Constipation during pregnancy is very common, and therefore many women consider it an obligatory part of their situation.

According to statistics, this phenomenon is present in half of pregnant women. However, this does not mean that it should be considered a variant of the norm.

That’s why many people are interested in what to do with constipation during pregnancy at home.

Causes

Infrequent bowel movements or difficulty bowel movements are very common. However, the body of pregnant women is much more susceptible to stagnation in the intestines.

Even with regular bowel movements, a woman may feel that her bowels are not completely emptied. Dry feces are also often observed. Doctors classify these conditions as functional constipation.

The main cause of the pathology is considered to be a rapid increase in progesterone levels. This hormone is important for maintaining pregnancy. It is this that leads to weakness of intestinal motility. It relaxes smooth muscles, which activates the movement of intestinal walls.

In addition, constipation may be associated with changes in the lifestyle and physiology of a pregnant woman:

Symptoms

Before dealing with constipation during pregnancy, you need to analyze the clinical picture of the pathology.

Stool disorders are characterized by the following symptoms:

• There are rare and hard stools less than 3 times a week;
• stool weight is less than 35 g;
• after visiting the toilet there is a feeling of incomplete bowel movement;
• pain occurs in the left side of the abdomen.

Constipation during pregnancy can be very dangerous. The intestines are located in close proximity to the reproductive organs. That is why it is necessary to maintain its functioning normally.

So, the appearance of constipation during pregnancy can lead to the following complications:

Drug treatments

How to get rid of constipation during pregnancy? This question worries many women. To answer this, you should consult a doctor.

It is important to consider that many drugs are strictly contraindicated during pregnancy. These include the following:

As for classical laxatives, almost all of them are contraindicated in pregnant women. The following categories of medications should not be used:

• irritants - Gutalax, Regulax, Senade;
• bulking laxatives - such as methylcellulose, cause activation of intestinal motility;
• salt-based osmotic preparations– lead to disruption of water-mineral balance.

So, how to go to the toilet during pregnancy? To do this, you need to contact a specialist who will select complex therapy. Mandatory components of treatment are physical exercise and a special diet.

The following medications are usually used:

Many women are interested in whether it is possible to push during pregnancy.. Proctologists do not recommend anyone do this.

Moreover, it is prohibited during pregnancy. Strong pushing can lead to bleeding and prolapse of hemorrhoids. The longer the pregnancy, the more dangerous this process.

In addition to the appearance of hemorrhoids, there is a risk of miscarriage and premature birth. The fact is that pushing increases uterine contractions. They are especially dangerous in the early stages and before childbirth.

Nutritional Features

When answering the question of what helps with constipation, you should definitely recommend a special diet. There are quite a few products that are harmless to the child and help to quickly and gently normalize the bowel movement process.

Vegetable oils are considered a good remedy for constipation.. They have a relaxing effect on the muscles of the colon, which promotes painless excretion of softened feces.

However, it is important to note that not all oils can be taken by pregnant women. During this period, castor oil is contraindicated, since it increases muscle activity too much.

To cope with the problem, you can use sunflower, olive, pumpkin seed and flax oil. These products for constipation during pregnancy can be used for dressing salads or taken in the morning, a teaspoon. This must be done on an empty stomach.

Fiber helps improve digestion and relieves constipation. This substance is present in many vegetables and fruits. It also contains bran.

To improve the bowel movement process, you can make various salads:

In addition to salads, you need to eat black bread, cereal porridge, bran. All of these foods also contain a lot of fiber.

You need to be careful with kefir. Only fresh drink has laxative properties - up to 5 days of storage.

Dried fruits

Prunes are an excellent remedy for constipation.. This product contains a large amount of fiber and pectin, therefore it has a pronounced laxative effect. You need to eat up to 10 prunes per day.

Compote with dried fruits is very useful. It can be made from prunes or other ingredients can be added - apples, dried apricots, and raisins are perfect.

For 1 liter of water you need to take 100 g of dried fruits and a few tablespoons of sugar. Add prunes and sugar to boiling water and bring to a boil. The finished drink should be consumed 1 glass on an empty stomach.

You can also grind prunes, dried apricots and raisins until smooth. Take the resulting mixture in the morning on an empty stomach in the amount of 1 tablespoon.

Kiwi also has an excellent laxative effect.. To improve the bowel movement process, it is enough to eat 1-2 pieces a day.

If you have chronic constipation, you need to avoid certain foods. These include the following:

• whole milk;
• polished rice;
• pure meat;
• baked goods;
• pears;
• bananas;
• persimmon;
• potato;
• chocolate;
• eggs;
• coffee.

Folk remedies for constipation during pregnancy should be chosen depending on the nature of the problem. If it is spastic in nature, the following recipes will help:

If constipation is atonic in nature, the following remedies will help cope with it:

1. Mix equal parts of anise, cumin and fennel.. Take a couple of teaspoons and add 250 ml of boiling water. Leave to infuse for 20 minutes. Take the strained solution one third of a glass half an hour before meals.
2. Add cherries or dried apples to brewed tea.
3. Take 1 small spoon of flax seeds, add a glass of boiling water. After 4 hours, you can drink the mixture.
4. Mix equal parts carrot juice and whey. Take the resulting remedy half a glass on an empty stomach. To prepare the whey, you need to bring the milk to a boil, add a small piece of black bread and strain through cheesecloth.

Prevention

To prevent constipation, you need to follow certain recommendations. First of all, you need to pay attention to your diet.

The menu should include foods high in fiber. You need to eat soups every day. In this case, foods that cause constipation must be completely excluded.

Drinking regime plays an important role. Many women limit their fluid intake for fear of swelling. In fact, you need to drink enough water. At the same time, you should exclude salty foods from your diet, because it is salt that retains fluid in the body.

To prevent constipation, move as much as possible. Lack of physical activity slows down the digestion process. Of course, difficult exercises are prohibited during pregnancy, but walking in the fresh air will only be beneficial.

