Common causes of postpartum difficulty in defecation include:
1. Due to uterine enlargement in late pregnancy, the rectus abdominis and pelvic floor muscles are stretched or even partially torn; after childbirth, abdominal and pelvic floor muscles become lax and weak in contraction, reducing intra-abdominal pressure. Combined with weakened physical condition in postpartum women, they cannot rely on abdominal pressure to assist defecation, making bowel movements difficult.
2. In the first few days after delivery, women often rest in bed with reduced activity, affecting intestinal motility and making defecation difficult.
3. Diet in the early postpartum period is often monotonous, lacking fiber-rich foods, especially coarse fiber, which reduces stimulation to the digestive tract and weakens intestinal motility, thus impairing defecation.
After childbirth, women should engage in moderate activity and avoid prolonged bed rest. During the first two days, they should frequently change positions and sit up while eating. Starting from day three, they should get out of bed and move around. Secondly, diet should include more soups and fluids. Meals should include a proper proportion of whole grains, combining coarse and fine grains to diversify staple foods. Alongside meat and egg consumption, fresh vegetables and fruits rich in fiber should also be included. Thirdly, maintaining a cheerful mood and avoiding negative emotional stress is important, as poor emotions can reduce gastric acid secretion and slow down gastrointestinal motility.
If constipation has already occurred, use 60 grams each of black sesame seeds, walnut kernels, and honey. First crush the sesame seeds and walnut kernels into a paste, cook until ready, then mix in honey, divided into two doses taken daily. This helps lubricate the intestines and promote bowel movements. Alternatively, use 6 grams of senna leaves with an appropriate amount of rock sugar, steeped in boiling water and drunk frequently like tea. For those who do not respond well to these methods, take "Siwu Wuren Tang" (Four-Ingredient Five-Nutrient Decoction), which nourishes blood and moistens dryness to relieve constipation: Angelica sinensis and Rehmannia glutinosa 15 grams each, white peony root 10 grams, Ligusticum chuanxiong 5 grams, peach kernel, apricot kernel, hemp seed, prune kernel, and wax gourd seed 10 grams each. Decoct twice and divide into two doses.
<Postpartum Constipation>