Pregnancy Constipation Symptoms And Treatments

During this article we will discuss the problem of pregnancy constipation and hopefully provide you with some ways in which to treat it.

Where some women may feel bloated or they may pass small rabbit like stools others may often have to strain when they are actually having bowel movement.

Pregnant women will often suffer from constipation during the pregnancy and in the days after they have actually delivered the baby. Some women may even suffer from painful bowel movements after having a episiotomy (a repair made to torn rectal tissue). Women who have had an episiotomy will often consciously or unconsciously try to prevent themselves from having a bowel movement. Whilst some women who have had a caesarean section will find that their bowel movement is temporarily paralyzed and is known as an ileus.

Below are some helpful hints wish should help to alleviate or prevent constipation from occurring.

1. Make sure you exercise daily. It is a great way of preventing constipation and even light to moderate walking will help to loosen your bowels as well as making you feel lest bloated.

2. Drink lots of fluids. Whilst pregnant the amount of water absorbed from your intestines into your blood increases. So it is important that you increase the amount of water you drink to keep both your intestines and the baby healthy. You really should try a drink at least 10 x 8 ounce glasses of water a day and if you are somewhere that is hot and humid then your water intake should be increased further. By keeping your body hydrated with water you will help to prevent constipation.

3. Calcium and Vitamin Supplements. It is important that you take the appropriate supplements but be aware that there are some which can cause bloating and constipation. Studies have been carried out which show the best calcium supplements for a pregnant woman to take are those which dissolve easily in the pH of vinegar such as TUMS and Cal citrate. It is vital that you avoid antacids which contain aluminum as these will only cause constipation.

There are prenatal vitamins around which have been specifically formulated for use by pregnant women and that their digestive tract will tolerate. These types of vitamins will cause less nausea and bloating and they contain iron, Folate and B Vitamins all of which are essential to a pregnant woman.

4. However there are some pregnant women who will need to take a stool softener in order to relieve their constipation and these work by decreasing the wall tension between the colon and the stool. They act mainly as a way of keeping a pregnant woman’s stools soft so making their removal from a pregnant woman’s body much easier.

5. A great natural remedy you could use when pregnant is to alternate between hot and cold food and drinks. A simple way of doing this is to either drink cold fluid or eat ice chips and then drink a warm fluid (may be tea). Doing this will help to stimulate and tone your bowel as well as helping to release gas that has been building up in your bowel.

6. Other women may find that resting in bed for either all or part of their pregnancy helps.

Hopefully the hints provided above will any constipation problems that occur during your pregnancy and it is important that you talk to your doctor about any problems you are having in relation to constipation. Unfortunately pregnancy constipation that a lot of women will have to contend with when they are having a child and normally clears up after the birth.

Lee Dobbins
http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-issues-articles/pregnancy-constipation-symptoms-and-treatments-97960.html

How can I help my wife from constipation?

She’s been occasionally suffering from constipation. Is this not because she is already 57 years of age? Is it because at our age, digestive system starts to malfunction? And could constipation go to cancerous case?
Many people suffer from occasional constipation. Usually constipation isn’t a serious matter and is correctable and preventable by making a permanent change in eating habits and lifestyle. Increase dietary fiber, water intake to 2-3 liters/day, and increase phsyical activity. The occasional (and I stress occasional) use of a stool softener or laxative is fine. She can speak to her doctor about this and her constipation. Constipation is more common in people over the age of 65. Whether this will lead to cancer or whether the constipation is due to cancer, remains to be seen. There would be other signs and symptoms. At this point, I would not be concerned about it. If her constipation becomes chronic or cannot be remedied by my suggestions, she should report this to he doctor.

How To Find Relief From Ibs Constipation

A person, who suffers from irritable bowel syndrome, primarily suffers from one of three symptoms.

1. Diarrhea
2. Alteration of diarrhea and constipation
3. Constipation

Although, it is less common for a person with IBS to suffer from predominant constipation than diarrhea, for those who do, there are ways to find relief from constipation, abdominal pain and bloating.

There are different treatment options – both medicinal and alternative remedies -for those who suffer from constipation. The following is information regarding diverse treatments and what you need to know about each.

Diet
Constipation symptoms may be caused by specific foods that are being ingested. Therefore, try keeping a food diary to find out what foods may not only be making constipation worse, but may help to relieve your symptoms.

For instance, gluten is recognized as one of the leading causes of constipation in IBS sufferers. Therefore, a gluten-free diet may help alleviate symptoms. In order to eliminate gluten from your diet ensure you read food labels to see if gluten is among listed ingredients. However, keep in mind that gluten-free foods tend to be low in fiber. Therefore, you may require other sources of fiber such as eating more fruits and vegetables.

If you are considering a gluten-free diet it’s a good idea to consult a dietitian to find out how effective this diet control is for constipation.

Fiber supplements
Fiber supplements are designed to add bulk to the stool so that waste can travel faster through the intestines. That being said fiber supplements need to be taken with great care, as problems can occur.

For instance, inundating the boy with fiber without sufficient water intake, can cause bloating, gas and make constipation worse. It is imperative to drink plenty of water when taking fiber supplements because fiber absorbs water.

Furthermore, natural fiber sources, such as bran, can aggravate the stomach of an IBS sufferer. This is because bran contains high amounts of wheat and gluten which are not tolerated well by an IBS stomach.

Nonetheless, the right fiber supplement taken as recommended may be helpful in relieving constipation in some sufferers. Fiber supplements such as Metamucil, Konsyl or Citrucel can be found in pharmacies, but it is a good idea to talk to your doctor first and learn more about supplements before starting treatment.

Laxatives
Laxatives are an effective short-term solution for relieving constipation. However, there are different types of laxatives and some are stronger than others. Although laxatives may work in the body differently, depending on the type, each is designed to soften stool so it can slide easier through the intestines. One such laxative that is often recommended to IBS sufferers is milk of magnesia. This is a gentle laxative that is known as a hydrating agent and causes the intestines to retain more water to soften stool.

Laxatives are not recommended for long-term use and can be habit forming. If laxatives are taken for long periods of time, the body will eventually develop immunity and require stronger laxative methods. Prolonged used of laxatives can also make constipation worse and make the body laxative-dependent. Furthermore, be advised that stimulant laxatives such as Ex-lax are powerful and very hard on the system.

Make sure you investigate different over-the-counter laxative products, and speak to your doctor about laxative treatment before using this remedy.

Prescription drugs
Consider talking to you doctor about prescription medication for relief of constipation. Zelnorm is one of the newer drug treatments for IBS constipation and works by increasing stool movement in the bowels. Zelnorm has been found to effectively alleviate abdominal pain, bloating and constipation, and is only prescribed for short-term use.

Finally, regular exercise and drinking plenty of water helps to relieve constipation, and are natural remedies that can be used with any form of constipation treatment.