The baby has arrived, many discomforts of pregnancy have disappeared and when it seemed that you were beginning to recover physically from the labor effort ... a new problem arrives. And it does not seem that your body is reluctant to go to the bathroom. It's a dreaded moment, because it seems difficult, but we tell you all about postpartum constipation, mainly how to try to prevent it.
Constipation or constipation is one of the uncomfortable truths of postpartum that does not usually appear in movies or in interviews with recent famous moms. But it is very common, and will affect most mothers after having had their baby. While not going to the bathroom in the first days after delivery is normal, it is best that the woman be regularized as soon as possible and that the problem is not aggravated.
And although it is natural for a woman to be afraid of defecating when she has a wound or is injured, try to favor bowel movements that usually begin gradually in the first days after birth. What to do for nature to take its course? Before offering you the tips to go to the bathroom normally after having a baby, it is convenient to understand what we understand by constipation and what are its causes.
When am I constipated?
Constipation is a symptom, not a disease, a disorder related to the digestive system. It is said that there is constipation or constipation when any of these situations occurs:
Constipation occurs when one is not eliminating feces with the frequency with which one normally does (usually once a day). We have already said that it is normal to not evacuate in the first days after delivery (especially if an enema has been applied to the woman, which is no longer recommended routinely), but if three or four days have passed We can talk about constipation.
Stool becomes hard and dry, and it is difficult to evacuate them, very little is expelled ...
These facts cause you to feel stomach heaviness, bloating and even having pain, just as painful is the evacuation by effort, when the abdominal muscles are still weak, there are hemorrhoids or there is any wound, caesarean section, episiotomy ...
In short, constipation results in the retention of fecal matter or feces. The evacuation of solid waste from the body is scarce, infrequent or difficult for women. And why is it so frequent in postpartum?
Why do I have postpartum constipation?
There can be various causes for constipation in any person, such as bad habits: not paying attention to the urge to defecate, not devoting the necessary time, a diet poor in fruits, vegetables and legumes, cereals and nuts, insufficient fluid intake , sedentary lifestyle, psychological factors, the intake of certain medications ...
In the case of postpartum, there are several physiological factors that influence the bowel function does not return to normal. The abdominal muscles are distended and ineffective at first. It is also possible that the intestine has been traumatized after birth and has become "lazy."
If an enema has been applied to you before giving birth, the emptying of the intestines makes them take longer to fill again, so it is normal for it to take some day to go to the bathroom. This falls within the expected (in addition, if the delivery has lasted many hours the woman will not have eaten food in that period), but even if they have not applied an enema they can spend several days in pooping, as we have said.
It is also likely that analgesics or anesthesia administered to decrease pain during labor or that the mother may still be taking, may cause digestion to be slower.
On the other hand, progesterone, a pregnancy hormone that favors constipation, is still present (although in a smaller amount after the birth of the baby) in our body.
Psychological factors also influence constipation during postpartum. The time to go to the bathroom is one of the greatest fears of women after giving birth.In addition to the physiological factors are the psychological, strongly inhibitors for the intestine to function normally: the recent mother is afraid to evacuate, for the pains that he probably suffers, for the hemorrhoids, for the points, for the little intimacy in the hospital ...
The case of hemorrhoids is especially frequent because as pregnancy and childbirth increase the pressure in the anal region, it is very likely that they appear or intensify. The pain they cause during the postpartum period can cause the woman to involuntarily retain the stool due to fear of going to the bathroom.
As we see, there are many factors involved in constipation or constipation of postpartum. But let's see how to avoid that the days with a lethargic intestinal functioning are more.
Tips to avoid postpartum constipation
Maintain optimal hydration: Drink plenty of water, especially natural juices, broths if you feel like it… In short, healthy drinks that will not only help soften stool (and a less painful evacuation in the case of hemorrhoids) but will also contribute to a better recovery after delivery with the replacement of liquids, since during the same many are lost.
Do not skip meals, trying to maintain the regularity you had before delivery. You may eat less at first, but as soon as you start recovering try to keep up the pace before, with less amount if necessary.
More fiber in the diet. By increasing the amount of fiber in our diet we will make the stool soften and make evacuation easier. And how do we get it? Especially thanks to those foods rich in fiber (vitamins, minerals, water ...) that are fruits and vegetables. Kiwi is the ideal fruit to improve traffic, along with figs or prunes, carrots, squash ... Wash fruits and vegetables well to take them with skin, rich in fiber. In addition, remember that fiber-rich foods are not only beneficial for proper digestion, they also help control weight, reduce cholesterol levels, prevent hypertension or control diabetes. All are benefits and it is never too late to start incorporating more fruits and vegetables in our menus. Anyway, remember that the sooner you start with a diet rich in fiber, the better, it will also help you a lot to be healthier in pregnancy.
Other foods rich in fiber are whole grains (rice, pasta, cookies, bread ...) or legumes, nuts (not fried), olive oil ...
Avoid processed foods or fast foods, white breads, cakes, donuts, sausages, fast food burgers, french fries ... Spicy or fried foods do not help good digestion and in the case of the former the problem of hemorrhoids is aggravated .
One of the causes of the slowdown of intestinal transit is a sedentary lifestyle, that is, not moving. It is clear that after delivery we need to rest and especially if it has been caesarean section or there has been an episiotomy or some other intervention will cost us more time to get out of bed. But, as soon as possible, it's good to start moving, getting up little by little, taking small walks around the room, the halls ... and continuing to do so when leaving the hospital: our baby will love those first walks. This postpartum movement will help internal organs to search for their site again and normalize traffic. Later it will be time to do other more intense exercises with a view to losing weight.
Go to the bathroom as soon as you feel the need, without enduring. Take it easy, try to be relaxed and calm in the toilet. For this we will need the support of the couple or family, so that they take it into account and take care of the baby at these delicate moments.
Kegel exercises that can be done practically after giving birth and in the same bed. These will help tone the perineum and rectum.
If the constipation problem gets longer, ask your doctor if he can recommend a natural fiber supplement, laxatives or stool softeners compatible with breastfeeding, to facilitate intestinal transit.
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In Babies and more | The dreaded time to go to the bathroom after birth, Constipation during postpartum, Nine things that a mother wants in the postpartum
