I bought and used generic colase in large quantities while pregnant.

To the plastic knife lady, you rock! Made my day with your story.

Anonymous wrote:I'm on an iron supplement in addition to the prenatal vit. per doc., so I've been eating a lot of Mini Wheats, FiberOne bars, and apples for the fiber. Otherrwise the constipation is horrible, just horrible. So my problem is no longer going to the bathroom - I'm back to my daily poop - but they're so big and dense that it clogs the toilet. Every single time. We're talking I gotta run and get the plunger again. And a few close calls before calling a professional.

It's so embarassing, but also wondering if this is normal. Is there something wrong with my GI tract and the way it's absorbing stuff? If I cut back on the fiber than it's constipation. Even just eliminating the apples. Almost like it's all or nothing.

Do the prenatals cause this?

I'm only 11 weeks preg. so I've only been to the doc. 1x so far and will be going back next week, but figured I would ask here - thank goodness for an anonymous board.

Flush 30 secs after sitting down, before finishing. Helped me!

Plungers will not help you with those hard poops. This will.

http://www.google.com/weeklyads/lsf?q=toilet+snake&scd=2583&offer_id=12873666087591437042&customer_id=8740&catalog_id=1230555046835183684

It is called a toilet auger. You can watch YouTube videos on how to use it.

I am 7 weeks pregnant and DH and I have been on the GW Midwives diet since the beginning of my IVF cycle as we're pooping a lot - but not clogging our ancient, sensitive toilet. The diet is basically no white flour, no rice or potatoes, no refined sugar, 8-10 fruit and veg a day including 2 leafy greens. We've been eating a lot of lentils, beans, and whole grains like wheat berries. While the volume coming out of me is staggering, it has been soft enough for the toilet so far. When I say our toilet is finicky - I mean it's like "we're renters and we own our own professional plumber drain snake" finicky.

I hate when the urge happens at work when I'm constipated, because I just KNOW I'm going to clog the work toilet. I hold it (which is difficult to do some times) and then stop into a nearby department store that has a very clean restroom which isn't too busy. When the coast is clear, I exit the restroom without flushing. Sorry to the next woman who goes into that stall, as I also hate to see someone's unflushed poop.

Although it takes awhile, I've found that slow pushing while relaxed is better than hard straining. This is easier said than done since its usually hard/thick and I just want to get rid of it already.

Difficult bowel movements happen to everyone I think, and people have their own way of dealing with them as well as the resulting clogged toilet issue. The comments have been very helpful, and yes even entertaining.

I'm not preggers either, more menopausal. Seriously, today I have PTSD from yesterday having to chop a poop that I had to leave in our master bath for 2 days. I wouldn't let DH go near it. Permanent boner kill. Thank god it wasn't a day when our cleaning lady was coming. Somehow, that would have been even worse.

I am not clogging anything, but mine are huge too… 32 weeks now

This thread has made me laugh so hard I’m crying. It does not matter that is months old. Some topic never go out of fashion!
Thanks so much!!

Yes, iron can cause constipation. Agree with some recent posters about getting iron from food vs a supplement. Red meats and liver are your best sources. Avoid taking calcium/drinking milk when having high iron foods. Eat high iron foods with foods high in Vitamin C as the Vitamin C helps the absorption of iron.

Read "Fiber Menace", the website or his book: http://www.fibermenace.com/. Author recommends the direct opposite of everything we always hear. He recommends less water and to greatly reduce your fiber intake. His book states that fiber is a temporary laxative that bulks up your stool then your colon becomes dependent upon it for having a bowel movement, so you need more and more fiber increasing the size of your intestines and increasing the size of your stool. Or something like that.

Take Vitamin C to bowel tolerance to help you go if you are stopped up. Use a glycerin laxative if you can't get it out. Don't dig it out! Or take Milk of Magnesia, just don't do that long term as your remedy.

Take a good probiotic or eat lacto-fermented foods to help increase good gut bacteria.

FYI - was clogging toilets when pregnant too. Working on trying to resolve BM's via nutrition and things are definitely improving.

Not pregnant, actually post menopausal. I can sympathize totally, but sure love the laughs after reading this thread.

I have four toilets in my townhouse and currently have two clogged, kid you not. I have been dealing with very thick, dense stools for a year or so now and am extremely happy to find a place where this can be discussed. I eat decently, exercise and drink water, but still clog the freakin toilets at least once a week. the plungers, 3, that I have don't get a good seal, so I am going to buy the industrial one on amazon. See link below.
I have used the vinegar, baking soda and boiling water before. used augers in past and even a plumber. How embarrassing is all this shit, pun intended.

http://www.amazon.com/Neiko-Patented-Heavy-Duty-All-Angle-Super-Power/dp/B000MAXASM/ref=pd_sim_hi_1

Good luck ladies.

I'm laughing so hard, I'm about to pee my pants.
But, in all sympathy - the first poop after delivery was way worse and far more frightening than delivery itself. The iron supplements they send you home with do not help - they should just call those things cement mixers...Anywhoo - OP, I think this is pretty common - you are doing all the right stuff, include the prunes, peaches, pears, apples, water, fiber, nuts stool softeners and just keep a plunger nearby for peace of mind...and laugh, a little - the knife story is hilarious.

Ok don't hate me but I never had any of these issues pregnant or otherwise. I don't get it, are these poops hard? Because if I'm having a big poop I just ahem close my anus while it's coming out to stop the flow and that cuts the big poop. So it can be 2 or 3 pieces instead of 1 huge poop.

Thank you for posting. I'm very constipated, due to medication, just bought prune juice to drink later tonight, and am worried about pooping because we don't have a plunger. I'm grabbing some plastick knives and a baggie before I go in! Please always share your experiences; they're bound to help *someone*!

Let's just say it here and now...if men had to go through in one day what some women have to slog through for 9 months, well the human race would have been extinct a long time ago!! I thought I was the only one who had to resort to the wire hanger option!! Well I was at my in laws house and had few options at hand!!! Hang in there ladies, I'm told it does get better!

LOL....I'm so happy I found this thread. I'm 35 weeks pregnant, and have had to increase my fibre/water/colace intake to keep things...flowing . As a result, I don't have to deal with constipation, but I clog the toilet. every. single. time. I've resorted to using a stick to break it up (sorry), and then flush like 5 times in a row, and then use a plunger. It's like an hour long ordeal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is really disgusting but.... I clogged the toilet so much that I started keeping a stash of plastic knives and ziplock baggies in the bathroom. I just (yuck yuck) cut the sucker up with the plastic knife, put the knife in the ziplock and threw it out. Gross, but still better than a clogged toilet.

You somehow retieved your poop from the toilet and cut it up into small peices???? How does that work? What, exactly, do you do?

I know someone who had to use a wire hanger to do this once.