Constipation can be a debilitating thing for pregnant women. Dai Yongmei, a nutritionist at the Nutrition Department of Nanjing Maternal and Child Health Hospital, said that pregnant women are a high-risk group for constipation. At the same time, constipation in pregnant women will also endanger the health of the baby. Two people.
Hormonal changes slow bowel movements
Dai Yongmei introduced that starting from the fourth month of pregnancy, due to changes in hormone levels in the body, the secretion of progesterone increases, which slows down intestinal peristalsis; and in the middle and late stages of pregnancy, the gradually increasing uterus will increase the pressure on the defecation muscles. Compression can also make bowel movements difficult.
At the same time, many expectant mothers eat a large amount of nutritious food for the healthy growth of their fetuses, making the food too refined and reducing the food containing residue. In addition, the amount of activity is not enough. As the fetus develops, the uterus continues to grow and begins to press on the rectum, causing the frequency of gastrointestinal peristalsis to weaken and making defecation difficult.
Be careful with medications and diet
Pregnant women with constipation problems should not use laxatives casually. Pungent laxatives such as castor oil and senna can cause abdominal cramps and uterine contractions in mild cases, and even lead to miscarriage in severe cases.
To prevent and treat constipation, you should start by changing your living habits, drinking more water, and increasing fiber in food. It is recommended that pregnant women drink a cup of yogurt every day to strengthen digestion, promote gastrointestinal motility, and increase stool moisture.
Exercise more and pay attention to the details of life
Dai Yongmei said that pregnant women should exercise moderately every day. Moderate exercise can enhance the contraction of pregnant women\’s abdominal muscles, promote intestinal peristalsis, prevent or relieve constipation, and at the same time develop the habit of regular bowel movements to ensure that they have bowel movements once a day. Every morning and after every meal, you are most likely to have the urge to defecate, and defecation occurs quickly, so you should go to the toilet as soon as you feel the urge to defecate.