How to get rid of constipation during pregnancy?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 12:45

Every second pregnant woman faces such a delicate problem as constipation. The norm is the emptying of the intestine from 2-3 times a day to 1 time in 2 days. If you can not go to the toilet for more than three days, then we are talking about constipation, and you need to take action. If constipation tormented a woman even before pregnancy, it would be good to take care of such a problem even at the planning stage and get well. Because during pregnancy, many effective remedies will be contraindicated.

But even if a woman has never experienced such troubles before, constipation and subsequently hemorrhoids can appear completely unexpectedly. Problems of the gastrointestinal tract are familiar to almost every pregnant woman, especially in the early stages. Hard stools can be caused by physiological, anatomical and hormonal changes and are not a disease. If you know what to do with constipation during pregnancy, you can easily keep the situation under control.

What causes constipation duringpregnancy

In cases where the act of defecation is absent for more than three days, we can talk about constipation. To eliminate the problem, it is necessary to find out the main cause of constipation during pregnancy, the therapy used will depend on this. Sometimes it is enough to adjust the lifestyle, and the problem disappears on its own.

Factors that can cause a similar problem in the early stages:

1. The impact of progesterone. In the first weeks of pregnancy, the concentration of this hormone is very high. It has a relaxing effect on the walls of the intestine so that spontaneous miscarriage does not occur, thereby contributing to the retention of feces. This kind of anatomical constipation is easily treatable.
2. Vitamins taken by pregnant women can cause an excess of iron and potassium. These elements reduce muscle contractility, thereby making it difficult to defecate. Review your diet, you may already get enough vitamins from vegetables and fruits, and additional ones only complicate the situation.
3. Sedentary lifestyle. Modern life forces us in most cases to do all the work in a sitting position. Constant sitting in the office, at home on the couch, or even bed rest prescribed by a doctor - all this makes it difficult to pass stool. Try to move as much as possible, of course, if there are no contraindications.

Some causes of constipation during second and third trimester pregnancy:

1. With the growth of the fetus, the uterus and the fetus itself put pressure on the intestines,internal organs are displaced, and all this affects the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, proper regular stools may not be present.
2. When a woman has severe swelling, her doctor may advise limiting her fluid intake. And this, in turn, contributes to the hardening of feces. An excellent solution is rosehip tea.
3. Improper nutrition, cravings for flour, sweets and fatty foods are the main cause of constipation during pregnancy. In addition, pregnant women tend to overeat or, conversely, refrain from eating for a long time due to toxicosis. All this negatively affects the daily stool. Try to eat more he althy food.
4. Hemorrhoids, anal fissures are quite painful diseases in themselves and can turn into chronic constipation. During a bowel movement, a person instinctively shrinks due to pain, which further aggravates the situation.

5. The psychological state of a pregnant woman can also affect the gastrointestinal tract. Try not to be nervous and avoid stressful situations whenever possible.

Although the causes of constipation during early pregnancy are somewhat different from later factors, treatment in any case should be gentle and taking into account the situation of the woman.

Symptomatics

When feces are not passed for a long time, the intestinal walls can absorb toxins, which subsequently enter the bloodstream. Intoxication of the body is dangerous for the development of the fetus. The outflow of blood from the vessels of the small pelvis, observed with constipation, can provoke hemorrhoids, and hardfeces can injure the mucous membrane and thereby lead to anal fissures.

In addition, unpleasant symptoms appear that can seriously impair the quality of life of a pregnant woman. So, severe constipation during pregnancy is accompanied by:

• bloating;
• abdominal pain;
• appetite loss;
• sluggishness;
• severe pain and fissures around the anus.

Remember that during pregnancy you can not push, this can lead to uterine tone. In the early stages, the tone is dangerous for miscarriage, and in the later stages - for premature birth. Therefore, it is extremely important to get rid of constipation and restore bowel function as soon as possible.

What causes constipation?

