Can I use enema after giving birth? Can I use enema for postpartum women with constipation?

Enema is a common medicine for treating constipation in our lives. Many women experience constipation after giving birth and wonder whether they can use enema. Can enema be used after childbirth? Can women with constipation use enema? The editor of No. 5 website will answer your questions one by one!

Can I use enema after giving birth?

Maternal constipation can be treated with enema. Constipation is a common problem for pregnant women, especially for postpartum women. Pelvic muscle relaxation after delivery or local pelvic edema may lead to decreased defecation function and constipation. When pregnant women suffer from constipation, they should first adjust their diet and exercise. If diet and exercise adjustments are ineffective, topical medications such as enema can be used, which are relatively safe and will not have any residual problems. Because these topical medications mainly act locally, they relieve constipation by stimulating rectal peristalsis and forming a defecation reflex. The drugs themselves will not be absorbed by the human body, so they will not have adverse effects on pregnant women.

Can pregnant women with constipation use enema?

Associate Professor Luo Chenghua, Director of the Department of Colorectal and Anorectal Surgery at Beijing Century Altar Hospital: Constipation is a common problem for pregnant women, especially for new mothers. Pelvic muscle relaxation after delivery or local pelvic edema may lead to decreased defecation function and constipation. After pregnant women develop constipation, they should first adjust their diet and exercise. If diet and exercise adjustments are ineffective, topical medications such as enema can be used, which are relatively safe and will not have residual problems. Because these topical medications mainly act locally, they relieve constipation by stimulating rectal peristalsis and forming a defecation reflex. The drugs themselves will not be absorbed by the human body, so they will not have adverse effects on pregnant women.

Postpartum constipation can be prevented by remembering 3 points

1. Arrange a reasonable diet: To prevent postpartum constipation, pay attention to the dietary structure and eat more fiber-containing foods, such as vegetables and fruits.

2. Strengthen exercise after childbirth: Many women may take a confinement after childbirth. In fact, this is not only not conducive to postpartum recovery, but also leads to the occurrence of various postpartum diseases. Strengthen postpartum exercise, do not stay in bed for 1 month after childbirth, which slows down metabolism and easily causes constipation. Exercise appropriately, insist on doing postpartum health exercises, and develop a good habit of regular bowel movements.

3. Adjust your mood: Many new mothers will suffer from postpartum depression. Not only do they not feel happy about the birth of their baby, but they feel very bad because of it. In fact, this is a very bad omen. It is strongly recommended that new mothers should not stay in bed for a long time and stay indoors during the confinement period after giving birth.

Causes of postpartum constipation

1. During childbirth, the mother consumes a lot of energy, which directly leads to reduced intestinal motility and temporary weakness of the abdominal muscles. During childbirth, the baby presses the rectum, but after childbirth, the pressure suddenly disappears, the intestinal cavity expands reactively, and stool retention occurs. Due to the weakened gastrointestinal function during the postpartum period, intestinal motility is slow, and intestinal contents stay in the intestine for a long time, causing water absorption and resulting in dry stool.

2. The abdomen expands excessively during pregnancy, causing the abdominal muscles and pelvic floor tissues to relax, and the force of defecation to weaken.

3. After childbirth, the body is weak and the defecation force is weakened. Insufficient abdominal pressure makes it difficult to help defecation, so constipation often occurs after childbirth.

4. New mothers stay in bed for too long after giving birth and lack exercise, which leads to reduced intestinal motility and constipation. Women usually strengthen their nutrition to varying degrees during pregnancy and after giving birth. They consume too much high-protein and high-fat food, and lack fiber and water, which makes constipation more likely to occur. The diet structure is unreasonable, and they eat less vegetables and fruits. Excessive iron supplementation leads to excessive iron levels in the body, which can also lead to adverse consequences such as constipation.