Can constipation cause back pain during pregnancy

Lower back pain with constipation: Relation, causes, and treatments

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Lower back pain and constipation can be symptoms of a single condition or unrelated symptoms that happen to occur at the same time. If both symptoms occur together, a person should contact a healthcare professional.

Lower back pain is widespread and usually resolves without treatment.

Constipation is also common, and people can usually treat it at home. However, if constipation and lower back pain occur together, a person should contact a doctor.

This article examines whether lower back pain can cause constipation. It also looks at conditions that cause both symptoms, potential individual causes, and treatment options.

Sometimes, the cause of lower back pain can lead to constipation. This can happen due to a tumor or growth.

According to the British charity Cancer Research UK, if a tumor presses on the nerves in the spinal cord, it can stop or slow down the movement of the bowel, leading to constipation.

The American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons states that growths and tumors in the colon can also cause constipation.

However, it is important to note that these are less likely to cause constipation, and anyone who has concerns should contact a doctor.

Constipation can lead to lower back pain. The pain occurs when the mass of feces presses on the nerves in the lower back, called the sacral nerves.

The following are examples of conditions that can cause both constipation and lower back pain at the same time:

Bowel obstruction: A bowel obstruction may occur due to a collection of hard stool in the intestine or because something presses on or constricts the bowel and prevents the stool from moving forward.
Endometriosis: In people with endometriosis, tissue similar to the tissue that normally lines the uterus starts to grow in other places in the body, including the fallopian tubes, ovaries, bowel, and bladder. A 2020 article notes that the most common symptoms include back pain, lower abdominal pain, and severe menstrual cramps.
Fibromyalgia: People with fibromyalgia typically experience increased sensitivity to pain, pain all over the body, problems sleeping, fatigue, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Lower back pain is a common symptom.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): IBD includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. These conditions can cause intestinal inflammation that leads to diarrhea and constipation. In addition, a 2019 article notes that IBD has an association with ankylosing spondylitis, an inflammatory arthritis that affects the spine.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): IBS symptoms often include constipation, diarrhea, or both, as well as abdominal bloating and cramping. Lower back pain can be a symptom of IBS.
Liver disorders: Liver disorders, such as cancer, cirrhosis, and hepatitis, can cause symptoms that include nausea, constipation, abdominal pain and swelling, and itching. The location of the back pain depends on the liver disorder. For example, researchers of a 2015 study found that lower back pain was a common symptom of cirrhosis. Back pain with liver inflammation typically occurs in the upper back on the right.
Pancreatic cancer: Pancreatic cancer does not usually cause symptoms in its earlier stages. However, as it progresses, a person may experience a range of symptoms, such as itching skin, back pain, abdominal pain, and digestive problems. Treatment for pancreatic cancer can cause constipation, leading to lower back pain when severe.
Other cancers: Cancers that have metastasized to the bone, such as breast cancer, can lead to back pain.

Learn about the differences between IBD and IBS here.

People should contact a doctor as soon as possible if they have constipation and experience lower back pain.

Other causes

Pregnancy can also cause lower back pain and constipation together. Lower back pain can occur due to the growing fetus adding additional pressure on the back, and increasing progesterone levels can lead to constipation.

Learn more about constipation and pregnancy here.

Aging can also lead to increased incidences of lower back pain and constipation. This can result from dietary choices, medications, and a lack of exercise, amongst other causes.

In addition, as a person ages, the disks in their back lose flexibility and fluid, which reduces their shock-absorbing abilities, thus contributing to back pain.

Learn about some of the foods that can cause constipation here.

Q:

How likely is it that sudden lower back pain and constipation are due to a form of cancer?

Anonymous

A:

Back pain is a very common ailment and is most likely related to a musculoskeletal issue. Cancers rarely start in the back, but they can spread from somewhere else to the back. This pain, however, is usually a gradually worsening pain. This is the same for constipation related to cancer. Typically constipation related to cancer is a gradual onset. Also, there will often be more signs once there is both back pain and constipation, such as weight loss, night sweats, and fatigue.

