Laxatives And Pregnancy
Laxatives and Pregnancy: A Recipe for Trouble?
Researchers warn that laxatives and pregnancy are a toxic combination as the increased bowel movement may cause a premature birth or even a miscarriage. Nonetheless, pregnancy is very straining to a woman’s body and congestion is not an unusual reaction to the disrupted hormonal balance. But what can women do ease the pain while avoiding the dangerous mixture of laxatives and pregnancy?
Congestion is caused by the abnormal amount of female hormones in the body which are often resulting in some sort of discomfort and the symptoms vary from woman to woman. It is not a secret that pregnant women cannot take all types of medicine because whatever they eat, drink or take in also affects the foetus.
Often enough, women experience infrequent bowel movements, hard and painful defecation and a bloated stomach (not caused by the size of the foetus of course). This can be very unpleasant especially when dealing with pregnancy and all the other body changes that come with it. Laxatives that are available in pharmacies should not be taken under any circumstances. There are a few things that you can do instead of taking laxatives, and pregnancy issues can generally be resolved by simple preventive methods. Firstly, it is important to drink lots of fluid. They are not only crucial for overall health, but they will also soften defecation and ease the pain. Try to eat a lot of raw vegetables and fruits, especially plums and figs.
Fibre is also very helpful as it loosens up the consistency and makes the ‘passing’ process much easier. It is important to develop a diet that prevents congestion for a long period of time because laxatives are meant for short-term issues while pregnancy is a 9-month adventure. Drinking about three litres a day will not only support a healthy bowel system, but it will also reduce the very common ‘hunger attacks’ that many women experience during pregnancy. Hearty, heavy and spicy meals can cause congestion as well as large amounts of food. The ‘I’m eating for two’ attitude is simply false because a small little foetus does not have the appetite or stomach of an adult, thus you must avoid eating more than you actually need.
There are several herbal remedies that you may want to try, but there are also several prescription medications that your doctor can tell you about. Many herbal teas are a great way to support an irritated bowel, especially camomile and fennel. Dried fruits can also be very effective and will cause no harm to the little one. While exercise during pregnancy is often rough, you must stay active by walking and going for a stroll. Physical activity aides digestion and will ensure a more regular and comfortable bowel movement.
Laxatives and pregnancy are a troublesome combination because of the active agents in laxatives that will harm a foetus.
Your baby has no immune system yet, it may not even have a bowel yet! Thus, medication of the invasive kind can be life threatening for your baby and you must remember that you are not only responsible for yourself at this point, but you also have somebody else’s life in your hands. Always bear in mind that the suggested adult amount of laxatives is way too much for a little baby, especially when it is still developing. If drinking and a change of diet do not help, you may want to seek a doctor who will be able to give you further advice. There are a variety of prescription medicines that contain different types of seeds and can be taken by pregnant women.