Pregnant women are at risk in terms of constipation and related ailments. About 50% of women have stool problems 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 absence of bowel movement leads to the development of complications in the fetus and the expectant mother.
What to do with constipation in a pregnant woman? First of all, you can not ignore this disorder or wait for it to pass on its own. His treatment is fraught with certain difficulties, since most drugs are contraindicated for women in the situation. In today's article, we will talk about the permitted methods of dealing with constipation.
Brief Description of the Problem
Constipation is a lack of bowel movement within 24 hours or a feeling of incomplete bowel movement after the next visit to the toilet. In ordinary life, people face this problem due to malnutrition, gastrointestinal upset, or lack of physical activity. In 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?
- Stool delay for more than 24 hours.
- A small amount of feces.
- Feeling of incomplete bowel movement.
- Feces are dry and hard, resembling peas.
- Drawing pains in the left iliac region.
In pregnant women, one symptom may appear, as well as 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 reason for the appearance of problems with stools during the period of bearing the baby is 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 relaxes, a similar effect is observed in another. Such a process can lead to a miscarriage.
In order to avoid such a violation, the body is gradually being rebuilt, creating a kind of protection. One of the negative consequences of such changes is considered constipation during pregnancy. How to get rid of it with the help of medicines or prescriptions of folk healers will be described below.
Among other causes that contribute to the violation of bowel movements during pregnancy, doctors distinguish:
- Increased levels of progesterone in the blood. Excessive hormone production adversely affects intestinal function, weakening its tone.
- Squeezing the intestines with the walls of the uterus. This is a natural process due to the growth of the baby inside the womb. Therefore, in the later stages, constipation in pregnant women is very common.
- The presence of foods in a diet high in iron.
- Stressful situations.
- Lack of exercise. A sedentary lifestyle provokes stagnation of blood in the lower extremities. As a result, blood circulation in the intestine and its motor function are impaired.
- Lack of fluid in the body. Every day, a woman in position should drink at least 2 liters of clean water.
- Internal diseases. It is primarily about hemorrhoids and anal fissures.
If a woman suffered from constipation before pregnancy, then during her this problem will not go away. Unfortunately, during the period of carrying the baby, its course only worsens.
What is the danger of lack of bowel movement?
During pregnancy, a woman usually pays attention to her well-being. Drawing or aching pains, discomfort during bowel movements, feeling of incomplete bowel movement - these are the most common problems. However, latent disorders require special attention. Their woman, as a rule, does not feel.
Stagnant processes in the large intestine slowly poison the body. The processed food already lacks useful components, but the organ walls can still absorb the substances 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 can not hesitate with treatment or try to independently understand how to get rid of constipation during pregnancy. It is better to seek qualified medical help right away. The thing is that toxic substances primarily affect the central nervous system of the baby. And with him she is still at a developmental stage. Any intervention can adversely affect the health 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 intestine and the entire gastrointestinal system is to follow a diet and diet. It is from this that treatment usually begins in women in position. In the absence of significant contraindications, doctors recommend increasing motor activity. The use of laxatives and suppositories for constipation during pregnancy is an extreme measure. However, in some cases, medication is really necessary.
Now we’ll take a closer look at each of the troubleshooting methods.
Lifestyle correction
It is possible to establish a chair and improve the work of the gastrointestinal tract without medication. Change is best started with a drinking regimen. Normally, a healthy person should drink about 1.5-2 liters of clean water per day. For ladies in position, especially in the later stages, these numbers are overstated. The fact is that drinking excessive amounts of 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 drink up to 2 liters of fluid per day. When edema appears, this norm 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 helpful 30-minute daily walks in the fresh air. When 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 is obtained by alternating relaxation and tension of the muscles of the anus. Some pregnant women are helped by exercises “scissors” and “bicycle”.
Acupuncture massage allows acupuncture points responsible for the functioning of the intestine to normalize the urge to defecate. The most important of them is three fingers below the navel. It is recommended to press on this point with intermittent movements 30-40 times a day. If discomfort occurs, it is better to stop the procedure.
Physical exercise
Moderate physical activity is needed and beneficial during pregnancy. In this case, there is no need to go to the gym or do long-distance running. It is enough to take daily walks. If the work of the future mother is associated with a long stay in one position, it is recommended to take short breaks for rest about once an hour. At this time, you can do light exercises or take a walk around the office. This approach eliminates 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. What is the difference between a diet for constipation in pregnant women?
