Many mothers have difficulty stooling the first time after childbirth, regardless of whether they gave birth naturally or through caesarean section. Constipation in a nursing mother can occur mainly for psychological reasons or because of poor nutrition.
Psychologically, this can occur, for example, for fear of a seam separation after cesarean or tearing during natural childbirth. It also happens that a nursing mother simply forgets about her physiological needs or what needs to be eaten on time and properly. Add stool problems and sutures made with COP or tears during childbirth. When they are discharged from the hospital, the mother is given an enema if she did not go to the toilet on her own, and as parting words, the doctors do not recommend “pushing” for the next three to four weeks after delivery so that the stitches do not open. This, of course, does not help reduce anxiety if necessary, go to the toilet "for the most part."
Constipation appears as a result of low mobility, constant containment of bowel movements, metabolic disorders. Some diseases of the central nervous system, various inflammations and diseases in the body like hemorrhoids, impaired motor function of the intestines, fecal stones, can also cause constipation in a nursing mother. The problem of constipation can also occur due to the intake of preparations containing iron, diuretics and multivitamin complexes, due to a lack of fluid intake and fiber-containing food.
What to do if constipation in a nursing mother does occur? You need to eat foods that are natural laxatives. This can be, for example, dried fruits, bran, oatmeal, kiwi, sunflower oil, peas, plums, beets, carrots, pumpkin, cabbage, apricot or dried apricots, spinach, watermelon, sour-milk products.
A nursing mother should consume at least one and a half liters of water or juice per day so that there is no dehydration of the body. The juice is preferably carrot, apricot, pumpkin, plum or peach. However, if there is swelling in the body of a woman, you should consult with your doctor about the amount of fluid she should drink during the day.
It is also necessary to limit the amount of animal food, such as milk, eggs or meat. Naturally, fatty and fried foods are contraindicated. Rice, fast food, chips and crackers, strong tea and coffee, nuts can also cause constipation in nursing mothers.
Naturally, each organism is individual, for some mothers a glass of water drunk in the morning on an empty stomach or a spoon of vegetable oil can help, others are of little help and all of the above funds. However, it is better to select medicinal laxatives according to the recommendation of the attending physician, since the ingredients of the drug inevitably pass into breast milk and can simultaneously cause a laxative effect in the baby, and in the worst case, intestinal colic. This will cause trouble for both the baby and the mother, so it is better not to abuse the medicine. The drugs, although they help relieve constipation in a nursing mother, can still be addictive, and, as a result, a problem with self-defecation.
You can also use an enema and glycerin suppositories. However, the last means can be used only if there is no hemorrhoids and anal fissures. Enema should be used as a last resort, because when it is used, the intestinal microflora is washed out, which subsequently negatively binds to the body as a whole.
So, a nursing mother just needs to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle, that is, stay in the fresh air for as long as possible. This will strengthen the muscles of the abdominal cavity and increase the tone of the whole organism. If you apply the majority of all of the above recommendations, or at least those that are suitable individually, then constipation of a nursing mother will soon cease to be an urgent problem, and it will be possible, without being distracted by such annoying inconveniences, to fully plunge into the sea of child care responsibilities.