What causes constipation in pregnant women?

It is quite common for pregnant women to experience symptoms of constipation. First of all, the increased secretion of hormones in pregnant women will lead to a decrease in gastric acid secretion, which in turn slows down gastrointestinal motility and causes symptoms of constipation. Then, excessive mood changes and improper diet during pregnancy can also cause constipation. It is recommended that pregnant women should pay attention to balanced nutrition, eat some vegetables appropriately, drink more water, and go out for a walk to promote gastrointestinal digestion.

What causes constipation during pregnancy?

After a woman becomes pregnant, under the influence of endocrine hormone changes, the placenta secretes a large amount of progesterone, which reduces gastric acid secretion, decreases gastrointestinal muscle tension, and weakens muscle peristalsis. This will cause the food you eat to stay in the gastrointestinal tract for a longer time and cannot be excreted normally like before pregnancy.

Furthermore, as food stays in the intestines longer, the water in the food residue is reabsorbed by the intestinal wall cells, causing the stool to become dry and hard, making it difficult to excrete from the body.

Also, after pregnancy, the pregnant woman's physical activity is less than before pregnancy, which makes it difficult for the intestinal muscles to push feces out; the enlarged uterus puts pressure on the rectum, making it difficult to expel feces; in addition, the muscles of the pregnant woman's abdominal wall become weak, and there is not enough abdominal pressure to push during defecation. Therefore, even if a pregnant woman feels the urge to defecate and contracts her abdominal muscles, the feces accumulated in the rectum is still difficult to expel.

Treatment of constipation

If a pregnant mother suffers from constipation, the best way to improve it is to change her lifestyle and overcome it through her own efforts rather than using medication. For example, regular life, plenty of fiber foods and water intake, moderate exercise, maintaining regular bowel habits, etc. The specific method is:

1. Regular bowel movements in the morning

Have regular bowel movements, go to the toilet in the morning or after breakfast. Since the colon's propulsion movements are more active after breakfast and it is easier to initiate defecation, the best time to defecate is about an hour after breakfast. Do not ignore the urge to defecate, and do not force yourself to endure the inconvenience. More importantly, you should not squat on the toilet for too long, as this will not only increase abdominal pressure, but also make it difficult for blood circulation to return to the lower limbs. It is best to use a sitting toilet for defecation, and use a no-squatting butt wash basin to clean the perineum and anus after defecation. This is both hygienic and avoids squatting for long periods of time to increase intra-abdominal pressure.

2. At the same time, increase the amount of physical activity appropriately. More activities can enhance gastrointestinal motility. Getting enough sleep, being in a good mood, and relieving mental stress are all good ways to relieve constipation.

3. Go to the toilet immediately when you feel the urge to defecate. Go to the toilet as soon as you feel the urge to defecate. Do not form a habit of holding it in. Stay relaxed when defecating. Don't be nervous even if you haven't defecated, otherwise constipation will become worse.

4. Arrange a reasonable diet and eat more foods rich in fiber, such as apples, radishes, other vegetables, fruits, beans, etc.

5. Drink more water. Drinking at least 1000 ml of water every day to replenish the body's water is an important way to relieve constipation.