Constipation during pregnancy: what to do in the early and late stages

Bowel problems can occur in most women during pregnancy. The condition manifests itself not only as unpleasant sensations, but can be dangerous for the fetus.

Normally, bowel movements in humans should occur every day. The main sign of constipation is a decrease in the number of bowel movements up to 2-3 times a week. This condition can also be manifested by dry feces, anal fissures. Half of pregnant women suffer from problems with bowel movements for 16-36 weeks.

Causes of constipation

Bowel problems can provoke many factors and they are divided into groups:

• Hormonal. During pregnancy, hormonal changes occur in the body. In early pregnancy, the amount of progesterone rises. This substance relaxes the intestinal wall, disrupting peristalsis.
• Improper nutrition. Constipation can be caused by a lack of fiber, which ensures normal bowel function. Women also consume little fluid, which makes the feces hard, dry. Due to the onset of toxicosis, the expectant mother's appetite decreases.
• Mechanical. During pregnancy, a small amount of exercise, the growing belly squeezes the intestinal loops, thereby stopping the evacuation of feces.
• Psychological. A woman, while waiting for a child, experiences emotional problems: experiences, stresses, which cause problems with stool.

Danger of constipation

People suffer from difficulty defecating due to the pain caused by the condition. During pregnancy, constipation becomes dangerous for the fetus due to a violation of the intestinal microflora. Pathological microorganisms are toxic and have negative consequences for the growing organism. According to experts, this may not happen due to the fact that hazardous substances are quickly neutralized, since the liver and kidneys work more intensively during pregnancy. But it is worth considering the fact that the anus is located near the genitals - there may be a risk of inflammation due to constipation. Complication of bowel movements often leads to the development of diseases that are unpleasant for women: hemorrhoids, proctosigmoiditis, secondary colitis, anal fissure.

The occurrence of problems with defecation can cause miscarriage (in early pregnancy), untimely outpouring of water, premature birth (at a later date) due to the pressure of the bowel loops on the fetus, swelling, pushing when trying to get off to the toilet.

Complication of bowel movements also cause problems after childbirth - the risk of developing purulent-septic complications (bacterial-toxic shock, postpartum sepsis) increases.

Constipation treatment

The treatment of constipation in pregnant women is complicated by many factors. One of them is a ban on the use of certain folk and medicines (senna), usually used by doctors to relieve, eliminate the difficulty of defecation. Nevertheless, it is by no means recommended not to pay any attention to the problem that has arisen due to the unpleasant sensations, as well as the complications described above.

This condition should be treated by a doctor who prescribes an integrated approach, most often at home.

Constipation is a problem that requires finding the true cause of the bowel problem. Treatment includes several methods.

Folk remedies

One of the helping folk methods is taking herbal decoctions of caraway seeds, chamomile, mint, dill seeds: 1-2 cups of boiling water, brew for 25-30 minutes.

You can fight the problem with 1 glass of cold water on an empty stomach. It is useful to make decoctions of prunes due to the strong laxative effect exerted:

• Rinse 70 grams of prunes, 70 grams of beets and rolled oats, mix, add two liters of water, cook over low heat for one hour. Take one glass (200 milliliters) at night.
• Rinse 90 grams of prunes, dried apricots, raisins, 20 grams of walnuts under running water, grind with a blender or meat grinder. Add one to two tablespoons of honey to the mixture (to taste). To facilitate bowel movements, take 2-3 tablespoons at night with warm water to ensure early stool.
• Pour 125 grams of prunes with half a liter of boiled water, leave to infuse for ten hours. Drink three times a day (before breakfast, lunch, dinner) a glass of infusion.
• Take 70 grams of prunes, 150 grams of dried apricots and 2 liters of water. Pour dried fruits into a saucepan and cover with water. After boiling, cook for 10-15 minutes, adding sugar, cinnamon to taste. Let it brew for an hour and a half without opening the lid.

