Constipation during pregnancy( in pregnant women), when they begin, at what time( month), persistent, chronic stool delays, video, are they always there?

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Problems with the stool, when the act of defecation passes with difficulty, with painful sensations and a delay of up to 72 hours between acts of defecation, are known to very many. However, for the female body during pregnancy, the problem of constipation is more urgent than for other categories of the population. Difficulties during the emptying of the intestine, which are manifested not only in a prolonged stool delay, but with a feeling of incomplete emptying, too dry stool, is experienced by every second woman in an interesting position.

The main cause of constipation in pregnant women is the rapid increase in the level of the hormone( progesterone) responsible for the normal course of pregnancy. The relaxing effect of progesterone on the smooth musculature of the gastrointestinal tract contributes to slowing the progress of stool. Factors causing constipation during pregnancy are:

1. Toxicosis in the early stages of pregnancy accompanied by vomiting, loss of appetite.
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2. Taking medications containing iron and calcium.
3. Insufficient motor activity caused by problems with bearing, pain in the spine, weight gain, abdominal volume and the like.
4. Features of the diet of pregnant women with reduced fiber intake.
5. Decreased fluid intake caused by risk of leakage, kidney problems.
6. Increased pressure on the intestine due to the growth of the volume of the uterus, movements of the fetus aspiring to take a more comfortable position before delivery.
7. Psychoemotional problems( stress, fear for the child, fear of childbirth, etc.).

When does constipation begin during pregnancy?

Constipation in a pregnant woman can occur at any gestation period, and the likelihood of problems with timely and normal bowel movement is highest between 16 and 36 weeks. However, the greatest danger of constipation is in the early stages of pregnancy and immediately two to three weeks before the onset of labor. This is due to the fact that the intestine is located very close to the reproductive organs and any change in the peristalsis of the intestine affects not only the well-being of the future mother, but also the development of the fetus and ultimately the health of the baby. In addition, the delay and difficulty in emptying late in child bearing can provoke premature birth, when the child is not yet ready for independent development outside the mother's womb, as well as the development of pathologies during childbirth. After the birth of a child, as a rule, problems with timely evacuation of the intestine cease. However, if the child develops a hemorrhoids or a woman has received a birth trauma, problems with the intestine continue after the birth of the child.

The prolonged presence of feces in the body of a pregnant woman during constipation increases the amount of toxic substances in the blood. As a result, it is possible to intoxicate the entire body and all kinds of deviations in the development of the child. In addition, congestion in the intestine disrupts the normal process of outflow of blood from the vessels of the small pelvis, which can lead to the development of hemorrhoids. The pain that occurs when the pregnant woman tends to get rid of feces can promote the development and consolidation at a subconscious level of fear of the need for bowel movement. As a result, the problem of timely defecation is exacerbated, and the blocking phenomena become chronic.

At what time of pregnancy constipation begins, depends on a lot of factors and is purely individual. In the first trimester, the main cause is the hormonal alteration of the organism that has started, as a result of which progesterone is produced in very large quantities. In turn, progesterone weakens the muscles of not only the uterus, but also of other organs, leading to a weakening of the intestinal peristalsis. The next reason for the delayed bowel movement can be called a change in diet.

Early terms of bearing a child, as a rule, are characterized by toxicosis, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and lack of appetite. In some patients, such manifestations can be very strong, leading to dehydration of the body. In turn, the lack of liquid contributes to the formation of solid dry stools, and the lack of food intake, a decrease in their volume. Changes in the intestinal activity can begin immediately after successful conception, therefore among the signs characterizing the onset of pregnancy, constipation is among the main group.

On what month constipation occurs, again, a purely individual problem. In some women, it can manifest from the first days of conception and continue until childbirth and even after some time after the birth of the child. In others, the difficulty of defecation can appear and disappear at different periods of gestation, and be of a short-term nature. Another category of pregnant women may have diarrhea. Generally assume that constipation during pregnancy is mandatory, there are no grounds.

What is constipation during pregnancy?

The diagnosis of constipation is possible on the basis of the following symptoms:

1. No act of defecation for more than 72 hours.
2. The feeling of incompleteness of the process of bowel evacuation.
3. A small amount of excreted feces, which is less than 35 grams.
4. Solid, dry stools in the form of sheep's spikes or ribbon-like.
5. Abdominal pain.
6. Sensation of itching, burning in the anal area with hemorrhoids.

The presence of at least two signs among the above, allows you to talk about the presence of constipation. If before pregnancy, a woman had any problems with the gastrointestinal tract( gastritis, dyskinesia and others), then when the child is born, they exacerbate the possibility of intestinal motility disorder. The unstable state of the nervous system, which is aggravated, including anxiety about the delay of the stool, again increases the risk of developing permanent constipation during pregnancy.