We already wrote above that strong attempts during constipation can provoke uterine tone, which, in turn, is very dangerous. Constipation during early pregnancy must be treated, because over time the problem will only get worse. So, what can turn into constipation during pregnancy:

• hemorrhoids, fissures;
• inflammatory processes in the rectum;
• disruption of the biliary tract;
• deterioration of skin condition;
• feeling unwell, nervous;
• infection of the body with toxins;
• the threat of miscarriage and premature birth.

In addition to the above, constipation is also dangerous becausethat the wrong microflora in the intestines of a pregnant woman (especially in the early stages) leads to congenital abnormalities in the digestive organs of the fetus.

How to get rid of constipation during pregnancy

If at other times any sufferer can just go to the pharmacy and buy a laxative for constipation and any rectal suppositories for hemorrhoids, then things are a little more complicated during pregnancy. Any drugs, even the most, at first glance, harmless, must be agreed with the doctor.

Before you fight constipation during pregnancy with medication, try changing your lifestyle, change your diet. Often this is enough to alleviate the condition. But if all else fails, you can resort to other methods.

Laxatives: what can and can not?

In this article, we will discuss only those medicines that can be used for constipation during pregnancy. What does modern medicine offer in the fight against constipation?

• Drugs with osmotic properties, such as Duphalac, Laktuvilt.
• Means that irritate the intestinal walls - Guttalax, Sena-De.
• Microclysters.
• Rectal suppositories based on glycerin and sea buckthorn.

Lactulose-based drugs ("Duphalac") are considered the safest drugs, but they have a very mild laxative effect. The result of taking the drugcan be felt only after 2-3 days. As for glycerin suppositories, although they are considered safe, it is still better to notify your doctor about the use of these suppositories.

Folk remedies

Judging by the numerous reviews, constipation during pregnancy is effectively treated with traditional medicine. Here is an example of some recipes that will help you go to the toilet:

1. Take prune infusion 100 ml before meals. To prepare it, it is enough to pour 150-200 grams of prunes with a glass of boiling water and let it brew in a thermos.
2. Herbal teas made from mint, chamomile, dill seeds or cumin will help get rid of flatulence. But no more than 1 cup a day.
3. Twist dried fruits in a meat grinder, namely dried apricots, raisins, prunes. Add 2 teaspoons of natural honey. Eat 2 teaspoons at night with water.
4. Bake 200 grams of pumpkin in the oven, then rub with honey. Such a dessert gives an excellent result, provided that there are no contraindications to bee products.
5. A tablespoon of flaxseed and a glass of warm water mix and leave for 3-4 hours. Drink before bed. But it is advisable to ask a doctor before use.
6. Simmer a few unpeeled apple slices for 10-15 minutes. Drink as tea no more than 3 times a day.
7. To ease the stool, just drink a spoonful of honey with a glass of warm water.
8. Include dried fruit compotes, fruit drinks in your diet.

9. Helps some people a lotmilk drunk on an empty stomach.

   

An important point: do not forget that drinking various herbal decoctions during constipation during pregnancy can be dangerous for the he alth of both the mother and the unborn baby. Some herbs are capable of releasing natural hormones, and their effects on the body can be unpredictable. Therefore, in no case do not self-medicate.

Proper nutrition

As you know, we are what we eat. If you are wondering how to get rid of constipation during pregnancy, before taking any serious measures, review your diet. Eliminate from it everything that contributes to the formation of hard stools. Get into the habit of consuming as much fiber as possible and drinking plenty of water. It would be good for a pregnant woman to completely eliminate or at least significantly reduce the following foods:

• flour, muffins, cakes;
• rice;
• eggs in any form;
• canned food, marinades;
• animal fats;
• strong tea;
• mayonnaise;
• onion, garlic.

Foods that help with constipation during pregnancy:

• soups;
• salads from any vegetables and fruits;
• zucchini, eggplant;
• all kinds of stews;
• beets, cabbage and all other vegetables;
• any dried fruit;
• watermelons, melons;
• grapes, plums, apricots;
• lean meat;
• porridge.

