Many women face constipation after pregnancy. The causes of constipation in expectant mothers are as follows:
First of all, after a woman becomes pregnant, under the influence of endocrine hormone changes, the placenta secretes a large amount of progesterone, which reduces gastric acid secretion, causes gastrointestinal muscle tension, and reduces muscle peristalsis. As a result, the food eaten stays in the gastrointestinal tract for a longer period of time and cannot be excreted normally as before pregnancy.
Secondly, because food stays in the intestine for a long time, the water in the food residue is reabsorbed by the intestinal wall cells, making the stool dry and hard, making it difficult to pass out of the body.
In addition, after pregnancy, the expectant mother has less physical activity than before pregnancy, which makes it difficult for the intestinal muscles to push feces out; the enlarged uterus compresses the rectum, making it difficult to expel feces; she is very weak, and the abdominal pressure is not strong enough during defecation. Therefore, even if the expectant mother has the desire to defecate and contracts her abdominal muscles, it is still difficult to expel the feces accumulated in the rectum.
The harm of constipation to expectant mothers
First, after the expectant mother is constipated, she feels the sensation of defecation all day long but cannot pass it out, resulting in flatulence and physical discomfort. Not only does she feel bad, her appetite is also greatly affected. Severe constipation will recirculate some of the toxins in the feces into the blood, adversely affecting the health of the expectant mother.
Secondly, the water in the stool is reabsorbed by the intestines during constipation, causing the stool to dry out. This can easily cause damage to the intestinal mucosa during defecation, blood in the stool, and cause or aggravate existing hemorrhoids.
So, what methods can be used to relieve the pain of constipation in expectant mothers?
Develop the habit of regular bowel movements
Bowel movements are most likely to occur in the morning and after each meal. Therefore, drink a glass of cold water or honey water on an empty stomach after getting up, and then eat a hearty breakfast to promote the upright reflex and gastrocolic reflex after getting up. In this way, the desire to defecate will soon arise, and long-term persistence will develop a good habit of defecation in the morning. Among them, getting up in the morning to defecate has the best effect.
Go to the toilet promptly when you feel the urge to defecate
Go to the toilet as soon as you feel the urge to defecate. Do not develop the habit of holding in your urine, which can easily lead to constipation. Keep a relaxed mind when defecating, and don\’t be nervous even if you don\’t have a bowel movement, otherwise constipation will become more serious.
Eat more foods that promote bowel movements. Fruits, green leafy root vegetables and cereal potatoes rich in crude fiber, such as apples, bananas, pears, grapes, spinach, kelp, cucumber, celery, leeks, cabbage, sweet potatoes, corn, etc., can promote intestinal muscle peristalsis and soften feces, thereby lubricating the intestines and helping expectant mothers to defecate.
Drink more water
Pay attention to drinking water every day, but you must master the skills of drinking water, otherwise drinking water may not have any effect. For example, drink water at a fixed time every day, drink large gulps but not excessively, so that the water reaches the colon as quickly as possible instead of being quickly absorbed into the bloodstream by the intestines. This will change the fecesSoft and easy to pass out of the body.
stay active every day
In the third trimester of pregnancy, many expectant mothers tend to be too lazy to move because their bodies gradually become bulky, so constipation becomes more obvious in the third trimester. Moderate exercise can enhance the contraction of expectant mothers\’ abdominal muscles, promote intestinal peristalsis, and prevent or relieve constipation. Therefore, even if the body is getting heavier, expectant mothers should do some exercises within their physical capabilities, such as walking, to increase bowel movements.
Live a happy life
Don\’t let your body get too tired, get up early and go to bed early every day, get enough rest, and maintain a good mental state to prevent constipation. When you are in a bad mood, listen to music, read a book, etc. to divert your attention. Irritability can also lead to constipation. Avoiding standing and sitting for long periods of time in daily life is also helpful in preventing and treating constipation.
In addition, expectant mothers with hemorrhoids are reminded that the first condition for preventing hemorrhoids is to make defecation as smooth as possible, develop the habit of regular defecation, and shorten the time to go to the toilet as much as possible. In addition, avoid drinking alcohol, eating spicy food, and always pay attention to anal hygiene. If you defecate too hard, it may cause small blood vessels to rupture, so you need to clean the area to avoid infection.
In short, the process of pregnancy is very difficult and is often accompanied by a lot of discomfort. Expectant mothers should master the correct methods to avoid or reduce these discomforts and get through the pregnancy smoothly.