The appearance of constipation during pregnancy is a very common problem, which can be overcome with medications and effective folk recipes.

Before using any product, you should consult a doctor, since many products are contraindicated for pregnant women.

Immediately after conceiving a child, the restructuring of most organs and systems begins in a woman’s body. This process is manifested by various symptoms, one of which is constipation during early pregnancy.

Doctors at the antenatal clinic note gastrointestinal dysfunction in the first trimester of pregnancy in more than half of their patients. Constipation in expectant mothers cannot be considered a disease, since they have completely physiological causes and are caused by changes in the mother’s body. However, such digestive disorders can cause serious disorders in women.

Read in this article

What Causes Bowel Problems During Pregnancy?

Digestive disorders in the expectant mother are often expressed by the absence of stool for more than three days. This symptom is a consequence of changes in physiology and biochemistry during pregnancy, as well as various errors in the diet and lifestyle of a young woman.

Physiological causes of constipation during this period, experts include:

• Hormonal changes in the blood of a pregnant woman. Immediately after the moment of fertilization, the endocrine glands begin to intensively produce the hormone progesterone, which is responsible in the female body for the successful course of pregnancy and preparation for childbirth. This substance has the property of relaxing the smooth muscles of many organs, including the small and large intestines.
• This effect of the hormone leads to a decrease in peristalsis and causes stool retention in the expectant mother.

• To stabilize metabolic processes in a woman’s body in the first trimester of pregnancy, doctors recommend that she take a special complex of vitamins and microelements, the basis of which is iron and calcium. These substances indirectly affect a woman’s gastrointestinal tract, causing stagnation in the large intestine, reducing its muscle contractility, thereby causing constipation in a pregnant woman.
• The process of bearing a child provokes changes in the hormonal balance of the expectant mother. Hormones not only reduce bowel function, they negatively affect the patient’s nervous system. A woman in the first trimester of pregnancy is susceptible to stress, and any disturbance in the gastrointestinal tract can cause her severe irritation. A malfunction of the central nervous system often provokes stool retention in the patient.

The expectant mother herself often leads to disorders in the digestive system through her actions.

If a woman experiences constipation during early pregnancy, the reasons often lie in the patient’s diet and lifestyle:

• For the expectant mother, the correct one is very important in the first weeks after conception. Your daily diet should include a large amount of foods containing fiber, which is very important for restoring colon motility. An example of such food would be beetroot dishes, which can positively solve the problem of constipation.
• Many expectant mothers, influenced by the advice of friends or having read recommendations on popular pseudo-scientific sites, sharply limit themselves to fluids from the first days of pregnancy. So they try to fight the possible ones, without completely imagining the mechanism of their occurrence.

Lack of fluid will not only cause constipation in a young woman. It is fraught with a violation of the fluid composition of the blood, its thickening and various pathological conditions as a result. There is evidence of an increased risk of blood clots in such patients and various CNS disorders due to lack of fluid.

Any woman, even if she had excellent health before pregnancy, can experience a similar problem in the first trimester of pregnancy. Constipation in expectant mothers is not considered a disease, however, it poses a certain threat to a pregnant woman and her unborn child.

What are the dangers of constipation in early pregnancy?

Disruption of the gastrointestinal tract in patients expecting a child is most often expressed in stool retention for several days. If this condition lasts more than 3 days, it is necessary to take appropriate measures, since constipation can cause various problems for the expectant mother:

• A woman will most often be bothered by heaviness and possible severe pain in the abdominal cavity. Since patients are not recommended to take many of the usual medications during the first 2 to 3 months of fetal development, it will not be easy to cope with such symptoms.
• Constant constipation can increase pressure in the abdominal cavity, which can provoke. This is already a direct threat to the possible.
• In the first trimester, the formation of all the main organs of the unborn child occurs, and disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract contribute to stagnation in the intestines. This situation often leads to the fact that food breakdown products enter the patient’s blood. This is already an immediate threat to the fetus.
• It is best to solve the problem of constipation in the early stages of pregnancy and not postpone it until after childbirth. Pathological microflora of the colon can provoke various inflammatory diseases of the birth canal, which can negatively affect childbirth.

• Violation of the normal functioning of the intestines often causes the development of hemorrhoids in the expectant mother. A pregnant woman already has a high probability of problems with hemorrhoids, since the process of bearing a fetus is accompanied by stagnation in the veins of the pelvis, and constipation only aggravates this problem.

There are quite a few reasons why constipation occurs during early pregnancy. Even psychological problems can become an impetus for irregular bowel movements. Doctors at the antenatal clinic can recommend a pregnant woman a whole range of measures to combat this disease. The basis of all these measures is the prevention of stagnation in the intestines and stabilization of the gastrointestinal tract.

Watch the video about the causes of constipation:

What can help the expectant mother

Since intestinal dysfunction, in addition to discomfort, poses a direct threat to the health of the woman and the unborn baby, you need to act decisively. To treat constipation, you cannot limit yourself solely to medications or diet. Only a combination of efforts will allow us to successfully cope with this problem.

Nutrition for an expectant mother is a fairly serious problem. On the one hand, the patient must receive a sufficient amount of useful substances, on the other hand, the food should not provoke gastrointestinal disorders and contain ingredients harmful to the unborn child.

Experts believe that the key to preventing constipation in an expectant mother is strict adherence to the following recommendations:

• For complete and timely bowel movements, a woman’s food must contain a large amount of fiber. Doctors recommend including plenty of raw vegetables and fresh fruits in your diet. Preference should be given to those gifts of nature that are not capable of causing allergic reactions in the expectant mother. Beets, apples, pears, and plums are good for the diet.

• Meat should contain a lot of connective tissue. Fatty varieties should be limited. Young veal, lamb, and poultry have proven themselves to be excellent for feeding pregnant women.
• Your daily diet should include a large amount of vegetable or olive oil. This product perfectly helps restore intestinal function.
• In the diet of such patients, it is advisable to give preference to oatmeal and buckwheat porridge, wholemeal black bread, dried fruits, especially prunes.

