What do you take for constipation during pregnancy?

[Anonymous]

Just curious... I'm in my 2nd trimester and it just hit me, so to speak

[Anonymous]

Does your pre-natal vitamin have a stool softener? I think that is often the recommended first step and then something like metamucil.

[Anonymous]

i'm also in 2nd trimester and it has "hit me" as well, ob said to take 1-2 stool softeners, she didnt know the name of the prenatal vitamin with a softener in it, anyone?

[Anonymous]

Increase your fiber intake on a daily basis. Drinks lots of water.

[Anonymous]

I take Primacare 1 which has a stool softenter. It's a prescription though and I have to pay my co-pay every month.

[preschoolteacher]

I took Docusate (Colace) when I was pregnant you can buy this over the counter.

[Anonymous]

I took Colace too. I would ask you OB before you take anything though... even something to help with constipation.

[Anonymous]

Why take drugs for something you can fix naturally? Seriously, up your intake of fiber.

[Anonymous]

I've always had a problem w/constipation, so pregnancy has been hell. I eat a cup of All Bran every day, eat other fibrous things, and take 6-7 stool softeners daily. The doctors say its fine to take that much and I need it.

Good luck! It's not much fun.

[Anonymous]

PP, if you can fix it naturally, great! Many of us (myself included) can NOT fix it naturally. I am no longer pregs but when I was, I had a terrible time with it. I was taking Benefiber, stool softeners, drinking plum juice and eating activia yogurt. Between all of those things, I usually did ok but I had to do each thing like it was part of my religion.

Also, ladies, when you finally have that kid - trust me when I tell you to be vigilant and MAKE them bring you laxitives in the hospital each night until you go the first time. It will make things so much easier!

[Anonymous]

Two bowls of Fiber One cereal a day worked for me during one of my pregnancies. The next time around I was tired of the cereal so I drank 8 oz. of prune juice every evening.

[Anonymous]

I know a mom who brought a whole pineapple to the hospital with her when she gave birth to her second baby. She ate the entire pineapple in the first 24 hours after the birth. She swears that made all the difference. She had a bad experience with constipation after her first and didn't want to repeat that.

[Anonymous]

I ate two apples and a half a bag of carrot sticks each day. I felt like I couldn't get enough fiber.

When I felt like eating something sweet I ate a Fiber One granola bar.

I drank a ton of water.

Continued my running (I've been a life long runner so it wasn't a "new" exercise plan).

[Anonymous]

A whole lot of ground flaxseed stirred into oatmeal or yogurt.

Also, hot coffee (yes, decaf)

[Anonymous]

Some tips that have been very successful for me:
1. Keep up the exercise - even if just walking it keeps things moving

2. With breakfast I have a glass of juice that is a mixture of 1/2 prune juice 1/2 OJ (I could not drink prune juice straight up)

3. An apple a day

4. I tried to limit banannas


I highly recommend taking the stool softners given to you in the hospital as well as eating fruit after you give birth. I had read this prior to my 1st and believe that it helped me out.