What should I do if I am constipated after giving birth?

After giving birth, many female friends will become physically weaker and may experience a lot of discomfort, such as constipation after delivery. This may be caused by a certain stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract during delivery, and should be adjusted in time through some methods. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons and treatment methods for constipation that women suffer from after giving birth.

Why is constipation common after childbirth?

1. During childbirth, the mother's gastrointestinal tract is compressed and stimulated, the peristalsis slows down, and the retention time of debris in the intestine is prolonged. The longer the debris stays in the intestines, the more water it loses, the drier it becomes, and the more difficult it is to expel. This vicious cycle leads to postpartum constipation.

2. After giving birth, the pressure of the uterus on the intestines decreases because the volume of the intestines increases and can hold more debris for a longer time. This is also an important reason for postpartum constipation in mothers.

3. After childbirth, the contraction force of the abdominal wall and pelvic floor muscles decreases, making it difficult to defecate due to lack of strength. In addition, the perineum and pelvis are damaged to a certain extent during childbirth, which makes the mother feel pain, afraid to exert force during defecation, and increases the difficulty of defecation.

Several ways to prevent postpartum constipation

Once constipation occurs, mothers can take some measures to relieve it until the constipation disappears.

1. Develop the habit of regular bowel movements. The mother must go to the toilet to defecate on the second day after giving birth, regardless of whether she feels like defecation or not. She may not be able to defecate, but this will help form a defecation reflex, and future bowel movements will benefit from it.

2. Exercise more to promote intestinal motility. When the mother cannot get out of bed, she can prevent constipation by turning over more often in bed, changing her sleeping position, adjusting her sitting position, etc. Walk more after getting out of bed, and you can also practice some pelvic floor exercises to restore muscle strength, such as Kegel exercises.

How to do Kegel exercises: ① Lie on your back on the bed with your knees bent and your legs open, just like the posture you would have during a gynecological examination before delivery. ② Contract your pelvic floor muscles, just like when you urinate and hold your urination for 10 seconds. ③Relax for 10 seconds and repeat the exercise 15 times.

3. In terms of diet, eat more foods containing water and fiber. Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, etc. These foods can not only lubricate the intestines and increase the moisture of intestinal debris, but also promote gastrointestinal motility and help relieve constipation.

When you find that long-term constipation is difficult to relieve, it is best to go to the hospital for examination in time, and then use medication to treat the specific cause. You can also drink a glass of light salt water when you wake up every morning. This can effectively help the body remove stool. It can not only relieve constipation but also has a certain detoxification effect.