The recovery period after the birth of a baby affects all areas of a mother’s life and all systems of her body. A lot of people face such a problem as constipation after childbirth with breastfeeding, and what to do with it is not clear, because most drugs can harm the child.

If there is no constipation in a nursing mother, this is the exception rather than the rule. This unpleasant state visited by most women after childbirth.

One of the main ways to deal with constipation is sports.

There are several reasons for constipation, they are associated with both physiological and psychological problems:

• fear that the seams will open after a caesarean or after ruptures. It can be so strong that it keeps the intestinal walls in constant tone, causing pain during emptying and slowing down the movement of feces through it.
• improper nutrition. During lactation, the mother must strictly monitor her diet in order to provide both herself and the child with the necessary nutrients. Even if you refuse some products, you need to ensure that the menu has enough fiber and water to help improve the functioning of the digestive tract;
• absence physical activity. This is especially true for those who have gone through a caesarean or difficult birth. The lack of movement slows down the bowels, causing constipation in a nursing mother;
• medicines. If the mother is prescribed medication to eliminate postpartum complications, one of the side effects may be constipation;
• bowel dysfunction. During pregnancy, the uterus puts quite a lot of pressure on all the surrounding organs, including the intestines. This can change its shape and impair patency. Usually everything returns to normal after a few weeks, when the uterus is restored in size;
• the hormone progesterone, which is elevated after childbirth;
• illness. postpartum constipation can be caused by hemorrhoids, neoplasms or inflammation in the intestines, metabolic disorders or endocrine diseases.

By finding out the cause of constipation, it will be much easier to find safe way solutions to the problem, because with HB, conventional laxatives are usually contraindicated.

Why is constipation dangerous while breastfeeding?

Constipation in a nursing mother affects both her well-being and the baby, so you should try to prevent their occurrence. unpleasant symptoms and side effects constipation become:

• heaviness and pain in the abdomen, bloating;
• loss of appetite;
• bad smell from mouth;
• sleep disturbance, headache, decreased performance;
• dry skin;
• increased nervousness.

At the same time, during constipation during lactation, less digestive enzymes, as a result of which the baby may also begin problems with stool and digestion. In some especially neglected cases, milk production may decrease or disappear altogether, so you need to get rid of constipation as soon as possible.

Dr. Komarovsky believes that the main causes of constipation in mothers are an unbalanced diet and sedentary image life. This state of the mother, of course, does not affect the child too well. First of all, it is necessary to return to the diet foods rich in fiber, for example, fruits and vegetables, which mothers often refuse, fearing colic in a newborn. And be sure to drink water, it is necessary for normal operation the whole organism.

Constipation immediately after childbirth: what to do

In the first days after childbirth, when the stitches have not yet healed, even the normal process of defecation can be painful and difficult, as it hurts the mother to push. With constipation after childbirth, it is allowed to use some laxatives that will help alleviate the condition of the mother. Especially often, mom is worried about constipation after a cesarean section, because the muscles of the abdomen and pelvis are weakened and damaged.

The usual remedies for constipation at this time can not be used, so you should definitely consult a doctor for an appointment. He will prescribe the right drugs, as a rule, these are Dufalac, Fortrans, microclysters or glycerin suppositories for constipation, after childbirth they are effective and quite safe.

However, these funds are still recommended to be used only as emergency measure and for a short period of time. Once in the baby's body, laxatives can cause him diarrhea and bloating. Therefore, in the future, constipation after childbirth during breastfeeding should be treated in other ways.

What to do for a nursing mother with stool problems

To cope with constipation while breastfeeding, the mother should have A complex approach. Treatment involves, first of all, the normalization of nutrition and an increase in physical activity. Since it is impossible to get rid of constipation with the usual medicines, you can also pay attention to folk remedies.

Diet

The diet of a nursing mother with constipation is one of the main keys to success. At the same time, it allows you to balance nutrition so that it is useful for everyone - both mom and baby, and the lactation process. When compiling proper diet food from it it is necessary to exclude heavy fried, salty and spicy foods. And also - any soda, especially sweet and colorful. Sweet and starchy foods are eaten in moderation, salt and spices are also minimized, because they irritate the intestines.

Instead of excluded foods, vegetables and fruits should be introduced into the diet, preferably with heat treatment - stewed, baked, boiled. Raw can provoke colic in a child. And we also need laxative foods, when breastfeeding, they will help to improve digestion gently and without unpleasant consequences for the baby. However, you should not get carried away with them either, otherwise you will have to start dealing with the opposite problem.