Angela M. Bell, MD, FACPAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Constipation causes can vary.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) notes that some causes of constipation include:

a diet low in fiber
dehydration
a lack of physical activity
pelvic floor disorders
irritable bowel syndrome and irritable bowel disease
obstructions in the bowel
medications that have constipation as a side effect
hypothyroidism, or a low-functioning thyroid

A person with a history of spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, or surgery on the colon may also be more prone to constipation than other people.

Learn more about constipation and its causes here.

Lower back pain can be acute, which is when the pain lasts a few weeks and resolves without treatment or chronic. Chronic lower back pain usually lasts for 12 weeks or longer.

Some causes of lower back pain include:

Herniated disk: A herniated or bulging disk occurs when one of the disks that provide cushioning between the bones in the spine starts to bulge outward. This disk then presses on the spinal nerves, which can cause lower back pain and discomfort.
Scoliosis and other skeletal problems: Scoliosis and lordosis, a spinal curve specific to the lower back, can cause lower back pain.
Spinal stenosis: Spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal bones start to narrow, usually due to injury or aging. The narrowing places extra pressure on the spinal nerves, which can cause pain and affect sensation.
Sprains: A sprain occurs when a person overstretches ligaments in their back, resulting in injury.
Strains: A strain occurs when a person tears a tendon or muscle in their back.
Spinal tumors: Spinal tumors can press on spinal nerves, resulting in pain and discomfort.
Radiculopathy: Lower back radiculopathy occurs when a nerve becomes compressed, irritated, or inflamed. Symptoms include pain, tingling, and numbness down one or both sides of the body.
Sciatica: Sciatica occurs due to compression of the sciatic nerve that travels down the buttocks to the leg. This is a form of radiculopathy.

Learn more about the causes of lower back pain here.

The NIDDK recommends that a person sees a doctor right away if they have lower back pain and constipation together or experiences frequent bouts of constipation or unexplained instances of lower back pain.

If lower back pain and constipation occur together due to a single underlying condition, a doctor will recommend an appropriate treatment.

In less serious cases, there are several things that a person can do at home to relieve constipation and lower back pain when they occur together:

Try nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): These drugs can help relieve pain. Examples of NSAIDs include ibuprofen and naproxen.
Engage in low-impact physical activity: According to 2019 research, exercise is an effective treatment option for constipation. Gentle exercises can also help treat lower back pain.
Drink plenty of water: Water can add bulk to the stool, making it softer and easier to pass.
Try over-the-counter stool softeners and laxatives: These make the stool easier to pass.
Eat more fiber: Although the body does not digest fiber, this nutrient can add bulk to stool. The increased bulk stimulates the intestines, making the stool move along the digestive tract more easily.
Apply cloth-covered heat or ice packs to the lower back: Applying hot or cold packs can help soothe inflamed muscles and ease pain.

If symptoms remain despite home treatments, a person should contact a doctor.

Learn the difference between laxatives and stool softeners here.

A healthcare professional may recommend the following to treat the causes of lower back pain and constipation.

Lower back pain and constipation are two conditions that may occur together due to a single condition or as a result of unrelated causes.

If the symptoms are severe or persist beyond a few weeks, a person should contact a doctor.

Lower Back Pain and Constipation: Is It Related?

Medically reviewed by Cynthia Taylor Chavoustie, MPAS, PA-C — By Tessa Sawyers — Updated on March 7, 2019

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Overview

If you’re having trouble passing stool on a regular basis, you may have constipation. Constipation is defined as having fewer than three bowel movements per week.

The blockage in your colon or rectum can cause a dull pain that extends from your abdomen to your lower back. Sometimes, back pain caused by a tumor or infection could have constipation as a side effect.

In other cases, lower back pain may not be related to constipation. Learning more about the causes of these conditions can help you determine if they’re related.

Constipation can be caused by numerous factors including your diet, physical activity, and stress. Minor constipation is commonly traced back to diet. Common causes of constipation include:

lack of fiber in diet
pregnancy or hormonal changes
dehydration
spinal or brain injuries
low level of physical activity
stress
certain medications

If the pain in your lower back is dull and you have constipation, it’s possible that your back pain and constipation are related. The backup of stool in your colon or rectum could be causing the discomfort in your back.

