I had my little girl three weeks ago and have been having problems with bowel movements just the last two days. My stool is extremely hard and it is so painful to have a bm. I have been taking a stool softener since I gave birth but this doesn't seems to be helping. I am exclusively breastfeeding my daughter and am looking for suggestions that will not pass through to my baby. I called the doctor but it was almost 5 so they should call me back in the morning. But until then, I'm miserable.
Someone may have suggested these - didn't have a chance to scan the other responses.
Lots of water, oatmeal, fiber one bars should help do the trick.
I had and still have the problem after my first.
I eat a big bowl of bran cereal every morning along with a fiber bar at mid morning. Ever since I did that I have not had any issues.
If your stools aren't coming in a "snake" you're dehydrated - WATER, WATER, WATER. Drinking prune juice (as horrid as it is) will flush you out, just like everyone says it does!!!!!
Water is imperative when you are breastfeeding. If you get enough, things should balance out...in the meantime clean yourself out with prune juice. You may explode but getting that stuff out is critical. Constipation is not simply uncomfortable but can be a health hazard for you and your little one. Your nutrition is absorbed through nutritional absorption sites in the intestines. As matter passes over them, it absorbs. The longer it sits, the more toxins absorbs.That is not what you want in your bloodstream. Regular bowel movements (one after EVERY meal within the hour) is your goal.
Hope this helps.
M.
hi, I have 6 children so I have tried many things , you can try bran flakes, or for me fresh spinach works, also epsom salts may help, just try eating lots of fresh foods, anything that will not bind you.lots of water & orange juice may help too
also as a side note if you ever find your getting mastitis I have researched & tried many things but the best is vitamin lecithin 2 a day, cayene pepper vitamin 1 a day & poke root, 1 tablet a day( this is very potent homeopathic remedy you get at health store & you can take all of them whilst breastfeeding too...also if you do get full blown mastitis, Use a green cabbage that you have taken off the leaves whole washed them & then freeze them one for each breast, then take a warm bath & let your breasts hang in the water massaging them to get the milk flowing dry them then take your cabbage out for freezer & place right on your breasts leave on till the leaf is wilted( oh by the way it will smell like your cooking cabbage on yr boob !! lol ) but it does work..i have used it on my last 2 babies.
Good luck x
I would go with prunes, apples, things that have lots of fiber.
Hi M. M ;-)
I completely agree with Shaun C! When you are done drinking her water.. take some more sips.. LOL! Your metabolism is increased dramatically when you are breast feeding as is your use of water for all cellular processes.
The quality of your stool is indicating to you how well your large intestines is functioning with regard to its responsibility of reabsorbing water. Also, take a gentle look at yourself these past weeks and see if there is something going on with regard to "holding on or letting go" of emotions or issues.. this is the energy consciousness of the intestines and they may be talking to you, letting you know that it is time for some introspection :-0
hugs,
A. R.N., Energy Medicine Practitioner
DRINK lots of water and eat lots of fruits and vegetables. I hear you discomfort. Good luck.
L.
I agree with all the advice given so far. Lots of water, and lots of fiber. I also want to add--don't eat cheese. Add yogurt and grapes to your diet. Lots of grapes--not just the juice; the whole fruit.
Drink a ton of water and get more fiber in your diet. You can get fiber bars or even fiber cereal for breakfast. There are so many foods high in fiber and the more you consume (along with a ton of water), the easier it will be. You may also want to try a glass of prune juice. That has always done the drink for my family. We use pureed Gerber prunes for the kids and the prune juice for the adults.
sounds odd , but works well : a big glass of hot/warm water before bed or 1st thing in the a.m. or their are also herbs you can take, plum & prune juice work well too
You are not intaking enough water. Stool softners only work if there is water in the body. You practical have to double your intake of fluids when you breastfeed. Sugar free juices, water, tea (decaf) etc. Get to drinking!
For now I would suggest prune juice. Hopefully your system will work itself out soon. It took me about a month to get back to "normal" after having my son. The juice along with a stool softener worked well in the mean time. I didn't have problems everyday, so I also linked mine to not drinking enough water. Especially since you are breastfeeding make sure you drink tons of water!! I still remember (two years later) how miserable I was, so I feel your pain. Good luck to you and congrats on your sweet baby girl!
fiber one cereal, benefiber, take it easy with any vitamins with iron in it, This is really normal and should get better soon. Drink lots of water. You may have an anal fissure that takes a few weeks to heal. Best of luck to you. I had this same problem twice.
I agree with what everyone has said about water. Also, eat CHERRIES. They will clean you out fast! :)
Water water and then more water. Oh, and just when you think you're gonna float away, drink more water. You need to drink a TON of water when you're breastfeeding.
Up the amount of fruit you are eating as well. Try pears, peaches, prunes, pineapple. Basically any fruit that starts with a P is a "poop" fruit. Limit things like pasta, bread, bananas.
eat some prunes, or drink prune juice. also regular exercise, and warm baths can help. good luck... hopefully they can help
i had the same problem after i had my second, so this time around(our baby girl is 6 weeks old) i knew i could not let it get this bad. what worked for me i took 3 stool softeners/day,drank lots of water and ate lots of apples(dry or fresh).......no issues at all this tme around......
If you are taking iron pills, that's probably what's going on. If so, ask your doctor if you can drop them at this point. Lastly, increase your fiber intake and drink plenty of water. That will help.
I am reading this late.... But I wanted to let you know that I have IBS and have always had trouble having a bm.... Can literally go 1 full week with out one and then when I do it is painful......
I have found a wonderful remedy that has helped me for the past two months..... I bought the HEB brand of peppermint tea bags for my sinus headach and when I went online I read that it helps with IBS...
I put 1 tea bag in a coffee cup filled with drinking water and heat in the microwave for 2 minutes and sip on it in the morning while I am getting ready and now I have at least 1 bm a day!
I don't know if you have IBS or not, but you might give it a try and see if it helps you.
I am not gonna lie, it takes a few minutes to get used to the taste if your use to sweet drinks, but now I love it....
Good Luck and hope you find something that works!
Probiotics!!! I have been giving them to my son, since he was three weeks old. It has been the most effective thing for him. They have a whole host of other benefits, as well. Everyone can benefit from them. They really help stools and regulating the digestive tract.
I started taking benefiber at dinner in my drink, when I had this happened and it really helped.
