Constipation during pregnancy

It is estimated that about 20% of the population suffers from constipation. During pregnancy, the likelihood of problems with evacuation increases significantly. It was revealed that the causes of this problem are hidden in the physiological and psychological state of the woman. It is shown that even small constipations during pregnancy sometimes provoke depression, the consequences of which are unpredictable, dangerous and carry the threat of abortion.

It was found that defecation depends on several factors presented below.

Intestinal microflora . The microflora of the intestine is represented mainly by E. coli, lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, under normal conditions forming a protective biofilm on the intestinal mucosa. It, in turn, performs a protective function. If the amount of natural microflora is normal, then the digestion of fats, proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates is going on in the intestine, absorption of nutrients and water is regulated, normal motor activity of all parts of the intestine is maintained.

Peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract . If the intestinal peristalsis is not broken for some reason, the contents move without delay towards the rectum. The urge to defecate normally occurs when the ampoule of the rectum is filled.

For each person is characteristic of his biorhythm emptying the intestine. The frequency of defecation varies from 3 times a week to 2 times in one day. In this regard, it is worth to clarify what kind of condition is considered constipation.

Symptoms of constipation

Causes of constipation during pregnancy

During the period of bearing the child, the uterus enlarged in the second half of the pregnancy squeezes the intestine. In turn, this violates the outflow of blood and the drive to the appearance of venous stasis in the blood vessels of the small pelvis. With such a picture, hemorrhoids can develop, that is, the expansion of the veins of the rectum, which is the consequence of constipation during pregnancy.

In the human body, special substances are synthesized that stimulate the peristalsis of the intestine. And in the period of bearing the child the susceptibility of the muscles of the intestine to such stimulants is sharply reduced. Nature has created a woman so that the uterus and intestine have a single innervation. In this regard, any excessive increase in intestinal peristalsis can cause contractile activity of the uterine muscles, which will cause a threat of premature birth. On the other hand, such a protective reaction of the body, just the same, leads to constipation.

Another reason for the development of constipation is the hormonal changes that accompany a woman throughout pregnancy. It is revealed that even the process of digestion slows down under the action of the hormone progesterone.

During the period of gestation, women become emotionally unstable, they are more prone to stress at this time, suffer from their invented fears. To date, more and more medicine is inclined to conclude that the main cause of constipation in pregnant women are stress, depression and other psychological factors. It is shown that in the postpartum period, women suffer from constipation less often and, probably, this is due to the improvement of their psychoemotional state after childbirth.

In addition to all of the above, a certain contribution to the development of constipation is also caused by autoimmune allergic processes.

It is worth noting that the problem of constipation does not disappear after childbirth. Moreover, the abdominal muscles stretched during pregnancy can not yet fully support the intestine and internal organs. In addition, often constipation is a consequence of taking medications, for example, painkillers, prescribed after delivery for pain relief of postpartum fights and postoperative sutures.

In the postpartum period, many women are afraid that stress during defecation can damage the stitches, which is another reason for the development of constipation.