In the second, and especially in the third trimester of pregnancy, the causes of constipation are:

1. An increase in the weight of the uterus, which with its weight squeezes the intestine and narrows the lumen in the rectum.
2. Iron-containing drugs used to prevent iron deficiency and the development of anemia.
3. Restriction of motor activity caused by difficulties in bearing a child.
4. Restrictions in the use of foods rich in fiber.

Chronic constipation and pregnancy

Difficulties with timely evacuation of the intestines, which become chronic, lead to disruption of the intestinal microflora. In this case, the predominant putrefactive bacteria in the rectal mucosa gradually move into the vagina and urinary canal, initiating around the fetus an infectious space. In the future, this can lead to premature labor and even miscarriages, when the child is still unviable.

In pregnancy and chronic constipation, an intoxication syndrome develops, caused by an increase in the amount of harmful substances released into the blood that are secreted by faeces accumulated in the rectum. This syndrome characterizes:

• a permanent headache;
• general weakness, a sense of weakness;
• bad breath.

Chronic constipation is particularly aggravated in the last months of childbearing, with the need for persistent strong straining, greatly increasing the risk of preterm labor. Difficulties with the emptying of the intestine cause the accumulation of gases in the intestine, there are severe pain during defecation.

Constipation for ectopic pregnancy

The timing of the child's gestation begins when the fertilized egg clings to the inside of the uterus wall. However, in some cases, the fetus, not reaching the uterine cavity, begins its development in the fallopian tubes and an ectopic pregnancy occurs. The danger of such a pregnancy is the possibility of rupture of the tube, which threatens the life of a woman. The main symptom of this pathology is abdominal pain, which begins as blunt and gradually acquires a very strong character. Together with severe pain, hemorrhages like menstrual bleeding are possible.

Symptomatic of ectopic pregnancy during the first weeks completely coincides with normal normal pregnancy. Constant constipation also worries the future mother. However, unlike normal, ectopic pregnancy in the early stages is accompanied by bloody discharge. If these discharges are abundant, then this indicates the development of the embryo in the cervix, where a large number of blood vessels are located. In other cases, bleeding can be moderate. Therefore, if constipation is accompanied by non-standard symptoms, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor to establish the cause. The earlier the pathological pregnancy is revealed, the more gentle the methods, it can be interrupted.

Treatment of constipation during pregnancy

After determining what is considered constipation during pregnancy, the direction of treatment is determined to eliminate the problem with defecation. The need for a competent, cautious approach to the decision to restore the normal process of bowel evacuation is dictated on the one hand by the danger, to let the problem solve itself. On the other hand, it is undesirable to deal with constipation during the period of carrying a child with medicines or folk remedies because of the risk of provoking undesirable consequences. First of all, you need to know what methods you absolutely can not use during pregnancy to expectant mothers to eliminate constipation. It can be:

1. The use of enemas that stimulate active defecation, which causes a possible contraction of the uterus. They can only be used immediately before delivery to cleanse the intestines in order to facilitate labor activity.
2. Use of castor oil, petroleum jelly. This is due to the fact that the additional load on the liver, pancreas and intestinal mucosa of oil laxatives creates unnecessary difficulties for the pregnant woman, who already has a large load on the digestive tract.
3. Laxatives or tinctures, decoctions, causing severe spasms, irritatingly affecting the mucous and laxative filling properties that activate intestinal motility.

The problem of elimination of constipation requires an integrated approach and includes dietary nutrition, therapy of concomitant diseases, increased physical activity. However, these methods are not suitable for all pregnant women and only methods that are most gentle and at the same time quickly eliminate constipation are selected. The best way to deal with constipation is to prevent them. Prevention of the emergence of difficulty in bowel movements is facilitated by the restructuring of the diet in accordance with the needs of the woman's body during childbearing, including:

1. Regular meals in small portions.
2. Balanced for vitamins, minerals and nutrients menu.
3. A diet containing a sufficient amount of plant fiber.
4. Exclusion from the diet of foods with fixing properties and gas-forming.
5. Providing daily consumption of liquid( plain water, compote of dried fruit unsweetened, fruit juice, herbal tea) at least one and a half liters. Very useful daily walks in the fresh air, sports classes, which you can do during pregnancy with a dosed physical load.

To the question: "Is constipation always during pregnancy?" - it is possible to answer negatively, since this phenomenon depends on so many factors. However, if a woman, knowing the danger of difficulties with defecation for the normal course of gestation and the birth of a healthy baby, prepares her body for procreation in advance, then it is quite possible and necessary to avoid problems with the intestines.