Infant constipation remedies
Pregnancy Constipation Remedies – Safe Relief for Constipated Mommies
Pregnancy is a delicate stage for both the mother and the unborn child. As a mother, you must do all the safety precautions available just to ensure your health and of your baby. Constipation is one of the many complications that may arise during pregnancy. Because of the added weight in the woman’s body, bowel movement becomes a challenge. Pregnancy constipation remedies can help address the situation and make you feel better.
Preventing and treating pregnancy constipation
Constipation during pregnancy can be attributed to various factors. They could be because of stress, anxiety for the health of the baby, lack of physical exercise, and low-fiber diet. Hormonal change is also a culprit since pregnant women have varying levels of hormones in their body. This change can make the intestinal muscles relax and cause bowels to move slower.
How can you prevent constipation? Here are some pregnancy constipation remedies that can address your health concern:
1. Load up on water
Water remains to be one of the most effective pregnancy constipation remedies safe for pregnant women. If you sweat a lot, move a lot, or if the weather is too hot, you need to increase your fluid intake. Drink at least 12 cups of water every day. This will help soften your stools.
2. Enrich your diet
It is expected that you eat healthily during your pregnancy. Vegetables and fruits contain the right amounts of dietary fiber that can help pass your stool easily. Rather than taking in fiber supplements, it is best if you get your fiber needs from natural sources. Moreover, vegetables and fruits contain important vitamins and minerals good for the health of your baby.
3. Reduce iron intake
Iron is recommended for pregnant women. But if you suspect that your iron medication makes you constipated, you need to reduce your intake of it. If you receive good nutrition, this will most likely meet your iron needs during pregnancy. This is one of the best pregnancy constipation remedies that can help you out. Talk to your obstetrician about it. More often than not, your doctor will conduct several tests to check your iron levels. Your physician will also make the necessary recommendations to manage your intake of iron.
4. Exercise regularly
You do not need to run around or jog for hours, even simple brisk walking will do. Such exercises will stimulate proper bowel movement. Aside from walking, you can swim, do pre-natal yoga, and others.
There are a lot of pregnancy constipation remedies that can make you feel better. But if you are going to take in medicines, try to check with your doctor. Never self-medicate as it may have negative effects to your unborn baby’s health.
Constipation Remedies for Children – Medications You Can Rely On
As a parent, it is very difficult to see your child suffering from constipation. Seeing your child strain and experience dry and hard stools can be very challenging. Good thing, there are a lot of things that you can do. There are constipation remedies for children that can help address this health concern.
Before you look for constipation remedies for children, the first thing that you need to do is to consult with your family doctor. Depending on the circumstances, your child’s physician may recommend any of the following:
- Laxatives – Also known as enema, laxatives are over-the-counter drugs that your child can take. They can prompt bowel movement by increasing the lubrication inside your anus. Laxatives can soften the stool. Some of the more commonly used laxatives or enema includes drugs that contain polyethylene oil and mineral oil. For parents with newborns, use of laxatives is discouraged and should be checked first with a doctor.
- Fiber supplements – Lack of dietary fiber can lead to hard and dry stools. You can get fiber from vegetables and fruits, but you have the option to make use of supplements. Fiber can come in any form. There are capsules and even fiber-enriched tea and juices. You can give these to your child to treat constipation.
- Stool softeners – Stool softeners are readily available at most drugstores. You can ask the pharmacist to guide you in which brand to buy and use for your child. The dosage will depend on the age of the patient.
- Suppositories – Suppositories are gel-like tubes that you insert in the anal opening. They aid in proper excretion by prompting the bowel to move out of the body.
It is vital for parents to take time and learn all about constipation remedies for children. This will allow them to relieve their children of the burden and prevent other complications brought about by constipation.
Understanding Constipation and the Different Constipation Remedies for Adults
Constipation is a condition wherein the feces or stools become difficult and painful to pass through the anus. It changes and usually increases the usual pattern of going to the comfort room. Since constipation mostly affects the elderly persons, many individuals look for effective constipation remedies for adults.
There are numerous factors that can cause constipation
- This can be due to insufficient intake of water and other fluid needed by the body. Failure to eat fiber rich foods as well as taking some special slimming diets which are low in fiber are also another reason why many individuals suffer from constipation.
- There are also some cases wherein a person suffers from this condition as a side-effect of taking medicines. Some of these medications are the painkillers, particularly those that contain codeine like co-codamol or morphine, some antidepressants like amitriptyline, antacids, and even iron supplements.
Furthermore, there are several medical conditions that can actually cause constipation. These conditions include:
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Underactive thyroid resulting to insufficient hormone
- Some guts disorders and other conditions that contribute to poor mobility especially among adults.
