How to get rid of constipation during pregnancy: drugs and folk remedies

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Pregnant women are at risk for constipation and related ailments. Approximately 50% of women have to deal with stool disorders during this period. The feeling of fullness, discomfort and pain in the abdomen are far from the only consequences of such a delicate problem. In especially serious cases, a prolonged and systematic lack of bowel movements leads to the development of complications in the fetus and expectant mother.

What to do with constipation in a pregnant woman? First of all, you can not ignore this disorder or expect it to go away on its own. Its treatment is fraught with certain difficulties, since most drugs are contraindicated for ladies in position. In today's article, we will talk about the permitted methods of dealing with constipation.

Brief description of the problem

Constipation is the absence of a bowel movement for 24 hours or the feeling of incomplete bowel movement after anothertoilet visits. In ordinary life, people face this problem due to malnutrition, gastrointestinal disorders or lack of physical activity. In the case of pregnancy, this list is supplemented by physiological features. It is almost impossible to get away from them, because there is a serious restructuring of the whole organism. What symptoms are considered alarming?

1. Stool retention for more than 24 hours.
2. Small amount of stool.
3. Feeling of incomplete bowel movement.
4. Feces are dry and hard, looking like peas.
5. Drawing pains in the left iliac region.

Pregnant women may have one symptom or several at the same time. In any case, do not leave the problem unattended. You should talk about it with a gynecologist. It is this specialist who treats constipation in pregnant women.

Main reasons

The main cause of problems with the stool during the period of bearing a baby are hormonal changes. Outside of pregnancy, the body continuously produces substances that stimulate the contraction of internal muscles. The innervation of the uterus and intestines is one. As a result, when one organ is relaxed, a similar effect is observed in another. Such a process can lead to miscarriage.

In order to avoid such a violation, the body is gradually rebuilt, creating a kind of protection. One of the negative consequences of such changes is constipation during pregnancy. How to get rid of itusing medicines or prescriptions from traditional healers, will be described below.

Among other causes that contribute to impaired bowel movements during pregnancy, doctors identify:

1. Increase in the level of progesterone in the blood. Excessive production of the hormone negatively affects the work of the intestines, weakening its tone.
2. Compression of the intestines by the walls of the uterus. This is a natural process due to the growth of the child inside the womb. Therefore, in the later stages, constipation in pregnant women is very common.
3. Presence of foods high in iron in the diet.
4. Stressful situations.
5. Inactivity. A sedentary lifestyle provokes stagnation of blood in the lower extremities. As a result, blood circulation in the intestines and its motor function are disturbed.
6. Lack of fluid in the body. Every day, a pregnant woman should drink at least 2 liters of pure water.
7. Internal diseases. We are talking primarily about hemorrhoids and anal fissures.

If a woman suffered from constipation before pregnancy, then this problem will not go anywhere during her pregnancy. Unfortunately, during the period of bearing a baby, its course only gets worse.

What is the danger of not having a bowel movement?

During pregnancy, a woman usually pays attention to her well-being. Drawing or aching pain, discomfort during bowel movements, a feeling of incomplete emptying of the intestine - these are the most common problems. However, latent disorders require special attention. Their woman is usually notfeels.

Stagnation processes in the large intestine slowly poison the body. The processed food already lacks useful components, but the walls of the organ can still absorb the substances that are there. As a result, toxins enter the bloodstream. Gradually, they begin to poison the body not only of the mother, but also of the fetus. Therefore, you should not hesitate with treatment or try to figure out on your own how to get rid of constipation during pregnancy. It is better to immediately seek qualified medical help. The thing is that toxic substances primarily affect the baby's central nervous system. And he is still in the development stage. Any intervention can adversely affect the he alth of the crumbs.

What to do with constipation in a pregnant woman?

Problems with bowel movements during pregnancy require medical attention. An important condition for the full functioning of the intestines and the entire system of the gastrointestinal tract is the observance of the diet and diet. It is with this that treatment usually begins in women in position. In the absence of significant contraindications, doctors recommend increasing physical activity. The use of laxatives and suppositories for constipation during pregnancy refers to extreme measures. However, in some cases, medical intervention is really necessary.

Now let's take a closer look at each of the troubleshooting methods.

Correction of lifestyle

It is possible to adjust the stool and improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract without medical intervention. Change is better to start with drinkingmode. Normally, a he althy person should drink about 1.5-2 liters of pure water per day. For ladies in position, especially in the later stages, these figures are too high. The thing is that drinking too much liquid can cause swelling. In addition, the load on the cardiovascular system increases. Therefore, before starting home treatment, it is necessary to consult a gynecologist. If there are no contraindications, you can safely follow the advice and consume up to 2 liters of fluid per day. With the appearance of edema, this rate is recommended to be reduced to 1.5 liters. Preference should be given to juices, broths and green tea.

How to get rid of constipation during pregnancy at home? Expectant mothers are extremely useful 30-minute daily walks in the fresh air. When the pregnancy proceeds without complications, you can even perform simple exercises or light exercises at home. For example, getting out of bed, do 10 smooth squats. A good effect gives alternate relaxation and tension of the muscles of the anus. Some pregnant women benefit from the scissors and bicycle exercises.

Normalize the urge to defecate allows acupressure on acupuncture points responsible for the functioning of the intestine. The most important of them is located three fingers below the navel. It is recommended to press this point with intermittent movements 30-40 times a day. If discomfort occurs, it is better to stop the procedure.

Physical activity

Moderate physical activity is needed and beneficial during pregnancy. There is no need to go to the gym orengage in long distance running. It is enough to take daily walks. If the work of the expectant mother is associated with a long stay in one position, it is recommended to take short rest breaks about once an hour. At this time, you can do light exercises or take a walk around the office. This approach eliminates the stagnation of blood in the pelvis.