If your back pain is more severe, it could be due to a condition unrelated to your constipation such as:

irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
spinal cord injury
Parkinson’s disease
pinched nerve in the back
spinal tumor

If you’re experiencing severe back pain, be sure to consult with your doctor.

Treatment for constipation usually consists of dietary or lifestyle changes. You can also use laxatives or suppositories for short-term treatment.

Buy laxatives now.

Here are some common lifestyle changes that can help relieve constipation:

Add fiber to your diet. Whole grain breads and vegetables such as green beans, broccoli, and green peas will provide your body with the fiber it needs. Fiber will increase the ability of your stool to pass through your intestines.
Increase water intake. Being dehydrated can contribute to your constipation. Dry stool can be hard to pass. Try to drink 64 ounces of water a day.
Get regular exercise. Regular exercise will increase the use of your muscles. It also boosts activity in your intestines. If you’ve had prior issues with exercising, consult your doctor before starting a workout regimen.
Keep a schedule. If you try to use the bathroom around the same time every day, it increases the likelihood of your body having regular bowel movements.

While you’re treating the constipation, consider using over-the-counter pain medication and heating pads to relieve your back pain. If the constipation is successfully treated and the back pain remains, see your doctor about diagnosing the cause of your lower back discomfort.

If your symptoms are severe or do not go away after home-treatment, you should see a doctor.

If you’re experiencing any of the following, consult a doctor as soon as possible:

blood in your stool or around your rectum
sharp pain in your back
sharp pain in your abdomen
fever
vomiting

Dull lower back pain can be a symptom of constipation. Increasing the amount of fiber in your diet and your water intake will most likely help with your constipation. Over-the-counter laxatives and painkillers can often relieve your symptoms.

If you’re experiencing extreme pain, blood in your stool, or other worrying symptoms, you should visit your doctor to discuss your symptoms.

Last medically reviewed on August 23, 2018

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Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Chakiath RJ, et al. (2015). Descending pain modulation in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): A systematic review and meta-analysis.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4674951/
Constipation. (n.d.). >
medlineplus.gov/constipation.html
Gastrointestinal complications. (2018).
cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/constipation/GI-complications-pdq
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Constipation.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/constipation/symptoms-causes/syc-20354253
Symptoms & causes of constipation. (2018).
niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/constipation/symptoms-causes

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Medically reviewed by Cynthia Taylor Chavoustie, MPAS, PA-C — By Tessa Sawyers — Updated on March 7, 2019

Back pain with constipation. Fitomucil Norm

Pain in the lower back with constipation
Pain in the lower back with constipation. Phytomucil Norm
Can the lower back hurt with constipation? Why, due to constipation, the lower abdomen and lower back are pulled - we understand the article. Phytomucil Norm.
Fitomucil Norm

Violation of the defecation process is accompanied by many symptoms. Doctors identify several main ones: rare and / or difficult bowel movements, the need for straining, fragmented dense feces. However, there are other, non-specific, manifestations of constipation: back pain, as well as aching pain in the lower abdomen. What is it connected with?

Causes of pain

Pain in the lower abdomen is most often associated with the accumulation of feces in the intestines. Feces lead to stretching of the walls of the intestine, compress the nerve endings, in connection with which there are cutting, aching, spasmodic pains. Feces are more inclined to stagnate in the blind, sigmoid, rectum - the lower sections. Dense feces irritate the mucous membranes and lead to microdamages. The lower back hurts with constipation for the same reason: the accumulation of feces leads to squeezing of the surrounding tissues. However, there are other possible reasons, we will consider each of them in more detail.

Muscle pain

Constipation is accompanied by the need for straining. One of the criteria for determining functional constipation is straining in at least a quarter of bowel movements. The tension of the abdominal muscles can be constant. The resulting pain is akin to sensations after a good workout: both the stomach and lower back can hurt.