There are also some unknown causes that affect many people despite the fact that they drink a lot of fluid, have a good balanced diet and are physically healthy.
Pregnancy also makes most women to become constipated. This is normally due to the hormonal changes that weaken the gut movement as well as the growing baby that occupy a bigger space in the tummy.
Unlike with other medical conditions, there is no need to undergo clinical tests to determine if the person suffers from constipation since the symptoms are very usual. But in some cases, tests maybe recommended to determine the constipation remedies for adults. This is possible if the condition is acute and is not relieved through laxative medication, or if regular constipation is a new symptom and there is no evident cause like changes in lifestyle, diet or medication. Tests are also strongly advised when other symptoms develop such as passing blood from your bowel, bouts of diarrhea, night-time symptoms, weight loss, a family history of inflammatory bowel disease (called Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), or colon cancer, and other unexplainable symptoms accompanied by constipation.
Suffering from constipation can be a very difficult and uncomfortable situation to deal with. However, there is a multitude of constipation remedies for adults that can help avoid and eliminate the pain.
The most important measure is to eat foods that are rich in fiber (roughage). Fiber is a component of plant food that stays in the gut and adds softness and bulk to the feces enabling you to move your bowel much easier. Foods that contain plenty of fiber include vegetables and fruits such as banana, apple, orange, pear, large slice of pineapple or melon, plums, satsumas and others; brown rice, whole meal pasta or spaghetti; whole meal or whole wheat bread, biscuits and flour; wholegrain breakfast cereals such as weetabix, muesli, All-Bran, Shredded Wheat or Bran Flakes.
Another important constipation remedies for adults is to drink plenty of water and other fluid every day. It is recommended to drink at least 8-10 cups or 2 litres of water to soften the stools. However, alcoholic drinks are not advisable as they cause dehydration and are not good for the body.
Sorbitol is also another effective constipation remedies for adults. It is a naturally occurring sugar that draws water into the gut and makes the stools soft. It also acts as a natural osmotic laxative enabling you to move bowel easily. Fruits that contain high level of sorbitol include apricots, grapes, apples, pears, gooseberries, prunes, peaches, strawberries, and raspberries.
To avoid suffering from constipation, it is very important not to suppress the feeling of needing to toilet. Remember that ignoring this feeling may result to backlog of feces which makes it more difficult to release the bowel later on. Besides, going to the toilet should never be made hurriedly. You need to spend enough time to make sure that you can empty your bowel comfortably. Going to the toilet first thing in the morning or about 30 minutes after a meal is advisable since the propulsion of the stools through the lower bowel is greater.
For elderly people, positioning on the toilet is also significant. Squatting is considered as the best position to pass stools easily and comfortably. A small footstool can be placed under the foot. Then, relax, lean forward and put the elbows on the thighs. Avoid straining or even holding your breathe while toileting.
Lastly, having a regular exercise is an effective constipation remedies for adults. This is one of the reasons why most bed-bound and disabled persons are many likely to suffer from constipation. So, if you are a normal person you should remain physically active most of the times.
Infant Constipation Remedies – Ways to Relieve Constipation in Babies
Your baby has not passed bowel for more than three days – is this normal? Is this constipation? Yes. Just like adults, infants need to excrete their feces at least once a day. Proper excretion lessens episodes of stomach pain and at the same time promotes healthy digestion of milk and solids.
All babies suffer from constipation. Crying, stomach pain, and straining are all signs that your baby is constipated. There are many reasons for experiencing baby constipation, and they include the following:
- Lack of water – Water is needed by the body for many reasons. One of which is to help pass stool easily. Babies who are not properly hydrated are at risk for constipation.
- Milk formula – Babies who are fed with formula milk are more constipated than babies who are breastfed. If this is the problem, you can try to switch your baby’s formula with a lactose free milk powder.
How to solve constipation?
Constipation can be easily addressed by hydrating your baby. Make him/her drink lots of water, especially after a heavy meal. Aside from that, you can try:
- Adding prune juice – A small amount of diluted prune juice can be added to your baby’s milk. Prunes can help soften your baby’s stool to lessen straining on his/her part. You can do this twice a day until your baby excretes the feces.
- Tummy rub – If your baby is too young to take in juices, you can try to rub his/her belly. Use your fingertips and massage his/her tummy in a clockwise motion.
- Use suppository – One of the most effective ways to stimulate feces excretion is to use a suppository. Insert this gently to the rectum to encourage contraction of bowels.
Baby constipation is a common problem among parents. These are just some of the basic remedies. But when it comes to medications like laxatives, remember to consult with a pediatrician first before letting your child take in medicines to relieve constipation. This category will give you insights and tips on how to treat constipation on infants. Continue to read on and learn the safe and effective infant constipation remedies for your child.