Why postpartum constipation

Yep, Grandma has it right. Consistently eating beans, bran cereals, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables can prevent and relieve postpartum constipation. The average woman needs 25 grams of fiber daily , but most people get only about Studies show that eating two or three prunes is as helpful as taking a laxative.

Not only are they high in fiber 1 cup provides 12 grams , they also contain sorbitol, a sugar alcohol that has a natural laxative effect. Without extra water, fiber can actually make constipation worse and cause gas, bloating, and reflux.

Pushing a stroller or a playground swing counts, as does gentle stretching. Your goal can be getting off the couch as often as possible for postpartum constipation relief. Lots of women begin with a bulking agent essentially, fiber in powder form like Metamucil or Citrucel. Stool softeners such as Colace are also effective and safe. If you still need help, try a gentle laxative such as MiraLAX or Milk of Magnesia , which draws extra fluid into the intestines. If you take a postpartum constipation laxative, be sure to drink plenty of water.

Avoid stimulant laxatives that contain senna or cascara, as they can become ineffective over time. Sitting may seem more civilized, but squatting is the most effective way to do your business. When you sit or stand, a muscle called the puborectalis creates a kink in your colon that keeps stool from sliding out. We could not make explicit conclusions on interventions for treating postpartum constipation because we found no studies for inclusion in this review. Rigorous and well-conducted large randomised controlled trials aimed at treating postpartum women diagnosed with constipation would be beneficial.

These trials should also address the criteria for administering the intervention time and stage of a diagnosis of postpartum constipation , and the safety and effectiveness of such interventions. Constipation is a functional bowel disorder that can reduce quality of life in the puerperium period. The diagnosis of postpartum constipation is both subjective and objective. It is characterised by symptoms such as pain or discomfort, straining, hard lumpy stools and a sense of incomplete bowel evacuation.

Haemorrhoids, pain at the episiotomy site, effects of pregnancy hormones and hematinics used in pregnancy can increase the risk of postpartum constipation. Although a high fibre diet and increased fluid intake is encouraged to assist defecation in the puerperium, pain-relieving drugs and laxatives are common drugs of choice to alleviate constipation. However, the effectiveness and safety of laxatives on the nursing mother need to be ascertained.

Talk to your doctor if you are taking any medication or supplements that might be causing your postpartum constipation. These include pain medications, antibiotics, iron tablets, or a multivitamin. Postpartum constipation is a common issue for new moms.

All the changes, stretching, and shifting in your body during pregnancy and delivery can take some time to readjust after you have had your baby. Most postpartum constipation gets better on its own. You might only need minor changes to your daily diet and exercise plan. Home treatments can help. In more serious cases, your doctor may need to stop or change certain medications.

You might also need stronger, prescription medications to help get rid of the constipation. Many new moms experience constipation following a cesarean delivery. Here are seven ways to find relief. Constipation in babies and children is often short term and not related to an underlying health condition.

Here's how to identify, treat, and prevent…. A new study finds that epidurals do not affect child development in their later years. A fetal arrhythmia is an irregular heart rate — too fast, too slow, or otherwise outside the norm.

It's often benign. Postpartum diarrhea after a C-section is normal. Sharing our experiences of pregnancy and infant loss can help us heal. Using breast milk for eczema is a popular home remedy. DO NOT use tampons douches or powders - these may introduce bacteria to your healing uterus and cause infection. After delivery of the baby, you will be given a peri bottle plastic bottle to squirt warm water over your perineum area of the opening to your vagina to keep it clean.

Fill your peri bottle with comfortably warm water, and use after each time you use the restroom. Squirt the water from front to back, then gently dry yourself also from front to back. Take a shower or tub bath every day, using soap and water. Do not use bubble bath during this healing time. Report heavy vaginal bleeding soaking more than one pad per hour , large clots, a foul odor, or unusual abdominal tenderness to your health care provider.

Symptoms of the Baby Blues usually appear within the first week or two following delivery, and may last for several weeks following. Symptoms include: feelings of tiredness; mood swings; feelings of loss, frustration or anger; unexplained weeping; irritability; inability to sleep.