Doctors at the antenatal clinic will definitely tell the expectant mother what she should refuse. If you have such problems, it is not recommended to eat rice, cabbage, white bread and other foods that cause constipation.

Separately, it should be noted the importance of the water regime for solving the problem. A pregnant woman should consume at least 3 liters of fluid per day. Preference should be given to juices, decoctions of fruits and vegetables. Loved by many ladies, coffee will only aggravate the difficulties during bowel movements.

Products for constipation during pregnancy

During pregnancy, the following products that have a laxative effect will help with constipation:

Vegetable oils also have a strong laxative effect; they can replace all fats in ready-made dishes. For severe/persistent constipation, you can consume 30 ml of vegetable oil on an empty stomach in the morning.

What can you drink for constipation during pregnancy?

If you have constipation during pregnancy, you can drink the following drinks:

• dried fruit compote - cooked without adding sugar;
• mineral water with magnesium and sulfates in the composition - “Essentuki” No. 4 and 17, ½ glass 2-3 times a day;
• decoction of rose hips - prepared without sugar, drunk without adding honey;
• fennel tea - sold in pharmacies, consumed in quantities of no more than 300 ml per day;
• chicory drink - the optimal time for consumption is considered to be morning and lunch.

In general, for constipation, pregnant women are recommended to drink more clean water - it helps soften stool in the intestines. But recommendations regarding the use of any liquid must be agreed upon and obtained from a doctor - for example, with diseases of the kidneys and urinary system, some drinks will be contraindicated.

If a pregnant woman has constipation, then she should not drink black tea, coffee, or any carbonated sweet drinks.

Gymnastics as a remedy for constipation in pregnant women

Regular exercise can be an excellent remedy for constipation; an additional effect will be to increase the general tone of the pregnant woman’s body and strengthen muscle fibers. A total of 6 exercises are performed daily 1 hour before a meal or 2 hours after a meal:

• Starting position - on all fours, knees and hands spaced shoulder-width apart. You need to lift your right hand off the floor and, bending slightly forward and transferring your weight to the resting hand, reach your left knee with your palm. After returning to the starting position, immediately perform the exercise for the other limb.
• Sit straight on the floor with your legs extended in front and your hands on your hips. You need to turn your head and torso to the sides. Arms and legs remain in the same position, back straight.
• Take a sitting position on the floor, pressing your back against the wall, bending your knees. Take deep breaths and exhalations with your stomach for no more than 3 minutes in a row.
• Starting position - lying on your back, legs bent at the knees, but not to their full amplitude. You should raise your right leg and touch the knee of your left lower limb with your heel. Then the exercise is repeated for the other leg.
• Without changing the starting position, you need to bend your knees, spread them apart and bring your feet together. The goal is to lower your knees as close to the floor as possible.
• From the previous position, place your feet on the floor and bend your knees. The task is to touch the floor with your knees, rotating your pelvis to the right/left.

Each exercise is repeated 10-15 times; gymnastics should not cause severe tension or discomfort. If pregnancy proceeds with complications, then you should consult your doctor about the advisability of performing the proposed complex.

Traditional methods

Traditional medicine specialists have at their disposal a sufficient number of medicinal plants to solve gastrointestinal problems in expectant mothers. Special literature notes the positive effect of beets, prunes or grapes on the patient’s intestinal function. It can be suggested to use the following folk remedies to prevent constipation:

• 200 grams of ground fresh beets are mixed with 100 grams of dried fruits and 150 grams of oatmeal. The resulting mass is poured with 3 liters of cold water and boiled over low heat for 60 - 90 minutes. The drink is cooled and stored in a dark and cool place. 200 grams of decoction before bed will help the expectant mother forget about constipation for a long time.
• A medicinal mixture of equal parts of dried apricots, raisins, prunes and honey is also of interest to pregnant women. These ingredients are thoroughly mixed with a mixer or blender and transferred to a special form. The mixture is infused for 12 hours, after which it is recommended that the woman eat 50 grams of this medicinal potion before bed.

But not all common folk laxatives can be used by expectant mothers. Experts are categorically against the patient’s use of decoctions and infusions based on buckthorn, senna leaves and rhubarb. The herbs listed can cause disruption of the hormonal system, which can lead to the threat of miscarriage.

Traditional medicine

If, with the help of diet and folk recipes, it is not possible to prevent constipation in a woman during early pregnancy, the treatment of this problem should be entrusted to doctors. The thing is that after conception, most conventional medications are contraindicated for young women. What do doctors advise:

Solving the problem of constipation in early pregnancy requires an individual approach, since the likelihood of pathological reactions to any medicine in such patients is very high.

Tablets for constipation during pregnancy

If adjusting the diet and drinking various drinks does not give a positive result, then constipation during pregnancy can be cured with both tablets and powders, and the latter are especially effective:

Mukofalk	Increases the volume of feces (not quantity!), preventing them from hardening. It consists of granules that are intended for preparing a solution. Take 1 teaspoon (from this amount a solution is prepared in 150 ml of water) a maximum of 6 times a day.
Fiberlex	Defecation is normalized due to improved intestinal motility. Helps solve the problem of nervous diarrhea. Sold in single sachets - they contain powder that should be dissolved in 150 ml of warm water. You are allowed to consume 1 sachet per day.
Fitomucil	A natural remedy containing plantain and plum. Helps in the initial stages of constipation, because it acts on the problem gently and sparingly. No more than 1 packet per day is accepted.

Even the most gentle remedies should be taken only in consultation with a doctor. Stronger tablets (Senade) are often prohibited during pregnancy because they increase peristalsis too much and are absorbed by the intestinal walls.

