For whatever reason, during my third trimester it became extremely painful and uncomfortable to poop. Here’s my candid, raw experience.
One day I had to poop, obviously, because I poop once a day, at least. I sat on the toilet and it hurt so bad, it felt like my butt hole was tearing. This went on for way too long before I decided to Google it. That’s usually the first thing I do when I have a problem, just like everyone else in the world, haha. I searched something like, “painful to poop third trimester” or “bloody stool third trimester” and found out it’s common to develop hemorrhoids during the third trimester and in the weeks after giving birth. I didn’t know what hemorrhoids were, so I Googled that too. I can’t find the exact article or web page I read… darn.
What are hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the lowest part of your rectum and anus. Sometimes the walls of these blood vessels stretch so thin that the veins bulge and get irritated, especially when you poop. Swollen hemorrhoids are also called piles. Read more on WebMD >
What causes them?
A buildup of pressure in your lower rectum can affect blood flow and make the veins there swell. That may happen from extra weight,when you’re obese, or pregnant. It could also come from pushing during bowel movements or straining when you do something that’s physically hard, like lifting something heavy. Read more on WebMD.
What helped with constipation during pregnancy ?
Milk of Magnesia became my best friend for at least the last two months of my third trimester and a month after giving birth. I took 3 tablespoons every 2-3 days and it worked so well. The only thing with using milk of mag was that when I had to poop, I had to poop… there was no holding it, so it’s a good thing I’m a stay-at-home mom. I didn’t know that milk of mag was a laxative; I thought it was a stool softener… obviously I didn’t read the label. It reminds me of glue and has a weird texture and taste, but I just tried to swallow it as fast as possible. The milk of mag did NOT make me go more often than usual, just softened it so it was easy to pass. I’d suggest taking just a plain ol’ stool softener…laxatives are different for everyone.
It was so bad that I dreaded when I got the urge to poop. I would literally have to sit on the toilet for 30 minutes. I had to clench my cheeks it hurt that bad. I would drink water to help it out, which would usually help, but because it burned and felt like I was tearing as I pooped, water was no help. Every time I would wipe myself after pooping, there was blood. There was also 2 or 3 times where I wiped and found bodily tissue, yikes. While doing a little research, the bodily tissue might’ve actually been mucus.
I’m about two months postpartum at this point and I don’t have to take the milk of magnesia anymore…thank God.
Hormones during pregnancy are alllllll over the place and cause a ton of different bodily changes. Constipation is a common thing during pregnancy, but I’m definitely glad it’s over. I’m especially glad I didn’t experience it twice; it didn’t happen during my first pregnancy as far as I remember.
Did you have an issue with constipation or pain when pooping during pregnancy or after giving birth? Leave a comment letting me know your experience.
Until my next mommy post…
https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/understanding-hemorrhoids-basics#1