Pain in the lumbar muscles with constipation

Pain during pregnancy

Constipation often persists throughout pregnancy. At the same time, the load on the internal organs of a woman increases: the growing uterus and accumulated feces compress the tissues, causing pain in the back muscles. The situation is aggravated by the load on the spine as the fetus grows.

Comorbidities

Pain in the abdomen and lower back with constipation is sometimes associated with certain diseases. Difficult defecation in some cases is only one of the symptoms of various diseases of the digestive system and not only.

The combination of problems with emptying and pain in the lower abdomen and lower back is sometimes the result of certain diseases:

chronic inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs: salpingo-oophoritis, periadnexitis, etc.;
benign formations, such as ovarian cysts;
problems from the organs of the urinary system: tumors of the bladder, pyelonephritis, pyeloectasia, etc. ;
pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract: colitis, diverticulosis, polyposis;
connective tissue diseases: dermatopolymyositis, systemic scleroderma;
disorders of the nervous system: multiple sclerosis, tumors of the nervous tissue, post-traumatic injuries, etc.

We see that the combination of constipation and pain indicates many pathologies, and they are not always associated with intestinal disorders. It is important to understand that acute pain is a reason to get urgent medical attention. With aching, moderate pain, it is necessary to visit a doctor as planned. If there is reason to suspect an illness, it is important to consult a therapist. He will refer you for further examination or recommend visiting a specialist with a narrow profile. Do not ignore periodic medical examinations and always pay attention to general well-being.

Intoxication

If it pulls the lower abdomen and lower back with constipation, and the state of health leaves much to be desired, perhaps this is a manifestation of intoxication. Signs of poisoning develop as the duration of the presence of feces in the body increases. So, with a three-day or four-day constipation, pronounced symptoms make themselves felt:

sweating;
weakness;
dizziness;
severe pain in the muscles, different areas of the abdomen;
nausea;
loss of appetite.

In some people, the body temperature rises slightly, up to 37-37.5 ° C. Muscle pain is a fairly common manifestation of intoxication.

Complications of constipation

The consequences of problems with emptying consist in poisoning with substances that the body normally seeks to get rid of along with feces. In some cases, violation of defecation occurs more than once, but occurs episodically or constantly. Chronic constipation causes long-term exposure to toxins.

Dense feces injure the intestinal mucosa, often leading to microtrauma, protrusion of the intestine (diverticulosis), and inflammatory diseases. The rectum also suffers: non-healing anal fissures and hemorrhoids appear, the risk of proctitis and paraproctitis increases. Chronic constipation is a risk factor for colorectal cancer.

When constipation hurts the lower abdomen and lower back, many resort to taking painkillers. And if a single dose, most likely, will not have health consequences, then the constant uncontrolled use of analgesics or antispasmodics is fraught with complications. Antispasmodics cause muscle relaxation, which, with atonic constipation, will aggravate the problem.

Harm from uncontrolled intake of pills for back pain against constipation

Many analgesics affect the mucous membranes of the stomach, liver, and kidneys. Therefore, it is important not to mask the symptom, but to deal with the main problem - impaired defecation.

When to see a doctor

With pain of any intensity and origin, it is necessary to consult a doctor. But there are cases when medical assistance should be provided immediately. Urgent referral to a specialist is necessary in cases where constipation radiates to the lower back and / or lower abdomen and the following symptoms are observed:

high body temperature;
bloody discharge from the rectum, urethra;
vomiting;
severe dizziness.

Any signs that are atypical for constipation require an urgent diagnosis.

How to relieve pain

There are several ways to help yourself at home.

Lumbar massage. It is necessary to gently and gently rub the lumbar region. Do it on your own or with the help of another person. Massage only if the pain is not related to muscle inflammation or a herniated lumbar spine.
Physical education. Not earlier than an hour after eating, you can do the usual 15-minute exercise: squats, bends, exercise "bike".
Correct body position. You need to lie with your back on a semi-hard surface, bend your legs at the knees, put them on a support at an angle of 90 degrees. Another option is the position on the side with bent legs and a small pillow between the knees.

