How to treat constipation and blood in stool during pregnancy

It is very common for pregnant women to experience constipation during pregnancy. As the fetus continues to grow, it will easily cause pressure on the organs. At the same time, the diet of pregnant women will also change, which will easily lead to constipation. Constipation and bleeding in the stool during pregnancy are also very common. This may be a manifestation of hemorrhoids and requires detailed examination and treatment to make a judgment.

What is the cause of constipation and blood in pregnant women?

1. Hemorrhoids. During pregnancy, the uterus enlarges as the fetus grows, which puts pressure on the veins and causes obstruction of rectal venous blood return. In addition, due to constipation in pregnant women, a lot of abdominal pressure is required during defecation, which aggravates rectal venous congestion, causing the veins in the anus to expand and thicken, twist into a ball, and rupture, bleed, and cause pain, which then develop into hemorrhoids. Severe hemorrhoids can cause bleeding, resulting in blood in the stool.

2. Rectal polyps. In this case, the main symptom is painless bleeding in the stool. Bleeding occurs during bowel movements and stops after bowel movements. The amount of blood varies, and generally the blood is not mixed with feces.

3. Anal fissure. Pregnant women with anal fissures often have blood in their stools. The bleeding occurs in the form of blood on one side of the stool surface that is not mixed with the stool. Some patients have blood dripping after defecation.

4. Upper respiratory tract bleeding. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding mainly manifests as black stools, often accompanied by other symptoms and signs such as vomiting blood, palpitations, fatigue, and anemia.

Treatment of constipation with blood in pregnant women

1. Check for hemorrhoids. It is best for expectant mothers to check whether they have hemorrhoids during pregnancy so that they can receive treatment based on the severity of the hemorrhoids and avoid the formation of blood clots during delivery that can cause severe pain.

2. Diet adjustment. In terms of diet, eat some vegetables and fruits rich in fiber, such as leeks, celery, cabbage, spinach, bananas, etc., to promote intestinal peristalsis; some bowel-lubricating foods such as honey can also help promote bowel movements.

3. Have regular bowel movements. Do not hold your bowel movement for a long time. Develop a good habit of regular bowel movements. Do not read books or newspapers in the toilet while defecating. Avoid squatting for a long time to avoid dilation or varicose veins in the anal canal and local irritation of the anus. Generally, each time you go to the toilet, it should not exceed 10 minutes.

4. Keep the anus clean and reduce irritation. When you are pregnant, you should try to eat less spicy foods such as chili peppers and mustard to reduce the adverse stimulation to the rectum and anus. Clean the anus after defecation to avoid residual feces from irritating the skin around the anus.

5. Do appropriate exercise. Pregnant women should do some physical exercises to promote gastrointestinal motility and blood circulation to prevent and treat constipation. Avoid sitting for long periods of time. Do 10 to 30 anal lifting exercises every day, consciously contract your anus, relax, and then contract again. Doing so can reduce congestion in the hemorrhoidal venous plexus and improve local blood circulation.