Constipation in the first trimester: what to do

For constipation in the first trimester, you can use enemas, and the optimal solution would be to use microenemas - for example, Microlax. Their volume is only 15 ml (this is the maximum), they are distinguished by a gentle effect and gentle cleansing of the intestines. A woman should consult a gynecologist about the treatment of constipation; he will give permission for enemas only under certain circumstances:

• constipation lasts more than 5 days;
• conservative methods do not give a positive result;
• due to the accumulation of feces, symptoms of intoxication (poisoning) of the body appear.

In general, this method of solving the problem is considered an extreme option when other means do not help, and fecal stagnation takes a chronic course. It is strictly forbidden to perform such procedures when:

• a woman has a history of miscarriages;
• increased tone of the uterus;
• diagnosed threat of premature termination of pregnancy;
• previously discovered isthmic-cervical insufficiency.

Problems with the intestines in early pregnancy: constipation, diarrhea, pain

In most cases, pregnant women notice problems with the intestines in the early stages - spasms/colic, constipation, diarrhea; doctors associate them with the restructuring of the body, new conditions for its functioning. Intestinal colic can occur against the background of hormonal imbalance, which leads to bloating of the large intestine and severe muscle tension. Constipation and diarrhea are a consequence of intestinal colic and unbalanced nutrition.

To solve problems, you just need to follow the general recommendations of doctors:

• adjust your diet - the body in the early stages of pregnancy needs vegetables, fruits and any low-fat foods;
• drink more water – clean and not carbonated;
• give preference not to black tea and coffee, but to rosehip decoction, dried fruit compote and other healthy drinks;
• eat in small portions and often, avoid overeating.

Watch this video about nutrition during pregnancy:

The best treatment for constipation in a pregnant woman is to prevent its occurrence.

To avoid disorders in the gastrointestinal tract and the associated need for treatment, a woman who is preparing to become a mother needs to follow a few simple rules:

• You can't limit yourself to fluids. You need to drink at least 2 - 3 liters of compotes, juices, mineral water or medicinal decoctions per day. If edema appears, you should carefully monitor the ratio of the fluid you drink to the amount you excrete and be sure to consult a doctor.
• To a woman. Stress will definitely cause constipation in the expectant mother.
• Such ladies should adhere to a diet that specialists at the antenatal clinic will help her develop. All gas-forming and constipating foods should be excluded from your diet.

• Pregnancy is not a reason for an expectant mother to reduce physical activity. It is dosed exercise, walks in the fresh air and an active lifestyle that will help prevent gastrointestinal disorders during pregnancy.

Constipation as a sign of pregnancy

Until 2-3 weeks, signs of pregnancy are practically invisible, and the woman simply does not suspect that conception has occurred, but there are also pronounced changes in well-being - pain in the lower abdomen, a feeling of distension in the intestines and constipation. Additionally, severe heartburn may be present even after eating usual foods. What can be done to alleviate the condition:

• review your menu and exclude marinated, smoked and fried dishes from it;
• drink plenty of fluids, but avoid morning coffee and strong tea for several days;
• introduce fresh vegetables, weak meat broths, and water-based porridge into the diet;
. From it you will learn about the reasons for the malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract in a pregnant woman, assistance and the danger of diarrhea for the mother and fetus.

And more about what sensations arise in the early stages of pregnancy.

These simple tips are useful for all representatives of the fair sex. And if a woman is in the early stages of pregnancy, then she simply needs careful monitoring of her well-being and health care.

Constipation during pregnancy is a common pathology among women. According to statistics, this is a problem for every second pregnant woman. This delicate difficulty is caused by anatomical, physiological and hormonal “upheavals” in the body of the expectant mother. If you keep the situation under control and prevent it from becoming chronic, then “horrible” trips to the toilet will bypass you. To do this, let's find out the causes of constipation during pregnancy and find out how to protect yourself from such difficulties.

The physiological norm is to have bowel movements 1-2 times a day, sometimes every other day. The absence of a bowel movement for more than three days is considered constipation. In order to eliminate constipation, you need to find out what exactly provokes it. Depending on the stage of pregnancy, the reasons may be completely different, and the therapy will also differ.

In the first trimester, constipation can be caused by the following factors:

1. Progesterone - its concentration in the first weeks of pregnancy is very high. It acts on the intestinal muscles and they relax (hypotension). Thus, feces are retained in the rectum. This phenomenon is called atonic constipation.
2. Excess potassium and iron - these elements in excess contribute to difficulty defecating. They can come in both food and vitamin-mineral complexes for pregnant women.
3. Low physical activity - this happens if a woman is assigned to bed rest due to the threat of miscarriage.

From the second trimester until the end of pregnancy, the causes of constipation become slightly more numerous:

1. Pressure of the uterus on the intestines - the fetus grows, and the internal organs are displaced. The digestive tract suffers the most, so the regularity of bowel movements becomes disrupted.
2. Fluid deficiency - the less water, the more difficult it is for solid feces to pass through the intestines. With severe swelling, a woman has to limit her water intake, and constipation occurs.
3. Hemorrhoids, anal fissures, a history of proctitis - such diseases are quite painful and often cause constipation.
4. Poor nutrition - overeating, craving for “tasty” foods, a long break between meals during toxicosis occupy the first place among the causes of constipation.
5. Pathologies of the intestinal structure are congenital defects that cause chronic constipation.

Do you know...

The psychological state of a pregnant woman also affects digestion. Avoid unnecessary worries and fears, as they provoke spastic constipation.

Symptoms of constipation during pregnancy

Reduced intestinal motility and fecal retention creates particular discomfort and unpleasant sensations.

Symptoms accompanying constipation:

• bloating;
• aching or sharp pain in the abdomen of different localization;
• nausea;
• feeling of “clogged” intestines;
• lethargy and apathy;
• decreased appetite;
• false urge to defecate;
• dry and hard stool structure;
• soreness and cracks in the anus.

Treatment of constipation: how to cope?

You shouldn’t deal with such a problem as constipation on your own during pregnancy. The first thing you need to do is go for a consultation with a doctor. He will help you figure out what the cause is and recommend safe treatment. First, you will need to adjust your diet and drink more fluids. If the situation is consistently bad during the week, then you will need to take medications.

