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CONSTIPATION (NATURAL REMEDIES) (referenced)
By Denise Tiran
Approved by the BabyCentre Medical Advisory Board
What causes constipation in pregnancy?
Constipation is common in pregnancy because the pregnancy hormone,
progesterone, relaxes and slows down the movement of your intestines.
You are likely to suffer from it if you are generally prone to
constipation, if you have morning sickness and are unable to eat
normally, or if you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (where
constipation may alternate with diarrhoea).
Some types of iron tablets can make constipation worse (Melamed
et al 2007). Lack of exercise will make your whole system sluggish.
Additionally, as pregnancy progresses and your baby gets bigger,
increased downward pressure increases pelvic congestion, making
constipation more likely.
How can I prevent it?
It is important to prevent constipation or to treat it early, because
although it does not cause any particular medical complications,
it is uncomfortable and can make haemorrhoids (piles) worse.
Here are some things to try:
Diet
A high-fibre diet provides more roughage to help digestion, but
remember to increase your fluid intake to at least two litres
of water daily. Similarly, avoid drinks which are diuretic (make
you pass more urine), such as tea, coffee, cola and alcohol,
as these can dehydrate you, making constipation worse.
Don't rely on using bran to avoid constipation, unless you also
considerably increase your fluid intake. Without extra water these
will only bulk up the stool, making it hard and unable to pass
along the intestines. Large amounts of bran can also interfere
with your body's ability to absorb certain nutrients from your
food.
Exercise
Staying active can help prevent constipation, generally keeping
your whole body in better health than if you are completely sedentary.
Walking, swimming, or water-based exercises (aquanatal classes),
cycling on an exercise bicycle, or other more formal pregnancy
exercise classes can all help. There are also various yoga positions
which can be practised to keep constipation at bay.
Even tai chi or Qi gong, the gentle Oriental structured sequences
of movement aimed at maintaining physical and emotional health
and wellbeing, balance and mobility, can help to prevent or treat
constipation.
Self-help suggestions
Diet
Drink at least two litres of water daily and start your day with
a cup of warm water with a slice of lemon in it – before
you have anything else to eat or drink. Start each meal with
salad or fruit, and eat lots of foods which are high in fibre
(roughage) and vitamin C. Fresh fruits such as oranges, grapefruits,
tangerines and blackcurrants, dried prunes and apricots and vegetables
including celery, watercress, cabbage, spinach and artichokes
are all good, as are wholegrain cereals and bread. Beans, lentils
and pulses are other useful high-fibre foods.
Psyllium or ispagula husks, the seeds from plantain, have been
shown in some research to be effective for constipation (NHS 2001),
particularly in those with irritable bowel syndrome. You can buy
them from pharmacies and health food shops. They contain a substance
called mucilage which absorbs fluid and the resulting swelling
of the seeds bulks up the stool. If you choose this remedy, it
is essential to drink at least eight glasses of water daily to
keep the stool moving along the gut. You should avoid this remedy
if you are taking heart medication.
Linseeds (flax seeds) which are rich in fibre and essential fatty
acids, may be used instead of psyllium but, again, you should drink
at least one large glass of water for each dessertspoonful of linseeds
(Stapleton and Tiran 2000).
Herbal remedies
Dandelion or mallow tea, made from the leaves of the plants, steeped
in boiling water and drunk daily can help treat constipation.
Senna, a traditional remedy, is best avoided in pregnancy.
Aromatherapy
Add three to four drops of essential oils such as sweet orange,
lemon, lime, grapefruit or bergamot to a teaspoonful of carrier
oil (sweet almond or grapeseed) to your bath and relax in the
warm water for a while; you could also use plenty of soap lather
to massage your tummy gently in a clockwise direction. However,
avoid very firm massage, especially if you have had any threat
of premature labour, or if your placenta is lying low in y our
uterus (placenta praevia).
Reflexology
You can try a simple reflexology treatment at home. Ask your partner
or a friend to massage the arches of your feet (these are the
parts which correspond to the foot reflexology zones for the
digestive system) in a circular, clockwise motion, for about
five minutes on each foot. You could also do this yourself, using
the hand reflexology zones, by massaging the dip in the palms
of both hands with a clockwise movement. Another tip is to put
two bottles under the arches of your feet when you are sitting
watching television, and gently roll them backwards and forwards
on the floor.
