What to do if you have constipation after cesarean section

Many women choose to give birth by cesarean section, but some women experience postpartum constipation after giving birth. Some women have severe constipation and even develop hemorrhoids, which has a great impact on the physical recovery of women after childbirth. If not treated in time, it may also cause other diseases, which is particularly troublesome for postpartum mothers.

What to do if you have constipation after cesarean section?

1. Cesarean section women with constipation should increase dietary fiber and drink more water

Although dietary fiber itself is not absorbed, it can absorb water in the intestinal cavity to increase stool volume, stimulate the colon, and enhance motility. Mothers can eat more whole grains, vegetables, and fruits (bananas) after giving birth. Drinking more water is especially suitable for women who have undergone cesarean section and are constipated. It is recommended to drink more than 1500 ml of water every day to keep the intestines sufficiently hydrated, which is conducive to the excretion of dry feces.

In addition, B vitamins and folic acid can also promote the secretion of digestive juices, maintain and promote intestinal peristalsis, and thus facilitate postpartum defecation. You can eat more whole grains and bean products, and more vegetables such as spinach and cabbage which contain a lot of folic acid. There are also some gas-producing foods such as onions, radishes, garlic sprouts, etc.

If a mother has postpartum constipation, it is recommended that she should not eat high-fat foods in order to lose weight. For example, walnut kernels, pine nuts, various melon seeds, almonds, peach kernels, etc. These nuts with high vegetable oil content can help moisturize the intestines, and the decomposition products of fatty acids can stimulate intestinal peristalsis.

2. Cesarean section women with constipation should exercise more

Walking and jogging are relatively suitable for mothers who have undergone cesarean section. The movements are not too large, which can not only exercise the body but also help intestinal peristalsis, helping to relieve constipation. If mothers have free time, they can do more deep breathing. When breathing, the amplitude of diaphragm movement increases compared to usual, which can also accelerate gastrointestinal motility.

There are also some slightly more strenuous exercises, such as gymnastics or yoga. Mothers can try doing some gymnastics, such as walking on the spot with high legs raised, squats, abdominal and back exercises, kicking exercises and turning exercises. Others try lying on their backs on the bed, bending their knees, rubbing their hands together to warm them up, placing their left hand flat on their navel, their right hand on the back of their left hand, and massaging in a clockwise direction with the navel as the center.