Allowed laxatives

There are many available and safe laxatives to treat constipation during pregnancy:

1. Drugs that irritate the intestinal walls - Sena-de, Gutalax, Dulcolax, Defenorm.
2. Osmotic substances - Duphalac, Normolakt, Lactuvit, Magnesium sulfate.
3. Agents that stimulate intestinal motility - fiber, bran, plantain and flax seeds.
4. Stool softeners - Tranzipeg, castor oil, mineral oils.
5. Microclysters and suppositories - glycerin and sea buckthorn suppositories, Microlax.

Advice! Osmotic laxatives are made on the basis of a natural disaccharide - lactulose. These are the safest drugs that do not interfere with the absorption of beneficial nutrients, normalize the microflora in the intestines and have a mild laxative effect.

How can traditional medicine help?

In the arsenal of traditional medicine there are several excellent remedies for constipation during pregnancy. But how to deal with constipation during pregnancy without resorting to medications? It turns out that it is not only simple, but also delicious:

• infusion of prunes (not smoked!) - take 2 tbsp. l. prunes and pour two glasses of boiling water. Let it brew for 24 hours. This period can be significantly reduced if you use a thermos. Take 100 mg on an empty stomach;
• if constipation is accompanied by flatulence, treat yourself to herbal tea made from chamomile, mint, dill seeds, cumin or fennel;
• classic recipe for constipation - a glass of warm water with a spoonful of natural honey on an empty stomach;
• dried fruit compote (dried apricots, prunes, raisins);
• a decoction of beets, prunes and oatmeal, taken in equal proportions. Pour the finished mixture with water and cook for about an hour. Then take one glass an hour before bedtime.

Important! All traditional methods, no matter how harmless they may be, should be used in consultation with a doctor.

How to do without laxatives

Laxatives, especially those based on synthetic components, aggressively affect intestinal motility and irritate its receptors. Such “violent” activity in the stomach can provoke increased uterine tone, and the chemical composition of tablets or drops can affect the development of the embryo. Therefore, it is better to try all alternative methods of eliminating constipation and only in extreme cases begin drug therapy.

Diet for constipation during pregnancy

What a pregnant woman eats affects both her condition and the health of the unborn baby. This is a very important point. Therefore, it is worth knowing what you can eat for constipation during pregnancy and how to balance your diet.

Products indicated for women suffering from constipation:

• salad mixes from raw vegetables and fruits;
• vegetable stews, caviar (squash, eggplant);
• beets, sauerkraut (not sour), all kinds of vegetables, raw and boiled;
• oil (olive, sunflower, flaxseed);
• savory baked goods, wholemeal bread, whole grain bread;
• soups (not broth);
• lean fish and seafood;
• plums, melons, apricots, kiwis, figs and all dried fruits;
• turkey, chicken meat;
• porridge (except rice and corn grits).

Why is it better to refuse or sharply limit consumption:

• baked goods, fresh white bread;
• manna and rice porridge;
• pasta;
• canned food and preserves;
• eggs (fried and boiled);
• fatty meats;
• fats (animal and culinary);
• tea, coffee, cocoa, chocolate;
• horseradish, black pepper, onion, garlic, radish, radish, mushrooms;
• fatty sauces, mayonnaise;
• marinades;
• jelly.

Advice! To protect yourself from constipation, you should get plenty of fiber from your diet. Sometimes a woman simply cannot eat a lot of vegetables and cereals. In this case, you can buy dry fiber at the pharmacy and add 1 teaspoon to yogurt or kefir.

Physical activity for constipation during pregnancy

Probably, women have a question about how to avoid constipation during pregnancy with the help of physical activity. The answer is very simple and concise: physical activity stimulates digestion and the process of cleansing the intestines. If your health allows, then walk more, do simple gymnastics, go to the pool. A great option is group yoga or Pilates classes for pregnant women.

Drinking for constipation during pregnancy

Sufficient water intake prevents constipation. The ideal amount of fluid consumed is 1.5-2 liters. This includes water, juices, tea, fermented milk products, first courses. If a pregnant woman is prone to edema, this amount is reduced to 1-1.5 liters.

Gymnastics and massage for constipation during pregnancy

For women, in order to prevent constipation, there are special exercises that can be easily performed at home at a convenient time. The duration of such gymnastics is 10-15 minutes a day.

How to do gymnastics:

1. Alternate relaxation and tension of the anal sphincter for 30 seconds.
2. Do 10 smooth squats while holding onto a chair.
3. Do several pelvic lifts while lying on your back with your knees bent.
4. In the same position, stretch your left hand to your right knee, and then vice versa.
5. Exercise “scissors” and “bicycle” 10 times.

Important! You can do gymnastics in the absence of any complications during pregnancy.

Acupressure helps normalize the process of defecation. Place three fingers below your navel. Below them is an acupuncture point responsible for digestion. You need to press it 40 times a day.

Consequences of constipation during pregnancy

Neglecting constipation during pregnancy is very risky. Firstly, the woman suffers from severe physical and psychological discomfort. Secondly, irregular bowel movements have a bad effect on a woman’s health. In addition, cramping pain often occurs due to constipation during pregnancy.

Why is constipation dangerous during pregnancy?

• the woman feels unwell (headache, nausea, irritability);
• deterioration of skin condition (flabbiness, yellowness, peeling);
• inflammatory processes in the rectum;
• intoxication of the body with feces;
• hemorrhoids, anal fissures;
• disturbances in the functioning of the biliary tract;
• impaired absorption of nutrients in the stomach;
• hypertonicity of the uterus;
• threat of miscarriage;
• negative impact of laxatives on fetal development.

Timely prevention of constipation during pregnancy

Constipation during pregnancy is fairly easy to prevent. Following several rules, starting from the first days of pregnancy, will protect you from digestive problems:

1. Create a complete menu, preferably with a nutritionist or your doctor.
2. Receive only positive emotions.
3. Lead an active lifestyle that is acceptable for pregnant women.
4. Drink enough fluids.