Acupressure/acupuncture
An acupressure/acupuncture point which can be useful is found in
the middle of your abdomen, about three finger-widths below your
navel (the CV6 point). Press this point intermittently, about
20-30 times, and repeat several times a day (Tiran 2001).
Homeopathy
You might like to try some homeopathic remedies. Ideally see a
qualified, registered homeopath, as homeopathic remedies should
be prescribed according to your precise symptoms. Take one tablet
of the 30c strength, three to four times daily for about five
days. Choose the remedy which is most appropriate for your particular
symptoms.
Nux vomica can be taken if you constantly feel as if you want
to have your bowels open but have an unfinished feeling; you have
associated backache, pass large, hard stools and, emotionally,
are quarrelsome, irritable and someone who rarely says "no".
Sepia would be more appropriate if you have a bloated feeling
in your abdomen, and feel as if there is a round ball in your anus,
you feel worse midday and evenings, better if you get some exercise
and, emotionally, are indifferent, snappy, weary and worn out.
Lycopodium would be the best remedy if you pass hard, knotty stools,
suffer a lot of wind, feel worse when hot and in the evenings,
better if you have a warm drink and, emotionally, are anxious,
lack self-confidence but put on a "brave front".
Graphites is worth trying if your stools are large, mucusy and
sour smelling, you pass large quantities of sour-smelling urine
at night, feel worse when cold and at night, and are apprehensive
and tearful.
There are many other remedies which can be taken for constipation
but, if in doubt, it is best to seek advice from a qualified, registered
homeopath.
Supplements
If you need an iron supplement because you are prone to anaemia,
try a multivitamin preparation such as Floradix or a liquid iron
supplement (check with your midwife first), eat extra red meat
and dark green vegetables, or ask your doctor to change you to
a different brand of iron tablet if the one you are taking causes
constipation. If constipation becomes a more serious problem
for you, your doctor or midwife may prescribe a laxative. These
are generally safe to use in pregnancy, but it is worth trying
natural remedies first.
Pelvic floor relaxation
When you feel that you do need to go to the toilet, make sure you
have privacy and time. Sit on the toilet, breathe deeply, then
exhale so that your pelvic floor muscles relax, but try not to
strain. Standing up to pass the stool can sometimes help – have
one knee bent and put your foot on a chair or the edge of the
bath. This encourages pelvic floor relaxation more than when
you sit on the toilet with your buttocks clenched (Tiran 2003).
Which complementary therapies could I try?
If constipation persists, you could consult a qualified practitioner
of relatively mainstream complementary therapies such as acupuncture
or shiatsu, who will attempt to rebalance your internal energies.
Osteopathy or chiropractic aims to correct any misalignments
in your skeleton from previous injury, disease or trauma, which
may
be putting stress and tension on soft parts of your body including
your stomach and intestines.
Traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture (Diehl 1999) or Ayurvedic
medicine can be beneficial, but be sure to find a practitioner
who is registered, insured and has experience of treating pregnant
women.
Colonic irrigation is not recommended in pregnancy as it can adversely
affect the normal pH and bacterial balance of the lower colon.
There is a possible risk of mild complications such as vaginal
infections from contamination of the area, or more serious problems
including potential perforation of the rectum.
Interested
to know more? Then please click HERE
References
Diehl DL. 1999. Acupuncture for gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary
disorders. J Altern Complement Med. 5(1):27-45. Melamed N, Ben-Haroush
A, Kaplan B, Yogev Y. 2007. Iron supplementation in pregnancy -
does the preparation matter? Arch Gynecol Obstet. NHS Centre for
Reviews and Dissemination. 2001. Effectiveness of laxatives in
adults. Effective Health Care 2001;7. Stapleton H and Tiran D.
2000. Herbal Medicine. In Tiran D, Mack S (eds.) Complementary
Therapies for Pregnancy and Childbirth 2nd
ed. Edinburgh: Balliere Tindall. 105-127. Tiran D. 2001. Clinical
Aromatherapy for Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: Churchill
Livingstone. Tiran D. 2003. Self help for constipation and haemorrhoids
in pregnancy. British Journal of Midwifery 11(9):579-581
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