hard and I get a spasm of pain sometimes as they are moving down (sorry for the detail!)

I have started taking Coloxyl (plain - not the one with Senna) at night before bed and once during the day and keeping up with my water intake and I find this helps - it is still hard but I don't have to strain and it means that I can go once a day and don't get a back log (ha ha!)

I hope this helps.

[Maybebabie]

At 35 weeks I am experiencing both extremes. Diet doesn't seem to play a big role for me but a good curry or even tacos certainly clean things out for me. I get pains with both as well, and I vary from twice a day to nothing for a few days depending which extreme my body feels like producing for me.

[Alan]

Hi Squishee
This is caused by a hormone called progesterone and for some women can become a real problem. Make sure you are eating lots of fibre and drinking plenty of fluids. (at least 2 litres a day)