Constipation after giving birth is common among many women
despite not experiencing the issue during pregnancy. Approximately 20 percent
of mothers experience constipation after birth. Mothers who had hospital births
didn’t feel like using the bathrooms in the hospital. Furthermore, stitches and
bruising caused by birth make women feel apprehensive to go the restroom. In
general, mothers feel uncomfortably constipated several days after giving
birth. It is best to get it treated immediately and many home remedies can help
to relieve constipation.
Causes of Constipation After Giving Birth
- Physical
factors are also linked to being unable to go. High progesterone
levels caused by hormonal changes during pregnancy can induce
constipation. - Medications.
Pain relief provided while on labor like diamorphine or pethidine is also
linked in slowing down bowel movements. The same effect is experienced in
taking postpartum pain medications. - Procedures
are done during pregnancy and while giving birth also contribute
to bowel issues. Forceps or ventouse utilized to assist birthing moms to
trigger bowel troubles. - Iron
tablets and tearing while on labor also induce constipation. - Perineal
soreness caused by hemorrhoids, episiotomy or other tearing
induce pain, which causes the body to hold in the feces and dispelling the
feeling of going to the bathroom.
When Should You Worry About Constipation After Birth?
The good thing about dealing with post-delivery constipation
is that it is treatable as long as dealt with immediately. Usually, this
condition is not serious, but it can be indicative of other medical issues. For
instance, severe constipation with the onset of abdominal pain, alternating
instances of diarrhea, or presence of blood and mucus call for immediate
attention from a doctor or a midwife.
Aside from being a symptom of other health issues,
constipation can also aggravate other digestive system problems like
hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are swollen veins located along with the rectum or
anus. Passing a hard stool, which is common during constipation, can worsen the
problem, making them more uncomfortable than usual. Hemorrhoids are among the
issues experience during pregnancy and often disappear once pelvic pressure is
relieved after giving birth. Nevertheless, extreme pain and rectal bleeding are
signs of needing medical assessment from the primary care provider to deal with
the issue accordingly.
How to Ease Constipation After Giving Birth
- Fiber-rich
Diet. Numerous solutions can deal with post-delivery constipation
like starting with a healthy diet right after giving birth. Fiber-rich
foods like wholegrain rice aid in improving bowel movements. - Drinking
fluids also soften feces, which makes it easier to pass and flush
out of the body. New mothers have a high risk of being dehydrated due to
numerous factors. First is staying in the hospital during labor and
delivery. Breastfeeding also makes a woman feel thirsty, which can lead to
feeling dehydrated. Drinking good amounts of fluids can be helpful in
dealing with dehydration and other issues. - Women
are advised to go when they feel that they need to go. They are
recommended to sit fully instead of just hovering on the toilet. - Another
tip to make stool passing easier is tipping toes while sitting to
raise the knees higher than the hips. Using a stool or small chair can be
helpful in raising the knees while resting the elbows on top of them. This
position results in a squatting position, which is the best position for
going. - Supporting
the perineum using a clean sanitary pad will help while doing a
poo. Place the pad folded in half over the perineum or stitches will make
women confident while passing feces. Stitches won’t open even if the
perineum receives pressure, but doing this procedure will somehow keep new
mothers from being apprehensive from defecating. Light pressure on the
area can also relieve pain while pushing the feces out. - Going
for a walk can also be helpful. It might be challenging for women
who gave birth through C-section, but it will help in shortening
constipation periods. Lying down or sitting for long periods of time can
also lengthen the instances of constipation. - Be
careful with medications. Narcotics also induce this problem,
which is common for women who are subjected to pain relief during labor or
postpartum pain. To deal with the pain, primary care providers can
prescribe NSAIDs such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain management.
Aside from pain management, changing medications may also restore the
metabolic process to its original state. The good thing about NSAIDs is
they are safer for breastfeeding infants and with lesser side effects like
drowsiness. - Use
a stool softener. New moms experiencing this issue can also ask
their doctors or midwives about a stool softener, which is available over
the counter at pharmacies. Stool softeners are often recommended for
mothers with extensive tearing to the sphincter or those suffering from
hemorrhoids. - Workout
daily. A short walk while pushing the baby’s stroller can help in
treating constipation. - Consult
a physician for hemorrhoids or anal fissures. These
obstructions within the rectal area can aggravate constipation.
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