This thread in the postnatal area made me remember that aspect of 'after delivery'.

Fear of going to the bathroom (tmi)

This was something I was NOT told about, and it was excruciating... like giving birth a second time in just a few days. When we have some trauma "down there" anyway, adding moderate to severe constipation to the mix is OMG.

I know a lot of ladies are ready or are going to have their babies now, and I just wanted to mention this as a "YOU BETTER BE ON THE LOOKOUT" for this nasty side effect. Not everyone has a problem with this, but I intend to play it VERY safe.

I've made sure to take a bulking agent everyday to stay regular since about week 10. When I didn't take my Metamucil I was either very loose or I had the opposite problem.

So be thinking about options for you after you have baby and notice it's been a couple days since you've had a good poo. (You know it's easy to get real busy with those gorgeous babies and don't notice we haven't gone!) Know what helps kick start your colon and stock UP. If you don't use it, your one of the lucky ones, but if you find yourself in a bind (no pun intended) you will be thankful ... TRUST ME.

LOL thank you for that warning!!!

i find that if i dont eat right i get that problem but if you eat fruit and veg every day it keeps your bowels nice and fresh

This is very true, and will probably help a lot too. What I'm talking about is not your standard run of the mill constipation (or wasn't for me).

It's just a little heads up for ladies about to give birth .

I'll have to remember that lol and i'll let my OH know

That is very true, I was never warned and I never even thought of it.
Of course I was not expecting to be cut during delivery, but it is done very often and I had no idea what was waiting for me afterwards.


In my case, I had diarrhea just prior to giving birth, but after giving birth it took me 5 days to finally go to #2, and I can say with confidence that it was one of the most scary and disgusting things I have experienced in my life.

Best of luck to all.

I still have awhile before I give birth, but I suffer from really bad constipation. It went away for a little a bit but last night it came back with a very harsh revenge. I've never had anything hurt so badly at that end. I guess it's back to Metamucil in the morning and before bedtime and taking a stool softner on a daily basis. I just want to be regular again and to heal from last night's bathroom trip really fast. Sorry if TMI.

A friend of mine said that she was emabarrased every time she gave birth because she pooed on the table. I just laughed cause with how constipated as I am, I don't think I'll have that problem, lol!!!

My friend just had a baby who was 9lb 2oz and she tore all the way to her rectum! She cant barely poo at all because the stitches and the swelling so she has been super constipated because her body knows it cant poo. She is scared for when it all starts flowing again because its messy business and she has a lot of stitches to keep clean.

I've always had cronic constapation my mom and I think it's due to and enlarged colon even though doctors never said it was that. I have to drink that Citrucel Chocolate Fiber (all the other drinks are nasty) drink atleast once a day cause nothing else works not more liquids or veggies.

I know this is a really gross subject, but after the other thread reminded me of this, I just had to pop up and say something.

It is my understanding that along with the trauma at the site of the tear or cut, the bowel itself is kinda traumatized from the stress of pushing. And the parastalsis (the normal movement of the bowels) slows down quite a bit for a few days... bringing on that nasty constipation.

Most of us will have a natural 'cleaning out' prior to labor which is a wonderful thing considering how much things slow down after giving birth.

However you wish to handle it is up to you and wise IMHO. Peeing is bad enough when you've got some ouchies down there... I just hope my extra fiber drinks help keep me going.