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Some issues that plague women during pregnancy can reemerge in the postpartum period also. One such recurring issue during the postpartum period is constipation. The postpartum period is also the time the mother breastfeeds her baby. Even though several medicines can relieve constipation, you should make sure that the medicines that are used would not pass through the breast milk to the baby. There are many herbs that help relieve constipation. Senna is one of the many herbs that act as a laxative and relieve constipation. But is it safe to use Senna during breastfeeding? Continue reading to find out.
Several factors can lead to constipation in breastfeeding women. Some of them are:
It is advisable to try and relieve the constipation naturally before using a laxative if you are breastfeeding.
Senna is a flowering plant that belongs to the legume family. Since ancient times, almost all the parts including the leaves, fruit, roots, and seeds of this shrub are used to make medicines. Pods are also used, but are less effective than leaves and seeds.
A laxative is derived from the leaves and seeds of the Senna herb. In fact, Senna gets a green signal from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as an over the counter laxative.
Senna contains chemicals called sennosides. It is this chemical that will irritate the lining of the intestine, which brings out a laxative effect. Senna fruit is found to be gentler than Senna leaf.
Some of the health benefits of Senna are:
Intake of Senna is not recommended, if:
Senna and its usage during the time of breastfeeding have always been a debatable topic. Short-term use of Senna while breastfeeding is acceptable as only negligible amount of sennosides, the chemical which gives the laxative property to Senna, will get into the Breast milk. So it will not cause any problem to the nursing baby. However, make sure the recommended dosage does not exceed or else it may lead to complications. Likewise, long-term use of Senna can create issues to both mother and child.
In short, having Senna in a limited dose for a short term will not cause much harm. Even then, it is better to ask your doctor before consuming Senna. Also, if you notice any symptoms of loose stools or diarrhea, immediately stop the usage of Senna.
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