The list of products that have a laxative effect on constipation include:

• dried fruits (raisins, prunes, figs, dried apricots);
• fermented milk drinks and products (but not milk!);
• linseed or olive oil;
• carrots, boiled beets;
• natural juices;
• "gray" and "brown" cereals - buckwheat, oatmeal, millet. "White" cereals - banned (rice, semolina);
• decoctions of fennel, cumin, anise;
• oily salted fish.

It must be understood that laxative products by themselves are likely to produce little or short-term effects. They need to be supplemented with other measures.

Drinking regime

Water is necessary for our body constantly and violation drinking regime affects everything - from skin condition to constipation, in a nursing mother, these signs are especially pronounced.

A glass of water on an empty stomach helps to stimulate the work of the intestines. It will “wake up” the whole body and start the systems, and you’ll want to eat more after it, so it’s especially useful for those who don’t want to eat in the morning.

To maintain optimal water balance, you need to drink about 2 liters of water per day. However, some experts argue that this figure applies exclusively to clean water, others say that all liquids are taken into account - soup, tea, fruits, juices.

If you don’t feel like drinking so much liquid, you need to accustom the body gradually. To begin with, it is recommended to drink several sips of water every time you want to eat (since there is no habit of drinking water, people mistake thirst for hunger). Gradually, the amount of water can be increased to the recommended norms.

Constipation exercises

Another condition for normal bowel activity is exercise. Of course, immediately rush into active sport it is not necessary, and it will not work. But you can increase the number or duration of walks, spend them not sitting on a bench, but walking on foot.

It will also help to increase the level of physical activity. special complexes exercise, exercise or yoga. It is better to do exercises in the morning, on an empty stomach, gradually complicating it. Be sure to include leg swings, tilts and turns of the torso in the program. good effect give everyone the well-known exercises "bike" and "scissors" (exercises are performed lying on your back).

Exercise "scissors"

There is a specific exercise that activates intestinal motility in case of constipation. Take a standing position, feet shoulder-width apart. Take a deep breath and start alternately pulling in and sticking out your stomach with all your strength. Repeat 10 times, then take a break. Repeat the exercise 10 more times.

Permitted and prohibited laxative drugs for hepatitis B

As already mentioned, it is impossible to treat constipation in a nursing mother with ordinary laxatives, as they negatively affect the baby's well-being. These include:

• laxatives based on senna leaves (Sennalax, Trisasen, Sinade);
• Dulcolax;
• Guttalax;
• Bisacodyl;
• Regulax.

The list of approved drugs includes drugs such as:

• Lactulose;
• Duphalac;
• Phytomucil;
• Forlax;
• suppositories for mom (glycerin, sea ​​buckthorn candles, Microlax, Evakyu).

Despite the fact that these drugs are allowed during lactation, you can take the drug from the list only after consulting a doctor. And only in special occasions- immediately after childbirth or if other methods do not help.

Folk remedies

At severe constipation All of the above can be added folk recipes. Tea made from dill, fennel, cumin and anise seeds has proven itself well. For tea, mix a teaspoon of each type of seed and pour boiling water (0.5 l). The drink is insisted all night, then filtered. The decoction can be taken in a teaspoon before meals. It will also be useful for the baby, as it helps to get rid of colic.

If desired, the collection can be supplemented with soothing and relaxing herbs - lemon balm, chamomile, nettle, strawberry leaves. But at the same time, it is imperative to monitor the reaction of the child and, in case of negative signs, cancel the herbs.

Normal bowel function is a sign healthy body, so it is worth making a little effort to cope with constipation. After all, among other things, this will avoid discomfort and discomfort, and also save the baby from harmful consequences.

After the birth of a child, young mothers, instead of fully devoting themselves to caring for the baby, suffer from constipation.

This trouble knocks out normal image life, denigrates happy moments motherhood.

What to do?

In this article, we will consider the causes of this phenomenon and methods of dealing with it.

Hemorrhoids go away in a week, and the "bumps" dry up in the morning! Before going to bed in the basin with cold water add 50 grams....

Causes of constipation after childbirth

What to do if there is constipation after childbirth in a nursing mother? What is the reason for such trouble? Experts distinguish between psychological and physical causes. Here they are:

Physical reasons:

• hormonal disorders after childbirth;
• weakening of the abdominal muscles;
• malnutrition;
• lack of water;
• enlargement of the uterus;
• the return of the intestine to its usual place.

Psychological reasons:

1. postpartum stress;
2. getting used to the role of mother;
3. fear of going to the toilet for the most part because of stitches on the perineum;
4. haemorrhoids.

As you can see all causes, one way or another, are connected with childbirth.