Diet and diet

The nutrition of the future woman in labor should be as balanced as possible. If there are problems with the gastrointestinal tract, it is recommended to review the daily diet. How is the diet for constipation in pregnant women different?

First of all, doctors advise to eat more foods rich in vegetable fiber. This food component is not digested under the influence of gastrointestinal enzymes. On the contrary, it contributes to the formation of loose stools due to swelling upon contact with water. These two components significantly speed up and facilitate the process of bowel movement.

Foods rich in vegetable fiber include:

• almost all vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, eggplant, peppers, beets);
• some fruits (plums, apricots, peaches, grapes);
• berries (raspberries, gooseberries, strawberries, currants);
• legumes and cereals (oats, corn, barley, beans);
• bran and wholemeal bread.

Meals for pregnant women should be fractional. You should eat every 3-4 hours, but in small portions. Vegetables and fruits are best eaten raw. The meat is better cut into large pieces,which will further stimulate the bowels.

What else can pregnant women have for constipation? Fermented milk products have a positive effect on the functioning of the entire gastrointestinal system. It is recommended to pay special attention to kefir and yogurt, because they contain bifidobacteria. Some products will have to be abandoned until the baby is born. These are the following products:

• strong tea and coffee, chocolate;
• fatty foods;
• buns and various pastries.

If a lady in position also suffers from increased gas formation, it is better to exclude cabbage, legumes and spinach from the diet.

The safest laxative

If lifestyle changes and dieting do not bring the desired results, laxatives are prescribed to treat constipation. Not all drugs are suitable for pregnant women, because most of them have serious side effects. Therefore, a doctor should prescribe a course of therapy after comparing the benefits of their use with the potential risk to the fetus.

The mechanism of action of most of these drugs is based on increased intestinal motility. However, in women in position, their use can provoke the tone of the uterus and increase its contractility. Such phenomena are dangerous for premature birth or even miscarriage.

What laxatives are allowed for pregnant women? The following medicines are characterized by the greatest efficiency:

1. "Duphalac" (recommended to takefor 2-3 weeks, as the drug has a cumulative effect).
2. Senade (These tablets are herbal laxatives).
3. "Microlax" (solution for rectal use allows you to cope with the violation of bowel movements within 20 minutes).

The only suppositories for constipation during pregnancy that a woman can use and not be afraid for the baby's he alth are glycerin. They have a slight irritant effect on the receptors of the rectum and do not increase the tone of the uterus.

Can I do enemas?

The use of a mechanical method of dealing with constipation is widely used in modern medical practice. Enema allows you to instantly get rid of the problem. However, during the bearing of a child, this method has some contraindications, due to certain characteristics of the female body. The procedure itself can provoke premature birth. Therefore, a preliminary consultation with a gynecologist is necessary.

An enema during pregnancy is not recommended in the following cases:

• woman has a history of miscarriages;
• low placentation;
• uterine tone;
• threatened miscarriage;
• Identified isthmic-cervical insufficiency.

In other cases, it is permissible to resort to the help of an enema. When a doctor suspects its effectiveness, he may prohibit such a procedure. In this case, the specialist prescribes pills for constipation topregnant women, following a special diet.

Help of folk healers

Alternative medicine offers its own recipes for getting rid of problems with bowel movements. When choosing one or another option, you should pay attention to the ingredients. Many herbs and other herbal ingredients are contraindicated for all 9 months, as they can provoke uterine tone.

How to get rid of constipation during pregnancy? Below are the most effective and safe recipes:

1. Decoction of prunes. You will need to take 200 g of dried fruits and 100 g of oatmeal. Pour these ingredients into 2 liters of cold water, bring to a boil, and then simmer over low heat. The finished mass should be filtered and cooled. It is recommended to take a tablespoon of decoction before bedtime.
2. A glass of yogurt with a tablespoon of vegetable oil also allows you to normalize the digestive tract.
3. Another useful tool is the most common boiled water. Every day, in the morning, you need to drink a glass of liquid on an empty stomach. Water not only enhances intestinal peristalsis, but also softens feces, supports the full functioning of the stomach. Moreover, the cold liquid does not irritate the mucosa of the organ, does not cause uterine muscle tone.

Any folk remedies for constipation in pregnant women can be taken only after consulting a doctor. It should be borne in mind that this disorder occurs with varying degrees of intensity for everyone. Therefore, there is no universal recipe for it. Often a woman in a position has to try several at the same timeoptions to find the most effective way to fix the problem.

Prevention Methods

Constipation is diagnosed in a woman when she complains of not having a stool during the day. Every time she goes to the toilet, she has to make some effort. This dramatically increases the risk of uterine tone and the risk of miscarriage. Therefore, the answer to the question of whether pregnant women can push with constipation should be negative. On the other hand, a woman cannot empty her bowels otherwise. If you follow fairly simple recommendations, the appearance of this issue during the period of expectation of the child can be avoided. Prevention of such a delicate problem includes:

• proper and balanced nutrition;
• daily consumption of fermented milk products;
• exclusion from the diet of food "garbage" (fried and fatty foods, sweet carbonated drinks, etc.);
• active lifestyle and engaging in feasible sports;
• adequate fluid intake.

Difficult bowel movements for 9 months is a fairly common and at the same time characteristic phenomenon for this period. When the initial symptoms of the disorder appear, you can try to eliminate it with a special diet or folk remedies. In the event of severe pain, a consultation with a gynecologist and, most likely, medication will be required. In order not to expose your body to drug effects, care should be taken to prevent constipation in pregnant women.in advance.