Post partum bowel movement

[atarianna]

I took 4 colace a day leading up to birth (#2) and after. I had a horrendous postpartum poop after #1. I swear it was worse than giving birth.

[underwaterrhymes]

I also want to check in on how you're doing emotionally. Do you have a lot of support right now? Those first few weeks are hard even without having a newborn in the NICU. Make sure you're taking care of yourself. ❤️

[Deleted]

Take it.

Dude. I broke the towel bar off the wall while taking my first pp poop after I had Sofia. Take all the softeners.

[Monica Geller]

Take the stool softener. And I really hope you have at least 1 NICU nurse you feel comfortable With to talk to. I had a couple and I swear they took as much care of me as they did James. And I'm so sorry you're going through such a horrific ordeal.

[lemoncupcake]

I had a c/s on a Tuesday evening and didn't poop until the following Saturday. I was taking stool softeners the whole time post surgery. After that one on Saturday I think it was another few days before my second.

It wasn't that bad when it finally happened, honestly. I hope you get some relief soon!

[lilac05]

Stool softener is not a laxative. It shouldn't make anything runny or urgent. Just softer & easier to pass.

Continuing to keep you & your little one in my thoughts & prayers.

[statgirl]

Take the stool softener. I had an urgent c-section on a Sunday and a small poop on Wednesday. I did not take the stool softener initially. On the following Sunday, I was so backed up and unable to go that I considered digital disimpaction (yes). I was religious with the colace after that. For c-section number two, I took so much colace that baby pooped every half hour or more. In neither case did I end up with diarrhea. The first time the colace actually decreased my bathroom time because I no longer took an hour to poop.

[statlerwaldorf]

I can't remember with ds1 but it was several days and it was so bad. Like I actually cried. I imagine that is what pushing a baby out is like.

I started taking the stool softener regularly and drinking apple juice after the twins. I didn't have the opposite problem and I'm so glad I took it. It was the next day.

[jellymankelly]

Another vote for taking it. I have IBS (not the constipation type) and stool softeners have never given me diarrhea. They'll help you.

Also, it concerns me that you've just had major surgery and aren't getting any after care. That precious baby needs a healthy mommy to come home to, so be sure to take care of yourself! (My DS2 was re-admitted to the hospital at 4 days old, and I was terrible with following this advice, so I know it's easier said than done when it's your baby in the hospital.)

[livinitup]

My post partum bowel movement was diagnostic to my recovery.

As in - I NEEDED to have one as part of mr recovery and discharge plan.

Who the hell cares if you need a stool softener in a shared bathroom ?? Seriously. Who cares ??

[peachykate]

I'm on team take the stool softener and I also drank a lot of apple juice the first few days.

See if your H can call the hospital you delivered in to see if the offer post partum home care. My hospital offered it and they came out to my house. She took my vitals, checked my incision, bleeding, etc. Don't forget to take care of yourself, you just had major surgery.

((Hugs))

[broadsheet]

I had an emergency c/s too and wasn't able to poop until after I stopped taking the narcotic painkillers (and that was even with taking a daily stool softener!)

[thatgirl2478]

Take the stool softeners!  They don't make you poop, they help you!  Get a pillow and use that to support your stitches.

[mekia]

Yes. Take the stool softeners. And keep taking them if you need to. I took 2 pills a day for weeks after DS.

ETA- they won't give you diarrhea. It's not like laxative.

[hungrycaterpillar]

Okay. I will have my husband pick some up. I was prescribed pain meds to take home.

I will find someone when he gets out. Unfortunately my only option to be seen here in the hospital is if I go through ER.

I'm resting as much as I can. Feed are up in the recliner in his room right now. I'm justbglaf to know it is normal to take some time.

I just didn't want uncontrolable diarrhea that kept me away from pumping or being with him or being stuck in the bathroom for hours.

Thanks guys.

I wish I had an answer to update you on Simon but there are no answers yet. He is stable today and I am just happy to be stable with no changes.

[hungrycaterpillar]

Okay. I will have my husband pick some up. I was prescribed pain meds to take home.

I will find someone when he gets out. Unfortunately my only option to be seen here in the hospital is if I go through ER.

I'm resting as much as I can. Feed are up in the recliner in his room right now. I'm justbglaf to know it is normal to take some time.

I just didn't want uncontrolable diarrhea that kept me away from pumping or being with him or being stuck in the bathroom for hours.

Thanks guys.

I wish I had an answer to update you on Simon but there are no answers yet. He is stable today and I am just happy to be stable with no changes.

[usuallylurking]

hungrycaterpillar

First, hugs. I've been there. With DS2 I more or less told my doc to discharge me 24 hours after my c-sec because he was being taken to a NICU an hour away. She did, reluctantly, and with the caveat that I stay on top of pain management and have my H push me in a wheelchair as much as possible. I did stay on top of pain pills, but didn't bother with the wheelchair.

Take the stool softeners. Narcotic pain killers as well as being opened up will stop you up. Take 2, twice a day. They won't have the opposite effect, at best they'll just make it a little softer. I feel badly you haven't already had them, your first time will not be easy at this point. The plus side to hospital bathrooms is they have the handicap grab bars- I used them to grit through it. It sucks, but keep using the stool softeners and every time should be easier than the first. Unless you got stitches down below you shouldn't pop a stich from your c-sec.

Pain management- are you ok? I take the pain pills for the first 3-5 days on a time schedule. I don't allow myself to slip behind and get into pain. From there I taper to just ibuprofen. Use a pillow on your abdomen- to cough, sneeze, support while you go to the bathroom, etc.

Do you have staples? I'm guessing those should come out on Monday if your section was Wednesday- did they cover that in your discharge paperwork? After staples they'll put on steri-strips. They say to leave them on until they naturally come off.

Absolute best wishes to you and your boy. I'm sorry you've all had such a rough go of it so far. I really hope things turn around soon.

[Deleted]

Take the stool softener. OMG you just reminded me to go take my stool softener.

I would also recommend "Smooth Move" tea if you can find it.

ETA: I'm sorry, HC, that looks more flippant in text than I intended it to be. You've had an awful week and fear of pooping should be the least of your concerns. But it is and that's normal.

[pugz]

Colace, stat!!!

[open24hours]

I had a c section on Monday and had my first post surgery poop today. It wasn't nearly as bad as I expected. I've been taking the stool softener twice daily since Tuesday.

[tacoflavoredkisses]

I had my emergency csection on Thursday, started the colace that evening and was able to go Saturday morning before discharge. The colace helped but it was still uncomfortable for about a week.

[Cioccolato]

stool softner...maybe 36 hours later. I loaded up on fruits and veggies too.

[Deleted]

Take the stool softener. Also how is it even ethical to release a person who just had major abdominal surgery after 20 hours with no follow up care???

Sounds like a lawsuit in the making.

[isabel]

I'm glad to hear S is stable. Tons of hugs to you all.

[pegasuskat]

My DD was released after a c- section in less than 20 hours also. My granddaughter had to be taken to Duke in NC and we are in TN. She had a rough car ride, when we got there though we had some awesome nicu nurses who helped her. She got a stool softener to, I hope you've got one by now.