Constipation in pregnancy

How I fought with constipation and flatulence in first trimester?

I had constipation even before I was pregnant. I used have a strong cup of coffee in the morning and that usually helped. But in pregnancy we can't have so heavily caffeinated drink. Also the nausea and vomiting created an aversion towards coffee in the first trimester. And the problem of constipation loomed large for me. I used to feel a lot of abdominal discomfort and cry out of the pain. My elder sis in law is also pregnant now for 2nd time, she gave me some useful tips and suggestions to deal with it. I took her advice and tried them out my way. So I am listing here whatever works for me.

1)Psyllium husk works wonders for me. I soak 2 tbsp. of psyllium husk in half glass of water overnight ( stir it after adding water). In the morning i add hot water to it, so that it becomes a full glass of luke warm water with fully soaked husks. I drink it even before brushing my teeth. If u feel vomiting because of its sliminess you can squeeze in half a lemon in the morning. You can also add mishri/ sugar to it in the night itself so that it gets properly dissolved. I have gdm so I avoid it. May be on the first day u will not be relieved. But by the 3rd day you will definitely be relieved. It will also help to calm the churning stomach and gassiness.

2) Fibre rich fruits are also of great help especially ripe bananas( the best one ) and apple. All green leafy vegetables are also good source of fibres like bhindi, parwal and drumsticks. You can check out interesting recipies of these vegetable on babychakra.

3)Oats and meuseli are also fibre rich. You can also try chia seeds soaked over night.

4)Chewing one tbsp. of ajwain completely in the mouth and then swallowing it with mouthful of water helps to reduce flatulence a lot.

5)Raw papaya- Eating raw papaya curry for dinner also relives constipation. But its controversial . As per the older ladies of the house and common belief papaya is to be avoided during pregnancy. But in Rujuta Diwakar ’s book ‘the pregnancy notes’, I found that she has tagged it as a myth and busted it. So about this I am not so sure yet I ate it when I was in lot of distress and nothing was working out.

Normally, I used to peel the skin of papaya and cut it into cubical pieces. Then I usually wash it off 2 to 3 times and pressure cook it with salt to taste and turmeric powder for 3 whistles. Then in a wok I would splutter some whole cumin seeds, paanch phoron, red chillies, a few curry leaves with oil. And then I add finely chopped onions to it followed by hing/ asafoetida. Once the onions become lightly golden I add 1 tsp. Of ginger garlic paste. Once the paste gets cooked properly by leaving oil from sides as well as its smell I add finely chopped tomatoes. I cover it and let it cook for 5 minutes on low to medium flame. Finally I just add the pressure cooked papaya to the wok and let it cook covered for another 10 mins. I usually garnish it with fresh finely chopped coriander leaves if available. This recipe cooks in very less oil and is very healthy for normal people also. But during the first trimester as I was having aversion to oil and onion ginger garlic paste, I just used to boil the papaya with salt and turmeric powder for 3 to 4 whistles and add 2 to 3 pinches of jeera and red chilli powder. This powder is prepared by dry roasting whole cumin seeds and red chillies and then grinding it roughly like small chilly flakes.

6)‘WATER’ is the hero of constipation remedies- I can't stress enough on how much it is important to have at least 4 to 5 litres of water per day during pregnancy. As without increasing water intake, whatever you do, you will never be relieved of constipation. Because all the extra fibre that you will ingest, will gain mass only by soaking up water in the gut which will make the stool soft and slimy yet heavier enough to give you the urge for defecation. It is more effective and better to keep luke warm water in a thermo flask and drink out of it the whole day. Caution is to remember that it should be luke warm only not at all hot.

Besides for constipation, it is also necessary to drink adequate water to maintain a healthy level of amniotic fluid through out the pregnancy. It will also keep the skin sufficiently hydrated which will keep stretchy feeling and itching at bay and even reduce the amount of stretch marks. It will prevent urinary tract infection.

It can be substituted with flavoured drinks like dahi chas, lemonade, home made fruit juices ( musambi juice) or even tender coconut water which will cater both for nausea and weakness also by providing some form of glucose. Instead of making fruit juices for fruits like apple, orange , grapes or mangoes its better to have these as whole fruits as it gives the benefit of the dietary fibres which is lost upon juicing it.

If it is still not relieved then u can try syp looze, or syp duphalac or syp cremaffin after CONSULTING your GYNAECOLOGIST.

Please add to the list how you have fought with it. #firsttrimesterwoes
#constipation