What should I do if I have bloody stools during breastfeeding?

It is easy to get constipation during breastfeeding. After all, you need to lie down for a long time after giving birth and rarely do outdoor exercise. At this time, intestinal peristalsis becomes slower, which can easily lead to constipation and cause bloody stools. So what should you do?

1. Analyze the causes of constipation and adjust your lifestyle.

Develop the habit of regular bowel movements; quit smoking and drinking; avoid drug abuse. When you feel the urge to defecate, you should do so promptly to avoid suppressing your bowel movement. Long-term and repeated suppression of defecation can lead to an increase in the defecation reflex threshold and disappearance of the urge to defecate, leading to constipation.

2. Promote a balanced diet, increase dietary fiber appropriately, and drink plenty of water.

(1) High-fiber diet: Dietary fiber itself is not absorbed, but it can absorb water in the intestinal cavity to increase stool volume, stimulate the colon, and enhance motility. Foods rich in dietary fiber include wheat bran or brown rice, vegetables, and fruits rich in pectin such as mangoes and bananas (note: unripe fruits contain tannic acid which will aggravate constipation).

(2) Replenish water: Drink plenty of water. It is recommended to drink more than 1500 ml of water per day to keep the intestines sufficiently hydrated, which is beneficial for the excretion of feces.

(3) Provide sufficient amounts of B vitamins and folic acid: Enriching foods with B vitamins can promote the secretion of digestive juices, maintain and promote intestinal peristalsis, and facilitate defecation. Such as whole grains, yeast, beans and their products. Among vegetables, spinach and cabbage contain a lot of folic acid, which has a good laxative effect.

(4) Increase the intake of gas-producing foods: Eating more gas-producing foods can promote intestinal peristalsis and facilitate defecation, such as onions, radishes, garlic sprouts, etc.

(5) Increase fat supply: Appropriately increase high-fat foods. Vegetable oil can directly moisturize the intestines, and the decomposition product fatty acids can stimulate intestinal peristalsis. The kernels of dried fruits (such as walnut kernels, pine nuts, various melon seeds, almonds, peach kernels, etc.) contain a lot of oil, which has the effect of lubricating the intestines and promoting bowel movements.