Postpartum Constipation : How to Treat Constipation After Delivery 

The condition after childbirth is a bit discomforting for a mother. Conditions such as postpartum bleeding, leaky breasts, stretch marks, and c-sections are common. And one such discomfort is postpartum constipation.

So if women face a slight change in their bowel movement and experience constipation, they are probably going through postpartum constipation. They should also be aware that it is not a special condition and need not worry because most women undergo this after childbirth.

What is Postpartum Constipation

In layman's terms, postpartum constipation is a kind of constipation after delivery that every mother goes through in the postpartum phase. Constipation is when a person gets less than three bowel movements in a week or less than their usual number of bowel movements. Some of the common symptoms of postpartum constipation are as follows:

• Irregularities in bowel movement.

• Facing difficulty while defecating as the stool is hard and dry, causing pain and difficulty during bowel movement.

• Experiencing pain in the abdomen or rectum, especially after a bowel movement.

• Bloating or gas in the stomach.

What Causes Postpartum Constipation

There are numerous causes of postpartum constipation, and the cause may not be the same for every woman. Some of the most common causes of postpartum constipation are as follows -

Stitches from delivery

The digestive system of women who have undergone a cesarean delivery might take about three to four days to recover completely. And this is one of the reasons for postpartum constipation. For women with vaginal delivery, the stitches at the episiotomy can be the cause of discomfort.

Hemorrhoids

The weight gain and the constant pressure of carrying a child in the womb may cause hemorrhoids in a mother during pregnancy. This condition can cause pain and blockages in the digestive system, leading to postpartum constipation.

Abnormalities in the pelvic region

During childbirth, a woman's pelvic floor and sphincter muscles can stretch. This causes difficulty during bowel movements and makes excretion difficult.

Erratic sleep

Having a child is an extremely challenging job, and new parents often struggle to maintain their sleeping schedule. These changes in sleeping patterns cause fatigue and changes in bowel habits.

Stress

The erratic life that a parent experiences after the birth of their child is very stressful as they get a lot of additional responsibilities. So it is normal to experience stress at this stage, primarily due to the involvement of hormones such as cortisol. Furthermore, these stress hormones can induce diarrhea and constipation in mothers.

Dehydration and a bad diet

Women often ignore their health during childbirth due to erratic sleep and meals, including less intake of water and other fluids, due to an uneven schedule, leading to dehydration. A mother can also experience changes in her during breastfeeding leading to abnormalities in bowel movements.

Lack of exercise

During the postpartum period, most women do not get time to exercise, slowing down their digestive tracks. Like any other muscle, the human intestine needs regular exercise to be strong and have a flexible motion.

Medications

A mother needs to take several medications to cope with pains due to stitches, sprains, tearing, and aches in different parts of the body. One of the common side effects of these medications is constipation.

Postnatal supplements

Supplements such as postnatal vitamins keep a mother nourished throughout the healing process. Doctors may also recommend iron supplements if a woman has a cesarean delivery. Although iron supplements are vital for red blood cell generation, they also lead to constipation.

What Can You Do for Postpartum Constipation Relief

Dealing with postpartum conspiration is not a very difficult task. Any woman who is facing it can follow the below-listed tips for postpartum constipation relief:

• If someone is experiencing constipation, the first thing they need to look after is their diet. Eat food containing fiber and avoid processed food. Try to ensure the diet contains some natural laxatives, such as prunes.

• One must ensure they are properly hydrated by drinking water and other liquids regularly.

• The most effective treatment for constipation is exercise. A mother should exercise regularly to stimulate their digestive system.

• Women facing postpartum constipation should try relaxing exercises such as meditation or warm baths to manage stress and have good mental health.

• Never ignore the urge to move the bowels. Try not to hold up a stool, as it will aggravate postpartum constipation.

• Try to be in a squatting position on the toilet by placing a stool under your feet to ensure a squatting position in the toilet.

• They can also try medications such as laxatives to beat postpartum constipation.

To get more information about what to eat for postpartum constipation and care, you can check Mylo Postpartum Care Plan that takes care of the new mother's needs and holistic well-being. It can help you with postpartum recovery, improved gut health and constipation relief, increased breast milk secretion, weight loss and postpartum depression.

This was everything a new mother needs to know about postpartum constipation. Although it may seem a challenging phase, it subsidizes eventually. All the aforementioned tips will help women end constipation faster after delivery.

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