So, if you are caught off guard by constipation during pregnancy, you already know what to do. Find out the cause and choose a method to solve the problem that is suitable for you. And don’t let “intestinal” problems spoil your mood during such a tender and dear period for any woman.

Constipation during pregnancy - what to do? Medicines and folk remedies for treatment

The first episode of constipation appears in the early stages of pregnancy, as early as the 1st trimester. Abnormal bowel movements can accompany a woman throughout the entire period of bearing a baby. Therefore, constipation during pregnancy is an annoying and pressing topic.

First of all, let's figure out what constipation really is, how it affects the health of a woman and child, and what to do?

• What is constipation?
• Why does it happen?
• What are the dangers during pregnancy?
• How does it affect the fetus?
• How to get rid of constipation during pregnancy?
• What can pregnant women do for constipation?
• Treatment
• Diet and food
• Folk remedies for treatment

What is constipation in pregnant women?

According to statistics, true constipation during pregnancy occurs in 11-38% of cases. According to other authors, up to 60%. According to the self-assessment of expectant mothers, bowel irregularities are much more common.

If the act of defecation occurs once every 3 days, this is not constipation, but a physiological reaction to pregnancy. In order to make the right decision regarding the difficulty of defecation, you need to consult a doctor and together with him figure out whether to treat or not treat what you call constipation.

Diagnostic criteria for constipation are as follows:

• straining;
• stool is fragmented, dry and rough;
• feeling of obstruction during bowel movements;
• the need for manual techniques to evacuate stool;
• less than 3 bowel movements per week with a small volume of stool (up to 35 g per day).

A condition is considered pathological when 2 or more symptoms occur in 25% of bowel movements.

Why does constipation occur during pregnancy?

There are several reasons why the intestines refuse to work as usual during pregnancy. The first of them is the most significant, the rest arise under the influence of external factors.

Causes of constipation during pregnancy:

• Hormonal. The most important hubbub of the first trimester of pregnancy is progesterone. And everything that a woman experiences in the early stages of pregnancy: suppression or increased appetite, weakness, drowsiness, flushing - this is the influence of progesterone. Progesterone also affects the smooth muscle cells of the uterus. It relaxes them so that the pregnancy can be maintained and the fertilized egg can remain in the uterine cavity.

Progesterone similarly affects intestinal smooth muscle cells. Thus, it slows down motility - the evacuation of intestinal contents, peristaltic waves (wave-like movements) become weak and rare. This disrupts the passage of feces, which should lead to normal stool in all people. Constipation may be the first sign of pregnancy, along with frequent urination.

• Mechanical. In the second and third trimesters, the growing uterus compresses internal organs, including loops of the large intestine, thereby disrupting the evacuation of feces.
• Pregnant women often develop gastritis and heartburn in the early stages. Antacids and Omeprazole prescribed to women for these symptoms contribute to the development of constipation.
• , and they take iron supplements. Iron supplements cause constipation.

Why is constipation dangerous during pregnancy?

First of all, the quality of life of pregnant women worsens; in the second and third trimesters, the likelihood of developing hemorrhoids increases (therefore you cannot push).

Constipation during pregnancy is a risk factor for:

• disturbances of the biocenosis of the vaginal environment;
• development of intestinal dysbiosis;
• the risk of infection along the ascending route during childbirth increases (the introduction of pathological flora into the birth canal);
• untimely discharge of amniotic fluid;
• development of purulent-septic complications after childbirth.

What are the dangers of constipation during pregnancy for a baby?

It turns out that disruption of the usual bowel movement does not have a critically negative effect on the baby. Previously, it was believed that constipation during pregnancy causes fetal toxicity. But studies have been conducted that refute this hypothesis. Toxic substances during constipation, of course, are absorbed from the large intestine, but during pregnancy the kidneys work more actively and remove toxic substances faster.

At the beginning of pregnancy, women often need to visit the bathroom. There is still no mechanical pressure from the enlarged uterus and fetus on the kidneys and bladder, but the activity of going to the toilet increases sharply. Already the kidneys filter 1.5 times faster. In the third trimester, the situation is similar - the kidneys work very actively so that the baby does not get toxic substances.

Constipation during pregnancy: what to do

During pregnancy, constipation is mainly controlled by diet. Recommendations in this case, as with nutrition for a healthy lifestyle. The menu should be rich in plant proteins, fats and fiber. Fruits and vegetables are obligatory companions. Transgenic and refined fats, sandwiches, sandwiches, fast food, sausages, fried foods, sushi, pizzas, and baked goods are excluded as much as possible.

You definitely need to get away from white bread and replace it with grain, rye bread with bran. An excellent remedy for constipation is salads containing beets, bran, and prunes. Don't forget that in order to go to the toilet, you need to eat something. If a woman allows herself a fasting day, then, in principle, feces will not be formed, and this also applies to a diet that lacks dietary fiber.

What can pregnant women do for constipation?

In some cases, bran can be used to treat constipation in pregnant women. They can be purchased at pharmacies or health food stores. But before taking them, you need to consult a doctor. Adding fiber to the diet in the form of bran or wheat requires strict adherence to the drinking regime and their smooth introduction.

If you did not take fiber before the onset of constipation, then you can start adding bran to water or kefir, 1 teaspoon 2 times a day, gradually increasing the dose over 14 days. The fact is that taking bran for medicinal purposes can aggravate the situation and cause severe constipation. It is better to take bran half an hour before meals, dissolving it in water (if there is no heartburn). They are not recommended for use for heartburn.

Sufficient fluid intake in the form of dried fruit compotes (plums, prunes, apricots, dried apricots) and clean drinking water (not mineral or carbonated) helps combat constipation during pregnancy.