If the birth of a baby is expected soon, and constipation is a chronic problem, then keep in mind that after the birth the problem will only gain momentum, so take care of your health while there is still time.

Symptoms

Constipation with hv is very simple to determine. Constipation gives itself out by the following signs:

remember, that such unpleasant symptoms requires a visit to the doctor. Do not be shy! Constipation after childbirth frequent occurrence, from which you need to urgently get rid of, because the digestion of the mother is also reflected in the digestion of the baby who is breastfed.

WHAT DO THE DOCTOR'S SAY?

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When will it pass?

This question interests many mothers who suffer from this nuisance. Unfortunately, experts cannot give exact dates.

For most women, digestion returns to normal on its own within a few weeks., others require long-term treatment and adherence to preventive measures.

In one, doctors come to the same conclusion: there is no need to wait for the solution of the problem through the sleeves.

Constipation needs to be treated, because it reflects badly on the child even if the woman is not breastfeeding. Babies at this age are very sensitive, they catch the slightest change in the mood of loved ones and transfer it to themselves.

Treatment for breastfeeding women

So, the diagnosis is made, the reasons are clear. So you need to start treatment.

Methods of treatment difficult bowel movements are different:

1. medicines;
2. enema;
3. folk remedies.

Before using this or that remedy, you need to consult a doctor., since some drugs can adversely affect the baby, getting into children's body along with milk.

Medications

Such means include candles, suspensions, powders. The first option is the safest for the child. These candles include:

• glycerin suppositories;
• sea ​​buckthorn candles;
• suppositories based on lactulose.

These drugs are harmless, have no contraindications, are allowed during pregnancy and lactation.

Young mothers can drink both permitted laxative syrups and suspensions based on the same lactulose. But bisacodyl-based products are prohibited.

Can I give an enema?

Another safe way to free the intestines from stagnant stool- It's an enema. To achieve the maximum effect, experts recommend adding a little vegetable oil to the enema water.

If constipation is accompanied by rectal fissures, then it is better to put an enema on the basis of a decoction medicinal herbs, for example, chamomile or string.

Folk remedies

A woman who is breastfeeding a baby allowed to use folk methods . They are not as fast as medical preparations, however, are not addictive.

Here are some useful simple recipes:

1. A decoction of figs. Take two tablespoons of figs and pour a glass of boiling water over it. Cool and drink little by little throughout the day.
2. potato juice. Take a potato, peel it, pass it through a meat grinder or chop it with a blender.

   Separate the juice from the pulp with cheesecloth folded several times. potato juice you need to dilute in equal proportions with water and drink the resulting drink in 50 ml half an hour before meals.

3. decoction of herbs. Mix in equal proportions strawberry leaves, valerian, stinging nettle, mint, lemon balm and chamomile.

   Take one tablespoon of the dry mixture and pour boiling water over it. Take the resulting decoction half a cup half an hour before meals.

4. Decoction of fennel or flax seeds. Good for constipation of flax and fennel grains. The latter, by the way, can be replaced with dill. In this case it will dill water, which is also useful for babies from gas and constipation.

   Pour a tablespoon of flax seeds or fennel with boiling water and boil over low heat for several minutes. Drink the drink little by little throughout the day.

Prevention: adjusting the diet

All of the above remedies will not remove the very cause of constipation, but only relieve the symptoms of trouble. You can get rid of the disease itself by adjusting the diet in the first place.

Often, young mothers do not have time to eat properly due to child care. Such nutrition harms not only the woman herself, but also the baby. Make time for normal breakfast, lunch and dinner like when the baby is sleeping.

V without fail Mommy should eat liquid - soups on low-fat broth. Before going to bed, you need to drink a glass of kefir with the addition of a teaspoon of vegetable oil. The menu should contain green apples, figs, boiled beets, zucchini, oatmeal, buckwheat.

Give up fatty meat, cabbage, legumes, rice, semolina. These foods cause gas and harden.

Useful video

Watch a video on the topic.

Constipation in a young mother also occurs due to nervous state. Calm down! Enjoy your baby, move more, walk. Get into fitness for new mothers by giving Special attention abdominal muscles.

This will restore tone, give vigor and energy. In a word, get used to the new role and remember that being a mother, despite all the troubles and such troubles as constipation, is wonderful.

Stories from our readers

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Constipation can bother a nursing mother quite long time- and a few days, and even weeks. And the problem usually lies not only in nutrition. Digestive problems are further exacerbated by sleepless nights, lack of active exercise etc. Since a woman passes various substances to her baby through her milk, incl. and toxins resulting from the decomposition of food in the intestines, she definitely needs to pay attention to her health and solve this problem.