First of all, doctors advise eating more foods rich in fiber. This component of food is not digested under the influence of gastrointestinal enzymes. On the contrary, it contributes to the formation of loose feces due to swelling in contact with water. These two components significantly accelerate and facilitate the process of bowel movement.
Fiber-rich foods 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.
Nutrition for pregnant women should be fractional. You should eat every 3-4 hours, but in small portions. Vegetables and fruits are preferably consumed raw. It is better to cut the meat in large pieces, which will further stimulate the intestines.
What else can pregnant women with constipation? Fermented milk products have a positive effect on the operation of the entire gastrointestinal system. Particular attention is recommended to be paid to yogurt 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;
- muffin and various pastries.
If the lady in the position also suffers from increased gas formation, it is better to exclude cabbage, legumes and spinach from the diet.
The safest laxative
If lifestyle correction and dieting do not bring the desired results, laxatives are prescribed to treat constipation. For pregnant women, not all drugs are suitable, because most of them have serious side effects. Therefore, a doctor should prescribe a course of therapy after correlating 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 a tone of the uterus and an increase in its contractility. Such phenomena are dangerous premature birth or even miscarriage.
What maternal laxatives are allowed? The following medicines are most effective:
- "Dufalac" (recommended for 2-3 weeks, since the drug has a cumulative effect).
- Senade (these pills are herbal laxatives).
- "Microlax" (a solution for rectal use allows you to cope with a violation of bowel movements within 20 minutes).
The only suppository suppositories during pregnancy that a woman can use and not fear for the baby’s health are glycerin. They have a slight irritating effect on the receptors of the rectum and do not increase the tone of the uterus.
Can enemas be done?
The use of a mechanical method of combating 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, which is due to certain characteristics of the female body. The procedure itself can provoke a premature birth. Therefore, a preliminary consultation with a gynecologist is necessary.
Enema during pregnancy is not recommended in the following cases:
- a woman has a history of miscarriages;
- low placentation;
- uterine tone;
- threatened abortion;
- identified isthmic-cervical insufficiency.
In other cases, resorting to enemas is permissible. When a doctor suspects its effectiveness, he may prohibit such a procedure. In this case, the specialist prescribes tablets for constipation for pregnant women, following a special diet.
Help of folk healers
Alternative medicine offers its own recipes to get rid of problems with bowel movements. When choosing one or another option, you should pay attention to the ingredients. Many herbs and other plant components are contraindicated for all 9 months, since they can provoke uterine tone.
How to get rid of constipation during pregnancy? Below are the most effective and safe recipes:
- Prune broth. You will need to take 200 g of dried fruits and 100 g of oatmeal. These ingredients need to pour 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 broth before bedtime.
- A glass of kefir with a tablespoon of vegetable oil also allows you to normalize the digestive tract.
- Another useful remedy 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 motility, but also softens the stool, supports the full functioning of the stomach. Moreover, cold liquid does not irritate the mucous membrane of the organ, does not cause tone of the muscles of the uterus.
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 in all occurs with varying degrees of intensity. Therefore, there is no universal recipe from it. Often a woman in a position has to try several options at the same time in order to choose the most effective way to fix the problem.
Prevention Methods
Constipation is diagnosed in a woman when she complains of a lack of stool during the day. With every trip to the toilet, she has to make some efforts. This dramatically increases the risk of uterine tone and the risk of miscarriage. Therefore, the answer to the question whether pregnant women can be bothered with constipation should be negatively. On the other hand, a woman cannot otherwise empty her intestines. If you follow fairly simple recommendations, the appearance of this issue during the expectation of a child can be avoided. Prevention of such a delicate problem includes:
- proper and balanced nutrition;
- daily use of dairy products;
- exclusion from the diet of food “garbage” (fried and fatty foods, sugary carbonated drinks, etc.);
- active lifestyle and practicing sports;
- sufficient fluid intake.
Difficult bowel movement 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 case of severe pain, you will need a consultation with a gynecologist and, most likely, taking medications. In order not to expose your body to medication, care should be taken to prevent constipation in pregnant women in advance.