It is not necessary to stop back pain after constipation with antispasmodics. Experts do not recommend taking analgesics either: these drugs will blur the real picture of the disease, and if you need urgent medical attention, the doctor will not be able to immediately make an accurate diagnosis. Consult a therapist, make sure that there is no serious pathology and consult which drug should be taken in such cases.

Get rid of bowel problems

Natural British drug is not addictive and acts immediately

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Treatment features: laxatives

The removal of constipation-related pain in the lower abdomen and lower back is achieved by eliminating their main cause. Laxatives can help relieve constipation. You need to choose them responsibly: give up drugs that are addictive. These include laxatives based on senna.

The doctor will help you choose the right drug. He will take into account the general state of health, the cause of constipation, age and other characteristics of the patient. Some remedies have strict contraindications, so it is better not to resort to self-medication.

According to the mechanism of action, several groups of laxatives are distinguished:

agents that chemically irritate intestinal mucosal receptors;
preparations causing mechanical irritation of intestinal receptors;
medicines that soften the stool and make it easier to pass through the intestines.

In terms of effectiveness, laxative, medium-strength and drastic drugs are distinguished. The first option in many cases is optimal, since it stimulates bowel emptying with feces close in consistency to normal.

With laxatives, you need to be especially careful: they cause violent intestinal motility, multiple loose stools. This is fraught with electrolyte disturbances, dehydration, protein loss and other serious complications.

Herbal laxatives are considered the best option in cases where long-term constipation therapy is required. One of the effective herbal remedies is the British drug Fitomucil Norm. It does not contain senna, so it is not addictive. The action of the drug is based on the shell of psyllium psyllium seeds and the pulp of domestic plum fruit: natural ingredients contribute to softening and natural, gentle excretion of feces.

Vegetable fibers turn into a slimy gel, which contributes to delicate emptying. The tool restores normal stool predictably, does not cause pain and spasms.

Plum-based herbal laxatives - a method to combat constipation

Power Features

If constipation pulls the lower back, it is important to observe a special diet. This will help to cope with the main problem and reduce pain.

You will not have to adjust your diet for a few days - you need to stick to a diet for a long time. Fortunately, you don't need to give up most of the products. There are several principles to follow:

Eat less and more often. Divide the daily amount of food into 5-6 meals. The interval between meals is about 2 hours.
Chew your food more thoroughly and longer and try not to snack on the run.
Include in your diet foods rich in dietary fiber, as well as dairy products and sauerkraut - they contain bifidobacteria and lactobacilli.

Give up crackers, rice, pastries, food with a lot of preservatives. It is better to limit the use of peppered, spicy foods. Give preference to steamed or boiled foods.

Methods of prevention

To prevent constipation and associated pain, use the following recommendations. Motor activity is the best prevention of congestion: try to take breaks more often, accustom yourself to morning exercises.

Movement is the basis for the prevention of constipation and pain

To stimulate the process of digestion will allow compliance with the diet and the constant use of fiber. Favorably affect peristalsis fresh vegetables and fruits, wholemeal bread, cereals, flax seeds. You should drink at least 1.5 liters of fluid per day. In the hot season, the amount of water you drink can be increased.

Restraining the urge to defecate is very harmful. Try to organize your day in such a way that you can easily go to the toilet as needed. Otherwise, the risk of constipation will be high.

It is important to consult your doctor about back pain associated with constipation. There may be certain limitations, and only a specialist will tell you how to deal with the problem. The article is for informational purposes only. The authors are not responsible for the quality of services provided by third parties and for possible complications.

References

Baimukhambetov Zh. Zh. Outpatient treatment of chronic constipation // Journal of the National Scientific Center of Surgery named after. A.N. Syzganov. - 2010. - No. 1. — S. 19−20.
Plotnikova E.Yu., Krasnov K.A. Constipation should be treated // Medical Council. - 2018. - No. 14. — S. 61−66.
Minushkin O. N. Functional constipation: recommendations for diagnosis and treatment // BC "Gastroenterology". - 2016. - No. 11. - S. 703−707.

