Had a baby week ago and my poo is really hard & I bleed a lot what can I do?

Question

It is really painful when I go cos I can only get it out by straining really hard but even that doesn't always work and I'm just left feeling uncomfortable because I cant get it out. I also bleed when I go is this normal ? I had to be cut and have 3 stitches during labour which also doesn't help. Please I'd appreciate any advice

Answer 1

When I had my daughter the Dr. prescribed stool softener. They are usually prescribed when you have an episiotomy or tearing because they are worried you'll be afraid to the bathroom, and they dont want you straining too much. Maybe the Dr. didnt think you'd need them. I would buy some colace or over the counter stool softeners.

Answer 2

You might want to try eating prunes or drinking prune juice, and a stool softener may work as well, metamucil is really good! As far as the bleeding is cocerned you might have hemorroids due to the pressure and pushing after labor! These symptoms is quite normal you don't have to panic. Make sure you rinse your stiches every time you go to the bathroom they should've given you some solution at the hospital. If not rinse with water this normally helps. Dont' worry these are all postpartum symptoms that we all go through! Good luck hope this advice helps.

Answer 3

I don't think anybody mentioned this, but sometimes natural childbirth "rearranges your plumbing." I had this problem, and for many months had to push down on my colon (though my birth canal) to help get the poo out. The doctor said there was nothing wrong with me. Kegels and walking helped readjust things, so as soon as the doctor OKs it, start exercising.

And of course, do the water thing. If you are breastfeeding, you need much more water, but even if not, you are sweating and doing a lot of things that need cleansing, so drink the water. Warm water with lemon juice and honey first thing in the morning sometimes helps with the poo-problem, too.

Be sure and consult your doctor at your next check-up -- but try some of these suggestions, too.

Answer 4

Your doctor will want to see you for this. There are some products you can use to prevent this; laxatives are habit-forming, so don't use them for long. There are fiber drinks you can purchase that will help (Metamucil and others.)

The healthiest way to deal with this is to read about "proper food combining." Boiled down, the method is to eat your fruit first, then your vegetables, next eat the carbohydrates (bread, pasta) and finally, meat, if you eat it. It will help you become regular, and more importantly, it helps your body absorb the nutrients in your food more efficiently. An excellent book on this method is called, "Fit or Fat." It's by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond. There are others, but not as easy to read as this one. The method helps you lose weight, too, but it's not just for that. So if you have no weight to lose, don't worry, it's a great eating plan for everyone.

Surgery does often cause this kind of constipation. Your colon will return to natural functioning. It's too bad your doctor did not explain this to you.

Answer 5

The bleeding is normal, especially if you had stitches. That is is it is just small, spotty not heavy. To make your poo softer try taking a stool softener and drinking plenty of fluids. Apple juice or other fruit juices are good choices because they provide nutrition, fluid and are like a mild laxative. Good luck, be comfortable and remember it is temporary.

Answer 6

First things first, buy a good stool softener. Your doctor should have prescribed one or at least offered a brand that he/she trusts. Its completely normal, because essentially durring labor you waste removal shuts down to create more energy for pushing out baby. Not only that, but if you had an epidural...that will only worsen matters...waste wise. Basically, you're trading one evil for the other--but I'd much rather have that pain, than the un-medicated pain of labor in its final stages!

Answer 7

Didn't your doctor prescribe you pills that you can take to soften the "poos"? After you take them, it makes it easier to slide through. Also, you're suppose to bleed after labor. You haven't had a period for 10 months, it's just making up the lost blood. The hospital where I gave birth gave me two things: a squeezable bottle for water and a spray for down there. The bottle is supposed to be filled with warm water and used to clean out the blood that hangs around your bottom area. The spray is used after you wipe to numb the stitches/pain. I had my son 10 months ago and I still have these items hanging around. Call your doctor and ask her if she can prescribe you pills to soften your "poos".

Answer 8

oh yes. post partum constipation. I know it well. TMI, i know, but it's true and common.

I'd use some kind of stool softner or laxative. lots of dried fruit (for me dried apricots work better than prunes), lots of fiber, and for me also green tea made me "go"...

Call your ob/gyn for any brand advice, but you can get over the counter help at any grocery or pharmacy.

stuff like Ex-Lax, Dulcolax are available at pretty much every grocerystore or pharmacy in the US.

If you are in much immediate pain... a laxative suppository usually works in 15 minutes to an hour... but only if you're in some serious pain..... usually the chewable ones or pills or fiber drinks take hours or days to take full effect which might be enough for you.

Just go to the store (or send your partner, mother, sister or someone else who can helpyou) and look in that over the counter medicine part of the store... if there's a pharmacy, ask the pharmacist for some suggestions for post partum constipation..... it can make your recovery so much easier to have this part taken care of.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 9

The bleeding is called Lochia, and will continue for up to 6 weeks, on average. Within a couple weeks you should be able to get away with just panty liners.

My doctor prescribed colace (collate?) a gentle laxative-- its an over the counter one. Pick some up and take it daily.

Answer 10

didn't your doctor give you any stool softeners? i had stitches both times i had babies and the dr gave me stool softeners both times. get some! there's no reason you should be going through this much pain! also make sure you are getting a ton of water. are you nursing? if you are you need 8oz of water every time you nurse. if you're not nursing, then try drinking water after every time you feed your baby formula. being fully hydrated will help with your poop. good luck!