How to deal with constipation during pregnancy

Disorders in the intestines in pregnant women - a phenomenon quite frequent and dangerous for the body in this position. Constipation is incomplete and difficult emptying, which is systematic. If stool delays exceed the interval of three days a week, the situation should be monitored. Problems of this kind are found in most pregnant women. After childbirth, some of them have a normal bowel movement, but a certain percentage of women in labor continue to suffer from constipation as mothers.

The danger of constipation during pregnancy

Future mothers are often embarrassed to admit to such a nuisance, but everything can only become a temporary phenomenon, if you find out the reasons and take action in time. Otherwise, constipation during pregnancy is dangerous not only for the expectant mother, but also for the fetus, and the list of consequences for this is quite large.

1. After eating, food is processed and should leave the body in about a day. In chronic constipation, these norms can be exceeded up to 120 hours, this leads to the accumulation of toxins that affect the functioning of all organs. Thus, poisoning of the body occurs.
2. Bitterness is felt in the mouth, and a feeling of heaviness appears in the stomach.
3. Sleep is disturbed, performance is reduced. Regular headaches occur.
4. The body has to fight intensely with the accumulated toxic substances, which leads to a decrease in immunity, therefore, susceptibility to various diseases.
5. Constipation is the first step to the appearance of anal fissures and hemorrhoids.
6. And, perhaps, the worst thing is the risk of miscarriage or premature birth.

Symptoms of constipation

The first symptoms of constipation:

• there is pain in the abdomen;
• during bowel movements, discomfort occurs, and feces become dry and hard;
• rectal bleeding is possible, as a result of problems with bowel movements;
• defecation occurs less frequently than after four days.

Any of these symptoms should alert the future mother in childbirth, and if a problem occurs, you should consult a doctor for advice.

Causes of constipation in expectant mothers

Pregnant women suffer from constipation more often than other categories of people. Enlarged uterus during pregnancy is a natural physiological process, but it puts pressure on the intestines and impedes normal digestion.

If the problem occurs in the early stages with a uterus not large enough, the reason for the difficulty in stool is probably the hormonal changes in the pregnant woman. This refers to an increase in progesterone (hormone), which leads to smooth muscle in the intestines in a relaxed state and prevents the free passage of food through it. It is impossible to influence this process, since it does not depend on nutrition and lifestyle.

In addition, reduced physical activity, psycho-emotional instability, fears and experiences, often unreasonable, contribute to constipation, and stress resistance decreases in women expecting a baby.

Pregnancy is the period when you need to review your diet. It’s not easy to make such a decision when you are constantly drawn to tasty, but forbidden. Try to remember the unborn baby and that the restrictions are temporary. You should reduce the consumption of sweets, pastries, smoked meats, spices and spices. Promotes constipation and abuse of chocolate, coffee, tea.Fiber deficiency in the diet of expectant mothers plays an important role in problems with stool.

Taking medications for women expecting a baby should be excluded or limited as much as possible. This also applies to antidepressants, sleeping pills, as well as diuretics.

How to treat pregnant women with constipation

There are relatively safe bowel movements that pregnant women can use.

Laxative drugs
These include Mukofalk, Fiberleks, and some others of similar mild action. They contain fatty acids and enzymes that have a positive effect on the digestive tract. The only drawback is that the effect occurs in about a week.

Microclysters
In this case, use a small syringe filled with clean water without additional additives. Just remember that this method cannot be a system, a single application is allowed, since useful substances are washed out of the body and microflora is destroyed.

Laxative candles
This is a convenient tool for ordinary people, and pregnant women should use it with caution. The safest are glycerin suppositories and papaverine. This classic version softens the stagnant mass of feces and reduces the resistance to defecation.

Probiotics
Luffin preparations include Dufalac, which has a probiotic effect. It contributes to the rapid release of the intestine and reduces the development of pathogenic microflora in it.

Recipes for the daily fight against constipation

Based on dried fruits, you can prepare a mixture not only as a salvation from an illness, but also as a delicious, healthy vitamin, dessert. These tools are ideal for solving the problem. These include dried apricots and prunes, figs, as well as carrots with beets. Sour-milk products will also solve the problem, the main thing is that from the date of their manufacture to the time of receipt the term should not exceed three days. And milk is better to exclude, as a product that promotes fermentation.

And other foods rich in fiber should be included in the daily diet of a pregnant woman.

The digestion process slows down with insufficient water consumption, and bowel function is therefore complicated, and bowel movements become less and less.

An even simpler remedy is the beginning of a new day with a glass of warm water with honey and lemon juice. Drinking on an empty stomach regulates the metabolism and normalizes the digestive tract.

As for food, it is recommended to include black or bran bread, fruits and raw vegetables, oatmeal, buckwheat, and barley in the daily diet.

Physical activity after consultation with a doctor will be another method for regulating stool. Easy walking, morning exercises, a visit to the pool will help the intestines and affect the improvement of well-being.

Popular ways to solve the problem of constipation

Based on natural products, it is enough to simply prepare a laxative at home.

1. A mixture of oatmeal, beets and prunes in equal proportions (take 300 g each) pour 2 liters of water, boil and keep on low heat for one hour. Cool and filtered broth to take a glass for the night.
2. Grind prunes, dried apricots and raisins, add 2 tablespoons of honey. Eat at bedtime, 2 teaspoons, washed down with warm water.
3. Psyllium seeds crush and 1 tbsp. l pour 100 ml of boiling water. Insisting a couple of hours, you can take twice a day on an empty stomach.

Prohibited Methods to Solve a Problem

It is not enough to recommend ways to deal with difficult stools without cautioning against inappropriate methods. You can not prescribe yourself laxatives, especially such as buckthorn or senna.They can negatively affect the development of the fetus and contribute to miscarriage.

Using an enema in general can cause premature birth. This classic remedy is acceptable when the probability of having a premature baby is passed, that is, in the prenatal period.

Oil laxatives, for example, liquid paraffin and castor oil, belong to the soft category, but are not recommended due to increased fat content, and this is an additional load on the liver, gastrointestinal tract, and pancreas.

The doctor who controls the course of pregnancy, in each case, will more competently choose a method with a mild laxative effect to overcome constipation, which will be safe for the unborn child.

It’s impossible to offer a universal remedy for controlling difficult stools. Sometimes the pregnant woman herself, knowing the personality of her body, in conjunction with the recommendations of the doctor, can develop a treatment regimen. The main thing is to reject constraint and respond promptly to a malfunction in the intestines.

Video: how to help yourself with constipation