During pregnancy, drinking less than 1 liter per day is prohibited, even if the woman has . Because insufficient fluid intake provokes the body to “store” water for future use. For pregnant women, 1.5 liters per day is the norm. If a woman drinks this volume in fractions and gradually it will not affect the formation of edema. In the absence of edema syndrome, you need to drink up to 2 liters of water. Swelling is aggravated by the consumption of salt (pickles, smoked meats) and simple carbohydrates (sugar, cake, sweets). In tandem, salt and sugar definitely cause fluid retention in the tissues.

If there are no obstetric contraindications, then increasing physical activity will help cope with constipation during pregnancy.

There is a rather specific mineral water on sale - Donat Sodium. Doctors may recommend it as a means to quickly get rid of stagnation of intestinal contents. It has a pronounced laxative effect. But you need to be careful with her. The effect of high levels of magnesium ions on the fetus has not been sufficiently studied. So, if you are not put off by its taste, you can use it occasionally while bearing a child to normalize stool.

Treatment of constipation during pregnancy

The goal of taking medications for constipation in pregnant women is to normalize stool consistency, and not to achieve daily bowel movements. This must be remembered and understood. Taking laxatives should be auxiliary and occasional. Sea buckthorn, glycerin suppositories for pregnant women for constipation can be used as prescribed by a doctor, since any laxatives (tablets, powders, teas, microenemas) can provoke increased peristalsis not only of the smooth muscles of the intestines, but also of the uterus.

For routine therapy, lactulose-based drugs, for example Duphalac, can be prescribed. Its effect is based on probiotic action. The syrup increases the formation of lactic acid by lactic acid bacteria living in the intestines. Acid accelerates peristalsis and promotes emptying. In case of dysbacteriosis while taking the drug, bloating may occur in the first three days. Flatulence goes away on its own, but stool does not appear immediately. It takes several days for the drug to take effect. If the drug causes bloating for more than 2-3 days, then you should stop taking it.

The drug Forlax can be used only as prescribed by a doctor and strictly follow the recommendations set out in the instructions. Its molecules form strong compounds with water and retain liquid in the intestinal lumen, thereby increasing the volume of feces. Fecal pressure ensures peristalsis and emptying. Moisture for binding medicinal molecules is taken from the intestinal lumen, so drinking regime is extremely important if treatment of constipation with this drug is prescribed.

Dietary recommendations for constipation in pregnant women combined with heartburn

1. In the morning you must have breakfast.

As soon as the body “wakes up”, hormones are activated, which set the body up for physical activity. When a person gets out of bed, the orthostatic reflex is triggered - the work of internal organs, including the gastrointestinal tract, is activated. There is another reflex: when food or water enters the stomach, the lower sections of the gastrointestinal tract begin to work more actively.

It is advisable for these two reflexes to be triggered in the morning. Therefore, breakfast should not be skipped or put off for a long time. Breakfast should contain complex carbohydrates, they are the ones that switch night metabolism to daytime and help empty the intestines.

1. An enlarged uterus puts pressure on the stomach. Therefore, food should be taken 5-6 times a day in small portions so that the stomach does not become overfilled and gastric contents do not reflux into the esophagus.
2. For the same reason, you should not bend over or take a horizontal position after eating.
3. Be sure to have a sufficient amount of fluid (1.5-2 liters per day).
4. Eat soft fiber: boiled carrots, cauliflower, pumpkin, beets, zucchini, prunes and dried apricots soaked overnight.
5. Remember that cottage cheese (a very important food product for pregnant women) itself can cause constipation. Therefore, it should be eaten with fillings: baked or boiled pumpkin, soaked prunes, dried apricots, grated apple and carrots. This way you will get the necessary calcium and reduce its ability to inhibit intestinal function.
6. Eliminate foods that increase gas formation from your diet. The first enemy of a pregnant woman with constipation is carbonated water and sweet carbonated drinks. Flatulence is caused by legumes, grape and apple juice, vegetables with a high content of essential oils - steamed prunes to taste. Stir and the salad is ready!

   

   Another folk recipe. Pour a handful of dried plums or prunes (not smoked) with hot boiled water (0.5 liters) overnight. In the morning on an empty stomach, drink the liquid that formed after infusion. And the fruits themselves can be eaten after breakfast or added to cottage cheese.

   An excellent laxative against constipation for pregnant women is the dry residue after preparing fresh carrots. You can add steamed dried apricots to the cake, form balls - you get sweets.

   

   You can eat this delicacy throughout the day. Carrot pulp can be successfully used to prepare cottage cheese casseroles. The laxative effect will be more pronounced if you add pumpkin pulp. It’s delicious and will help you get rid of the feeling of a full intestine at home without the use of drugs.

   Don't forget about baked apples - a delicious and healthy dessert.

   Remember - not all folk remedies are suitable for pregnant women. This primarily applies to herbs: buckthorn, senna, rhubarb. They should not be used even for severe constipation.

   You may find it useful

Pregnancy is at risk for the development of constipation, as well as other diseases. More than 50% of women experience irregular bowel movements during pregnancy. Discomfort, a feeling of fullness and pain in the abdomen may not be the most unpleasant consequences of constipation. In severe cases, systematic long-term absence of bowel movements ends in the development of serious complications for the mother and her unborn baby.

What to do for constipation during pregnancy? First of all, you cannot try to ignore this delicate problem and hope that it will resolve itself. Treatment of irregular bowel movements during pregnancy can present certain difficulties, since the choice of drugs approved for use by women during this period is limited. In most cases, this problem can be solved in a pregnant woman through changes in diet and lifestyle.

Treatment of constipation in pregnant women

Constipation during pregnancy is a problem that requires medical intervention. Compliance with a special diet and nutritional regimen is a necessary condition for the normal functioning of the intestines and the entire gastrointestinal tract as a whole. This is where treatment for pregnant women begins. In the absence of contraindications, it is recommended to increase the woman’s physical activity. The use of laxative medications is an extreme measure in the treatment of constipation in pregnant women, but in some cases it is really necessary.

