stool softners

Hi ladies, has anyone's doctor allowed them to take stool softners during pregnancy. I know you can't take laxatives but things are getting tough no matter how I try and change my diet and I swear the other day I thought I was going to have my babies in the toilet (sorry for TMI). I recently had the occassional bloody BM that I am going to mention at my appt. on friday. I have had them before and am pretty sure its either a hemmoroid or a fissure but I am really not liking the idea of having to strain so hard this close to the end of my pregnancy!!

[SARgirl]

Well...I was having bad constipation!!  I talked to my Mom about it who is a OB nurse, and she said to start taking a stool softener...I started taking one every morning (the generic kind, equivalant to Collace), and it is working great!!  I haven't been constipated since and that was about 2 1/2 months ago!!  

[Jonelle143]

i too used a generic equivalent any time i was constipated. I too have gone through phases of bad constipation since my 13th week of pregnancy and i am 27 1/2 weeks now....

[sadiesmommy]

good to know, thanks ladies

[KM604]

Coffee!! It never bothered me pre-pregnancy but ever since benig pregnant I occassionlly treat myself to a Starbuck Frappucino and boy do I pay for it!  LOL.  In seriousness though, I haven't yet had an issue with constipation or needing a stool softner so I really don't know.  I would call your doctor though if it is really bad, unless you can wait until your next appointment.

[Heather3418]

Your precious Forum ladies, (mother's in waiting) are totally correct.  I was just talking to my Neurologist about constipation yesterday at my appointment.  My private doctor put me on stool softeners, since constipation is a real problem for people with MS, such as I have.  She was saying that it was even safe for pregnancy women.  But not the kind that contains a laxative.  Just the plain stool softeners capsules.

It works GREAT.  With those two babies of yours taking up all that room in your abdomen, it's no wonder you are suffering from such terrible constipation.  Try not to do all that straining.  That will cause problems with hemorrhoids.  Since you talk about have some blood around your stool already, I would suspect that you already have a fissure or hemorrhoid.  The firm stool scatches the internal wall of the rectum.  The stool softner should help, along with an increase in fluids.  Water is good for you.  It really does help with the constipation.  Slow the consumption of water down in mid-afternoon, so you won't be up peeing all night.  

Best of luck to you, at your next bathroom appointment.....LOL

Big Hugs,
Heather

[sadiesmommy]

Thanks everyone, I have an appt with my OB tomorrow and am going to let him know I will be taking them - unfortunately the only ones at the house right now have a laxative in them so I will be sticking to the prune juice diet for another day or two.

[katebud]

I agree with KM604!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Coffee is the best "natural" laxative, if you aren't afraid of having a little caffeine.  

I have also found that for me, hot chocolate (especially homemade with hot milk, powdered milk, cocoa powder and sugar) does it quite well too!    The packets you can get work, but homemade imho is better to get the bowels going.  TMi, but I've had 2 bm's today from those 2 things...gross, I know....but I'm so much happier!

[sadiesmommy]

I have my alloted one cup of coffee everyday so that one I guess won't work for me. The Ob did approve stool softners today for me so I am hoping that will help.