Sometimes a pregnant woman is not able to consume enough fiber, in which case you can buy a ready-made dry fiber preparation in a pharmacy and add it to yogurts.

Can I do an enema

Immediately before giving birth, a pregnant woman will definitely be given an enema. This is necessary to clean the intestines and avoid accidental emptying during childbirth. Mechanical action with cold water helps to instantly relieve the stool and get rid of the problem. But is it possible to do an enema during pregnancy?

The use of an enema is generally acceptable, but there are a number of contraindications. The procedure is prohibited in the following cases:

1. There is a risk of miscarriage or premature birth.
2. History of aborted pregnancies.
3. Low placentation or uterine hypertonicity.

It is possible to do an enema during pregnancy, but only in the most emergency situations and strictly after the doctor's permission. Better yet, use microclysters, they are just as effective, but less traumatic.

Consequence of constipation - hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are one of the most unpleasant diseases. According to statistics, every second Russian is familiar with this in one way or another.ailment. Hemorrhoids are considered a delicate problem, and it is not customary to talk about it. That is why many people put off going to the doctor until the last moment, although if measures are taken in time, it is quite possible to do without surgical intervention.

In simple terms, hemorrhoids are varicose veins that occur due to stagnation of blood. Symptoms of the disease are similar to those of constipation: itching, burning, feeling of fullness, painful bowel movements, blood.

Often, a pregnant woman learns about the presence of hemorrhoids from her doctor at the next examination. Do not forget that even if during pregnancy these nodes do not manifest themselves and do not bother, childbirth (especially protracted) can exacerbate this disease. Subsequently, this may lead to surgical intervention.

Childbirth with acute hemorrhoids

In cases where hemorrhoids appear just before childbirth, a pregnant woman may begin to panic and fear. It is clear that the birth process itself is quite painful, and in combination with hemorrhoids, a woman will have a hard time at all. Nevertheless, the presence of hemorrhoids is not a reason to resort to a caesarean section. A woman will be forbidden to give birth naturally only in the fourth stage of hemorrhoids, that is, in the presence of thrombosis and bleeding.

However, even natural childbirth will be somewhat stressful. Midwives will have to constantly monitor the condition of the woman in labor in order to provide immediate assistance in case of emergency. The fact is that the child, passing through the birth canal,will strongly press and pinch the vessels, and constant attempts will put an additional burden on the sphincter.

There are times when knots fall out during attempts. At best, they will return to their places on their own during contractions, at worst, obstetricians will contribute to this.

What to do so that hemorrhoids do not come out during childbirth? If during pregnancy, therapy has not yielded results, and childbirth has already begun, the only thing left is to obey the doctors and not panic.

Prevention methods

The best thing you can do to combat constipation is to prevent it from happening. You need to think about preventive measures even before delicate problems begin. A woman must understand that over time, at a later date, the condition will only worsen. Therefore, as soon as the first symptoms appear, it is necessary, without delay, to take urgent measures. Otherwise, then you will have to use medicines, which in any case does not have a very good effect on the fetus. And in the worst case, waiting for surgery after childbirth. How to deal with constipation during pregnancy, what to do?

1. Be very careful with your diet. It is advisable to draw up a detailed diet and strictly adhere to it. So you can get enough vitamins, minerals and fiber without harming the digestive tract.
2. Drink more fluids. The ideal option is dried fruit compotes, infusions and herbal teas. If you drink a glass of pure water every morning before breakfast, after a while the urge to have a bowel movement will begin.
3. Move more. If there is no direct appointment to observe bed rest, you can try yoga for pregnant women, swimming in the pool, hiking.

4. Don't worry. Staying calm when hormones are raging in the body is very difficult, but nevertheless try to avoid stressful situations. Nervous strain can cause constipation attacks.

   

It is very important to monitor your condition. When the slightest alarm bells appear, do not wait, start taking appropriate measures and be sure to consult your doctor.