Written by Editorial Team
Constipation is something we may all have experienced occasionally. It is a common problem faced by as many as half of the women in the course of pregnancy. That’s why several measures are taken during pregnancy to avoid constipation. Read on to know everything about postpartum constipation.
Undergoing constipation during the post-pregnancy period is more irritating. The good news is that the issue will resolve itself in a few days if proper measures are taken.
In This Article
It’s somewhat natural not having normal bowel movements for two or three days following the delivery. Your body has been through humongous changes, and it will need some time to function normally. Therefore, give yourself a couple of days after delivery (whether vaginal or C-section) before you begin worrying about it.
First of all, most new moms are less active during the postpartum period. This alone can set off a change in bowel movements. Long labor without any intake of food or administration of enema in the course of delivery can also result in constipation as the bowel movements start to work properly only after two or three days.
Some other reasons behind postpartum constipation are:
Your mind can influence your bowel movements
Some physiological issues can result in developing constipation during the postpartum period, such as:
You can deal with constipation at home. More often the problem solves within a couple of days on its own. Here are some tips and steps that will help you to deal with this situation better.
Usually, the mother feels numb over the perineum. They feel it especially after vaginal delivery as the nerves inside and around the vagina stretches during the delivery. So chances are more that the mother feels almost no pain when she first does a poop. Therefore, alleviate the thought of pain from your mind and relax (try reading a magazine while sitting on the toilet) before trying to poop during the postpartum period.
Eating foods that are rich in fiber will help to ease constipation. Similarly, avoid refined foods (like bread and other food items made from Maida) which aggravate constipation. Eat plenty of fruits. Increase the intake of fluids as the body needs more water as you are breastfeeding. Drinking a glass of warm water, preferably right after waking up in the morning will also help.
Despite the fact that it may be uncomfortable during the initial few times, never ignore the urge to move the bowels. The more you hold up, the harder your stool will get, aggravating constipation.
Keep your knee higher than your hip while sitting on the toilet. Keeping a small stool under the feet is a good idea. This will make you sit in a squatting position.
Even though walking can be painful if you are recuperating from an episiotomy or C-section, walking slowly for a little while, especially after having a meal, will help to accelerate your bowel movements.
Ask your doctor to prescribe some laxatives (stool softeners) which help to regain healthy bowel movements.
Holding and pressing lightly a sanitary pad in front of the perineum helps to support the pelvic floor and helps to reduce the pain especially if you possess stitches.
Constipation is rarely serious, but if you experience abdominal pain, straining, rectal bleeding, or you pass mucus or blood, you should get in touch with your doctor immediately. It can be an indication of some other problem, which might need immediate medical attention.
With a rich experience in pregnancy and parenting, our team of experts create insightful, well-curated, and easy-to-read content for our to-be-parents and parents at all stages of parenting.Read more.
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