Diet

Treatment of the problem of constipation during pregnancy is carried out comprehensively and begins with following dietary recommendations. Nutrition that promotes normal bowel function is indicated not only for treatment, but also for the prevention of constipation in women during pregnancy.

A pregnant woman's diet should contain many foods rich in coarse plant fiber. The peculiarity of this food component is that it is not digested by gastrointestinal enzymes and contributes to the formation of soft and loose feces due to swelling upon contact with water. All this speeds up and facilitates bowel movements.

Fiber-rich foods for constipation during pregnancy include:

• vegetables tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, pumpkin, eggplants, peppers, beets, carrots, potatoes;
• fruits apples, dried fruits, plums, apricots, grapes, peaches;
• berries - currants, strawberries, cranberries, raspberries, gooseberries;
• cereals and legumes - beans, oats, buckwheat, peas, corn, barley;
• bran, black bread and wholemeal bread.

Pregnant women with constipation should eat smaller meals. You need to eat every 3 hours, but in small portions. Hunger or overeating should not be tolerated. Meat and vegetables should be cut fairly coarsely and not overcooked, which will further stimulate intestinal function. It is preferable to eat vegetables and fruits raw rather than heat-treated. Also, a pregnant woman’s diet must include first courses.

What else can pregnant women do for constipation? Fermented milk products, especially kefir and yogurt, which contain bifidobacteria, have a positive effect on the functioning of the intestines. For the normal functioning of the intestines, a sufficient amount of vegetable fats is necessary, from which the body produces fatty acids that stimulate peristalsis.

• coffee, chocolate, strong black tea;
• white bread and baked goods;
• fatty foods;
• rice and semolina porridge;
• slimy soups.

If a woman suffers from increased gas formation in the intestines and flatulence, then she should exclude beans, cabbage, spinach and sorrel from her diet.

In addition to following a diet, the doctor may additionally prescribe daily consumption of bran for a pregnant woman.

Proper drinking regimen is of great importance for intestinal function. In the absence of restrictions due to a tendency to edema, high blood pressure and kidney disease, a pregnant woman’s body should receive a total of at least one and a half liters of fluid per day.

Important: In addition to diet, you can activate your intestinal function through exercise. Swimming, walking and daily exercise, in the absence of contraindications, will help a pregnant woman solve the problem of irregular bowel movements.

Medications

Treatment of constipation during pregnancy with laxatives is used if correction of diet and lifestyle does not bring the desired results. Considering that most drugs have serious side effects, including embryotoxicity and teratogenicity, they should only be prescribed by a doctor after weighing the benefits of their use against the possible risks to the fetus.

The mechanism of action of many constipation pills is to increase intestinal motility. However, in pregnant women, their use also causes an increase in the tone of the uterus and enhances its contractility, which, depending on the timing of pregnancy, can lead to premature birth or miscarriage.

How then to treat constipation during pregnancy? There are some products for rectal and oral use that are safe for the health of the expectant mother and baby. These include:

• Rectal suppositories with glycerin. They have a slight irritant effect on the receptors of the rectum and do not affect the tone of the uterus;
• Preparations for internal use based on lactulose. They are not absorbed into the blood, retain water in the intestines, which increases the volume of feces, softens them and stimulates motility and intestinal evacuation function. In addition, taking these medications helps normalize the intestinal microflora. These drugs include Duphalac, Prelax;
• Microclysters (Microlax). Characterized by a rapid onset of laxative effect;
• Vaseline oil. When consumed orally, it is evenly distributed over the surface of the intestine, helping to soften the consistency of stool and facilitate its passage.

Duphalac is an effective remedy for the treatment of constipation, which is not addictive with long-term use

Important: In some pregnant women, constipation is a consequence of psychological reasons. In this case, the help of a psychotherapist may be needed to solve the problem.

Folk remedies

There are many popular recipes for constipation. However, during pregnancy they must be used with caution and after consultation with a doctor, since many plants can have a negative effect on the course of pregnancy and pose a threat to the health of the fetus.

Prune decoction is considered an effective remedy for constipation during pregnancy. It is prepared using the following method:

1. 100 g each of prunes, beets and rolled oats flakes should be washed, mixed thoroughly, placed in a large saucepan and poured two liters of water.
2. Boil the resulting mixture over low heat for one hour.
3. Cool the broth, strain and put in the refrigerator for storage.
4. To treat constipation at night, you need to drink 1 glass of this decoction.

Another prune-based recipe for treating constipation:

1. Prepare 100 g of prunes, raisins and dried apricots, rinsing them with water.
2. Prepared dried fruits are crushed with a blender or passed through a meat grinder.
3. Add 2 tbsp to the mixture obtained after grinding. spoons of honey and mix thoroughly.
4. To restore normal bowel function, take two teaspoons of the product at night with warm water.

Prunes help relieve constipation during pregnancy

You can also prepare an infusion of prunes. To do this, pour 125 g of dried plums into 500 ml of boiling water, add sugar if desired, cover with a lid and leave to steep for about 12 hours. Before meals, take 100 ml of infusion each time. The dried fruits obtained after draining the infusion are eaten.

An effective and absolutely safe remedy for constipation is a glass of cold water. It must be drunk in the morning on an empty stomach every day. Cold water irritates the intestinal walls and increases peristalsis.

Important: Treatment with traditional recipes containing senna herb, joster fruits or buckthorn bark is strictly contraindicated during pregnancy, as they can have a teratogenic effect.

Measures to prevent constipation in pregnant women

What to do for constipation during pregnancy? By following simple recommendations, the occurrence of this issue during pregnancy can be completely avoided.
Prevention of constipation during pregnancy includes:

• proper nutrition, rich in foods high in plant fiber and including all the vitamins and minerals a pregnant woman needs;
• daily consumption of fermented milk products and liquid first courses;
• exclusion from the diet of carbonated drinks, caffeinated drinks, as well as sweet, fatty, fried and canned foods;
• an active lifestyle, including walks in the fresh air, yoga, swimming in the pool or other light exercise;
• adequate fluid intake.