Symptoms of constipation in a nursing mother and the causes of its occurrence

If a woman remembered that she had not visited the toilet for a long time, you need to look at yourself. Often, a number of additional characteristic symptoms indicate constipation. For example, these can be:
- heaviness and pain in the abdomen;
- headache;
- drowsiness and lethargy;
- irritability;
- apathy;
- loss of appetite.

The causes of constipation, in addition to natural problems after childbirth, may be other factors. So, for example, often nursing mothers start having problems with defecation due to diet. Many ladies during lactation begin to severely restrict themselves in food, trying to exclude from the diet potentially dangerous products. Often such zeal leads to the fact that only buckwheat remains on the mother's menu. Naturally, her body lacks useful trace elements and vitamins, and digestive problems develop.

Also among the reasons constipating in a nursing mother, includes:
- the stitches that the woman was given after childbirth (because of them, the woman is limited in her activity, as a result of which stagnation appears in the pelvis and intestines);
- bowel diseases that interfere with the promotion of feces;
- an insufficient amount liquids that a young mother consumes;
- too much a large number of eaten animal food(eggs, milk, meat) and inadequate fiber intake.

What to do

Naturally, the first method of struggle is nutritional correction. Nutrition must be balanced - and this is the key word. You can not cut yourself in the diet to the maximum. You just need to choose the right products and, if it is impossible to eat one or another, replace them with others that are similar in nutritional value.

The diet of a nursing mother must include those foods that contribute to correct work intestines. This vegetable oils, bran, whole grains, dairy products, vegetables - both fresh and boiled, black bread. An excellent option for developing the intestines will be various fruit drinks, compotes, etc. Also, doctors recommend drinking in the morning on an empty stomach. cold water, which serves as an excellent stimulant of the intestines.

But from the use of products such as semolina, wheat bran, rice, pears, blueberries, currants, walnuts, legumes, hard cheese, etc. it is better to refuse, because they usually lead to constipation.

It is better to refuse mother's laxatives during lactation. Because these drugs can cause unwanted reaction and the child as well. Moreover, this reaction can be expressed as pain syndromes. To correct the situation, a young mother is recommended to use medicinal herbal preparations. So, great option potato juice diluted with water in equal proportions is considered. You need to take such a remedy for a quarter cup an hour before meals.

You can also enjoy a belly massage. To perform it, it is enough to lie on the bed, bend your knees and massage the skin very intensively from the navel to the groin. Massage session time is 10-15 minutes. Alternatively, you can simply lightly stroke your belly around your belly button in a clockwise direction for 10 minutes.

Naturally, you will have to take care to add a little more movement to your life. Fresh air, walks with the baby and other activities are a guarantee normal functioning digestive tract. You need to sit and lie down less, and walk more, because. movement helps to increase the efficiency of the intestine, and also has a positive effect on the crushing of feces.

If without medicines not to do without, it is better to choose candles. Most often, glycerin is recommended. However, it is worth remembering that suppositories are not recommended for use if a woman has hemorrhoids (in the acute stage), cracks in anus, tumors of the rectum. Before using them, you should consult a doctor.

Constipation in a nursing mother appears at least as often as in pregnant women. Moreover, there is no fundamental difference in how a woman gave birth: through natural birth canal or was C-section. Constipation during lactation is quite common. In this case, a laxative for nursing can only be recommended by a specialist (therapist or gynecologist). So that there is no temptation to run to the pharmacy for a laxative, let's figure out what needs to be done with constipation in a nursing mother in the first place, what is second, and what should not be done.

Our expert, obstetrician-gynecologist Komarova Anna Alexandrovna tells about constipation during lactation

Causes

• psychological (some women are simply afraid to go to the toilet, because they are afraid of the seams coming apart after a perineal incision, some simply forget about this need);
• unhealthy diet (someone is afraid that the child will have an allergy; someone who can gain a lot; someone simply does not eat due to postpartum depression);
• minimal amount of physical activity, sedentary lifestyle;
• frequent suppression of the urge to defecate, which may occur due to different reasons(the most commonplace - there is no way to go to the toilet, hence the constipation);
• various diseases: inflammatory processes inside the intestine volumetric formations(benign or malignant) intestines, hemorrhoids, impaired nervous innervation walls of the colon and rectum due to damage to the peripheral or central nervous system(brain tumors, trauma spinal cord, common multiple sclerosis), autoimmune diseases(systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma), wrong exchange substances, pathology and dysfunction endocrine system(hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus);
• reception medicines (antacids, multivitamins, iron preparations, laxatives, diuretics, antihypertensives);
• the change hormonal background immediately after childbirth, which also contributes to the violation and decrease in intestinal motility;
• prolonged squeezing of the intestines by the pregnant uterus, which persists for some time after childbirth;
• during pregnancy, intestinal loops change their position due to the fact that they are pushed aside by a progressively increasing uterus, subsequently they require certain time to return to its original position and restore normal function;
• hypotrophy of the muscles that form the perineum, due to their stretching during childbirth (this is especially true for childbirth with a large fetus), due to wearing a baby;
• seams on the perineum after an incision (episiotomy) or rupture;
• occurrence new pregnancy against the background of lactation.