Baymukhambetov Zh. Zh. Outpatient treatment of chronic constipation // Journal of the National Scientific Center of Surgery named after. A.N. Syzganov. - 2010. - No. 1. — S. 19−20.
Plotnikova E. Yu., Krasnov K. A. Constipation should be treated // Medical Council. - 2018. - No. 14. — S. 61−66.
Minushkin O. N. Functional constipation: recommendations for diagnosis and treatment // BC "Gastroenterology". - 2016. - No. 11. - S. 703−707.

Delicate question. Intestinal problems during pregnancy

It's no secret that during pregnancy, women have to deal with all sorts of ailments: toxicosis, convulsions, increased urination, and frequent unmotivated mood swings. .. All the organs and systems of the expectant mother experience an increased load. It is not easy for the digestive system.

The most common problems during pregnancy in this area include constipation, hemorrhoids, heartburn, as well as indigestion and associated bloating, diarrhea, increased gas production, discomfort and pain. Even if the overtaken disease does not pose a danger to the health of mother and baby, it can deliver a lot of discomfort, significantly reducing the quality of life. And that means you can’t let ailments take their own course!

Constipation

From a medical point of view, constipation is the absence of stool for three or more days. The act of defecation in this case, as a rule, is difficult, accompanied by painful sensations. Frequent companions of constipation can be pain in the abdomen, a feeling of incomplete emptying of the intestines, bloating, nausea, bitterness in the mouth.

Where is the problem? One of the reasons provoking violations of the natural bowel movement is hormonal changes in the body. The hormone progesterone, against which pregnancy proceeds, has a relaxing effect on the muscles of the intestine, which helps to slow down the movement of feces. Over time, the growing uterus begins to put pressure on the intestines, which impairs its motor function, further exacerbating the problem. Malnutrition also contributes - it is known that during this period, expectant mothers change their taste preferences, and their appetite increases. Experts do not deny the psychological nature of constipation. The fears that expectant mothers are subject to, an unstable emotional background can also contribute to the development of constipation.

What to do? The main method of dealing with constipation should be the correction of the diet. In no case should you allow large intervals between meals, as well as overeating. It is mandatory to include daily in your diet products that enhance intestinal motility: bread with bran, raw vegetables and fruits (especially apples, carrots, pumpkin), dried fruits, buckwheat, barley and oatmeal, meat with a lot of connective tissue, dairy products containing bifidobacteria. It is important to ensure adequate fluid intake in the body. Preference should be given to non-carbonated drinking water, as well as non-clarified juices with pulp rich in fiber (apricot, peach, etc.). In the morning on an empty stomach it is useful to drink a glass of raw cold water with the addition of a spoonful of honey.

Avoid foods that cause constipation. These include flour, sweet, salty, spicy, smoked, fried, etc. It is recommended to exclude from the diet foods that cause increased gas formation: legumes, cabbage, onions, garlic, radishes, radishes, apple and grape juices.

Please note that laxatives are rarely prescribed during pregnancy, as by increasing intestinal motility they can tone the uterus. However, in some cases it is better to resort to medical treatment than to suffer from constant constipation that threatens to lead to the development of hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are varicose veins in the anus. According to statistics, more than 50% of expectant mothers have to face this problem during pregnancy.

The main symptoms of this unpleasant pathology include mucous discharge, pain, burning, itching and discomfort in the anus. There may also be pain during bowel movements, the appearance of blood in the feces.

Clinical manifestations of the disease also depend on its stage. At the 1st stage, a woman, as a rule, does not bother anything, hemorrhoids do not come out or come out a little when straining. At the 2nd stage, the nodes come out when straining, but they are independently set back. When the disease is started before the 3rd stage, hemorrhoids come out and do not go back.

If a woman does not have any complaints, then during an external examination, the doctor can only diagnose hemorrhoids of the 2nd stage, since only then is the inflammatory process visible. To make a diagnosis at the 1st stage of the disease, the doctor relies on the patient's complaints and examination of the rectum.

