Carrie:

Four weeks ago, I gave birth to Alison, our beautiful little girl and I know I should be overjoyed with my life and our new child. The problem is, I am having some constipation issues that are making me bloated, gassy and pretty uncomfortable.^ My OB/GYN told me many women experience occasional constipation as a result of the stress our bodies go through during childbirth. Our muscles down there are put through heroic efforts and some medications given to ease our labor discomfort can contribute to a slowdown in our digestion. I know lots of my new mother friends have experienced postpartum constipation but that doesn’t make me feel any better. I want to find a way to go so I can focus on my new daughter and her care. Constipation is not part of my plan to be the mom I always said I wanted to be. Childbirth is one of life’s most cherished moments, but it is also a clinically defined medical condition—one of many medical conditions that can cause bouts of occasional constipation.^ To learn about other causes of constipation, see other constipation sufferers' profiles.

Mitzi Dulan, RD, CSSD:

Lots of people sometimes find their lives are out of sync. Childbirth and a whole range of other medical conditions can put your life out of sync and result in occasional constipation. Conditions such as IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), hemorrhoids, surgery, as well as childbirth are just a few of the common ones. For new mothers, constipation—often caused by the stress of labor, discomfort from surgical incisions, medications given during labor to ease discomfort, a slowdown of the digestive tract and a temporary loss of muscle tone in the abdominal area are all contributing factors that can lead to occasional constipation. For new mothers, it is often made worse by the dramatic change in routine—long, often sleepless nights, lack of exercise, and less than ideal eating habits.

Always consult with your physician to help you understand what you can do to improve your regularity and what products might offer you relief when experiencing an episode of constipation.

And, if you find yourself experiencing a bout of constipation like Carrie’s, ask your doctor about trying Colace® Capsules for relief. After all, new moms deserve all the help they can get.

In general, to avoid occasional constipation, I recommend following the Six Steps to Combating Occasional Constipation.

Carrie:

After checking with my doctor I tried Colace® Capsules— and guess what, I found the relief I was hoping for. Colace® Capsules made it easier for me to go and now I only have to find a way to go to bed and get some rest.

^If pregnant or nursing, ask a healthcare professional before use.
Please read full product label before use. Laxative products should not be used for a period of longer than one week unless directed by a doctor.

*The following profiles do not represent actual consumers. The individuals depicted represent fictional people with common constipation issues.