Clinical manifestations

How does constipation manifest in a nursing mother? This is the lack of regular bowel cleansing, the problem of moving feces in all departments. When breastfeeding, it can be heaviness and bloating, a feeling of incomplete bowel cleansing. In connection with all this, the appetite of a nursing mother is completely absent or reduced. And as a result of pain in the abdomen, headaches, sleep disturbance, decreased ability to work, mood lability (increased nervousness and aggressiveness) of a nursing mother. At the same time, the feces are hard, reminiscent of sheep feces, its quantity is sharply reduced. There may be an unpleasant smell from the mouth, the tongue is lined with a white coating. The skin becomes flabby, inelastic and dry, acquires a yellowish tint. All this negatively affects both lactation and the well-being of the newborn.

Fighting methods

What to do if stitches were placed on the perineum or cervix after childbirth? In this case, if prior to discharge from maternity hospital there was no stool, the young mother is given a cleansing enema. And how events will develop in the future depends only on each specific young mother. You don't have to follow all the myths surrounding lactation. Gradually, carefully monitoring the reaction of the child, you can switch to a normal diet even when breastfeeding. Of course, you should not eat foods that are exact allergens (this applies to honey, chocolate, nuts, red vegetables and fruits), but limiting them is not capable of causing constipation in a nursing woman.

What to do if constipation still occurs in a nursing mother? First of all, you need to understand the cause of constipation. You should eat more foods that in themselves stimulate the intestines. Can be consumed:

If there are no edema, i.e. there are no signs of fluid retention in the body, it is recommended to consume up to 7-9 glasses of fluid per day (you can just water or natural juices).

What to do with long-term constipation? You can add unmodified bran or preparations containing them to the diet. These include eubicor. It is taken one sachet 3 times a day half an hour before meals. Does not affect breastfeeding in any way.

Common laxatives for nursing mothers should not be taken, because along with breast milk they get to the baby. The result is predictable and quite unpleasant: pain in the abdomen and liquid stool in a newborn.

What then is possible? One of the few drugs that can be used while breastfeeding is duphalac. Its dose varies from 15 to 45 ml per day (can be divided into 2-3 doses).

Another drug that can be used while breastfeeding is normase. It contains lactulose, which is. It is not digested and absorbed in gastrointestinal tract, slightly acidifies and softens the intestinal contents. Promotes colonization of the intestines by bifidobacteria and lactobacilli.

Laxatives should not be taken continuously, otherwise the body gets used to them and stops responding. In any case, it should be selected by a doctor.

An ambulance, in situations where constipation is already 3-4 days old, can be a cleansing enema or glycerin suppositories. Suppositories soften the contents of the colon and contribute to its emptying. An enema purely mechanically cleanses the colon. And we must remember that these cleaning methods are not suitable for everyday use. Glycerin suppositories should not be used if present anal fissures or hemorrhoids. Cleansing enema promotes complete washing out normal microflora intestines.

There are foods that need to be limited in order to avoid constipation. These include:

• fatty and protein products animal origin;
• fast food;
• foods that contain caffeine;
• enough strong tea or coffee;
• crackers;
• crisps.

A good component of treatment will be walking on fresh air. They have a positive effect not only on the overall muscular frame of the body in general, but also on the functioning of the intestines in particular, and also improve mood and psycho-emotional state.

Constipation in a nursing mother is a very unpleasant phenomenon. First, constipation complicates the life of the mother herself. Secondly, constipation in a nursing mother leads to digestive problems in a newborn. If the problem of constipation in lactating women cannot be resolved at home on their own, then you should consult a doctor. Because during lactation, not all laxatives are approved for use. Trying to solve, in this way, the problem of constipation in nursing, you can harm own child. And then, constipation in lactating women can be not only of a physiological nature. Constipation during breastfeeding in a mother can be the result of various organic pathologies.

Dear friends! Medical Information on our website is for informational purposes only! Please note that self-medication is dangerous for your health! Sincerely, Site Editor