In most cases, pregnant women turn to traditional medicines due to the lack of chemicals. It is important to observe the measure in their use for constipation, after consulting with the attending physician, since folk remedies, in case of abuse, negatively affect the general condition of the woman and the child.

During pregnancy, in order to eliminate constipation, enemas, castor oil, vaseline oil, laxative decoctions from hay (affects the tone of the uterus), fruits of zhoster, rhubarb, buckthorn bark are prohibited.

Correct diet

Lack of fiber is the cause of constipation.

There are many foods that are rich in this substance:

• Zucchini.
• Cucumber.
• Pumpkin.
• Beet.
• Rose hip.
• Black bread.
• Dairy products.
• Green peas.
• Sesame.
• Almond.
• Apple.
• Fig.
• Apricot.
• Melon.
• Strawberry.
• Plum.

An excellent remedy for combating constipation is the use of the following foods:

• Raw vegetables, fruits.
• Black bread with bran.
• Dried fruits (prunes).
• Buckwheat, oatmeal.
• Veined meat.

It is worth eating in small portions, 4-6 times a day (every 3 hours).

Every day it is recommended to drink 1.5-2 liters of liquid (still water, juices, compotes, fruit drinks) in the absence of heart problems, risks of edema. It is important to eat the first course (cabbage soup, borscht) during lunch.

The diet should exclude the use of fried vegetables, fatty foods, and also:

• Chocolate.
• White bread.
• Blueberries.
• Coffee.
• Semolina and rice porridge.
• Mayonnaise.

If the process of defecation is complicated, it is recommended to completely exclude products that increase gas production (spinach, sorrel, beans), as well as at the beginning of treatment - cocoa and strong black tea.

Physical exercises

Movement is life. Physical activity will also help with constipation. If doctors do not prohibit physical exercise (due to the threat of insufficient bearing of the fetus, miscarriage), then they should be performed.

Swimming activities (up to the seventh month of pregnancy), daily exercises with smooth movements, breathing exercises, and walking in the fresh air are useful for pregnant women. Washing the floors in the last months of pregnancy is helpful. You should not go jogging, difficult physical exercises.

Restoring the nervous system

Psychological problems are one of the causes of constipation during pregnancy. In this case, seeking advice from a psychotherapist, drinking sedative medications (with a mild effect - "Glycine") helps to cope with the problem.

Medicines

Most medications are contraindicated during pregnancy. In case of problems with the intestines, it is strictly forbidden to use drugs that are toxic to the embryo, as well as drugs that increase the uterine tone, to do enemas.

The tablets should be prescribed only after consultation with the attending physician, who determines the justification for the use of drugs in each case.

When pregnant women are constipated, doctors prescribe carefully selected medications that cause few side effects. Help to get rid of constipation:

• Normobact - restores beneficial microflora in the intestine (dysbiosis causes constipation).
• Duphalac - the composition includes lactulose (the substance restores the beneficial microflora), the medicine softens stool, increasing its volume, has a mild laxative effect, has a low absorption degree.
• Defenorm is a herbal preparation (which reduces the degree of possible toxic effect of the drug) from plantain. Strong preparation for improving intestinal motility.
• Bepanten cream - restores dry skin, helps to avoid anal fissures
• Microlax - has a mild laxative effect, minimally getting into the blood.
• Glycerin suppositories - activate the work of the intestines (it has a weak irritating effect on the intestinal walls), without affecting the tone of the uterus (Hepatrombin).

Prevention of constipation

Prevention is the best treatment, especially for constipation. To prevent problems with defecation in pregnant women, you should follow these rules:

1. Carefully approach nutrition (the presence of foods rich in fiber, the absence of fatty and gas-generating foods).
2. Drink enough water, exclude salt from the diet, as it causes edema.
3. Eat vitamin and mineral complexes necessary for pregnancy.
4. You should move more.
5. At the first signs of bowel problems, before stool retention (bloating) - urgently consult your doctor.