Where is the problem? Well, of course, hormones are to blame again! All the same hormones of the progesterone series have an antispasmodic effect: they relax all organs, including veins. In addition, during pregnancy, the blood supply to the uterus increases, and, as a result, blood flow to the pelvic area. Yes, and the gradual growth of the fetus contributes to the fact that its head presses on the vessels and impairs blood flow.

Since the volume of circulating blood and its clotting ability increase significantly during pregnancy, thrombosis of any localization can become a very formidable complication!

What to do? Treatment of hemorrhoids depends on the stage of the disease. If we are talking about little symptomatic hemorrhoids of the 1st and 2nd stages, then in most cases it is enough to solve the problem of constipation by adjusting the diet and resorting to physical exercises.

In uncomplicated hemorrhoids of the 2nd and 3rd stages, the patient most often has to be hospitalized, but without surgical intervention. Complicated hemorrhoids with bleeding require surgical intervention, but the disease rarely reaches such an advanced state.

Of course, the disease is easier to prevent than to treat. Avoiding hemorrhoids is easy. To do this, you need to monitor regular bowel movements - at least once, and preferably twice a day. Ideally, it should happen at the same time. After each act of defecation, be sure to wash yourself using soap and cold water. A large role in the prevention of constipation is the rejection of a sedentary lifestyle. Moderate physical activity - special exercises for pregnant women, walking, swimming - will help you avoid many problems. Kegel exercises are also useful - drawing in and relaxing the muscles of the perineum and anus.

Proper balanced nutrition should be singled out as a separate item in the prevention of hemorrhoids.

Heartburn

Heartburn is a burning sensation in the upper abdomen, sometimes extending to the esophagus and throat, caused by the reflux of acidic stomach contents into the esophagus. In addition, heartburn may be accompanied by flatulence, nausea, belching, and an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Usually a feeling of discomfort occurs after eating or in the supine position.

Where is the problem? Unfortunately, heartburn is a frequent companion of pregnancy. Under the influence of progesterone already known to us, the smooth muscles of the sphincter located between the stomach and the esophagus relax, which contributes to the reflux of the contents of the stomach into the esophagus. In the second half of pregnancy, the problem is further aggravated by the fact that the growing uterus presses on the stomach.

Overeating, insufficient chewing of food, malnutrition can also provoke heartburn.

What to do? To combat heartburn, experts recommend paying attention to your diet. Firstly, nutrition should be fractional: you need to eat often and in small portions. Secondly, you should give up too fatty foods (especially meat and fish), carbonated drinks, fresh bread, muffins, black coffee, as well as sour and spicy foods. After eating for 30-40 minutes, you can not take a horizontal position. To relieve the symptoms of heartburn, your doctor may recommend taking antacids.

Intestinal disorder

Intestinal disorder is most commonly referred to as banal diarrhea. However, depending on the severity of the disorder, it may be accompanied by vomiting, abdominal pain, bloating, fever, symptoms of intoxication of the body (pallor of the skin, weakness, sweating, etc.).

Where is the problem? Intestinal upset can be caused by two main causes. The first is power supply errors. As we have already noted, during pregnancy, taste preferences often change significantly, appetite increases. As a result, overeating and combining incompatible foods may well cause indigestion with subsequent upset. The second reason is related to the infectious factor, that is, the penetration of pathogenic bacteria into the body, for example, through the use of poor-quality food.

What to do? If the symptoms of the disorder are minor and not associated with a bacterial nature, it will be enough to temporarily limit the diet, drink as much liquid as possible. Most likely, the doctor will prescribe a therapeutic diet. To alleviate the condition, you can take activated charcoal and an antispasmodic.

If the intestinal disorder is caused by a bacterial infection, serious medications cannot be dispensed with. In any case, only a doctor can determine the nature of the disease - in this case, self-medication is not worth it.

To avoid bowel disorders, it is enough to follow some simple rules. Remember that pregnancy is not the best time to experiment with new foods and explore exotic dishes - try to stick to your usual foods. Wash vegetables, fruits and berries thoroughly in warm water before use. Carefully study the expiration dates of the products, observe the conditions of their storage. If you doubt the look, smell or taste of a product, don't risk it - send it home.