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"&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;It really is not uncommon for moms to deal with constipation after birth. Constipation is just par for the course for most &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/postpartum-depression-in-moms-of-multiples-2447434&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;postpartum mothers&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; during recovery. For some, they may be surprised to be dealing with constipation after a pregnancy where it had not been an issue. For others, constipation is nothing new.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;What Can Cause Constipation After Birth:&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;This normal, yet annoying, discomfort can be caused by one of the several factors relating to what was happening to your body before, during, and/or after delivery. Consider if any of these descriptions might fit what you experienced during delivery. The first 2 points have to do with the fact that your tummy was basically empty, the final 3 are a reflection of medical procedures you may have experienced.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ol&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;I had a long labor with little food. (See: &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/should-we-eat-or-drink-in-labor-2752955&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Can I Eat During Labor?)&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;\u200B&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;I had a &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/will-i-have-a-bowel-movement-during-labor-2759010&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot;&amp;gt;bowel movement&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; or &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-an-enema-1942425&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot;&amp;gt;enema during labor&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;I had a c-section. (It can take up to 3-4 days for your digestive system to start working normally following this major surgery.)&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;I used pain relievers during delivery, or I am using them currently for postpartum pain relief. (Particularly &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/understanding-dehydration-as-a-headache-trigger-1719534&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot;&amp;gt;systemic narcotics&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; can slow down the digestive tract).&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;I have a sore perineum possibly caused by my &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/episiotomy-do-you-need-one-to-give-birth-2752793&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;6&amp;quot;&amp;gt;episiotomy&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; or by postpartum &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/hemorrhoids-after-birth-284551&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;7&amp;quot;&amp;gt;hemorrhoids&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. (In this case, most likely the constipation is not so much a physical problem as a mental one. You may fear tearing your stitches or fear more pain. That fear is causing you to retain your stool.)&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ol&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;How Long Might Constipation Last:&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Depending on the root cause of your constipation and the steps you take to treat it, it is very likely that it will resolve within a few days of giving birth. The important thing is to be proactive in treating constipation and follow the steps below.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;How Can Postpartum Constipation Be Treated:&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In most cases, you can treat your constipation at home with successful results. Here are some simple tips you should follow to both treat and prevent constipation.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Eat well. &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/why-your-body-needs-fiber-2505934&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;8&amp;quot;&amp;gt;High fiber foods&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; can be your best defense. Foods such as &amp;lt;a data-inlink=&amp;quot;95QeqfV0pTkx97eX0kBQ4A&amp;amp;#61;&amp;amp;#61;&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/whole-grains-wheat-bread-and-whole-grain-cereals-2633950&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;9&amp;quot;&amp;gt;whole grain&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; cereals and whole grain breads, &amp;lt;a data-inlink=&amp;quot;HLkS3ExEbRMydiZlB9Uj5Q&amp;amp;#61;&amp;amp;#61;&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/brown-rice-nutrition-information-for-babys-first-year-284323&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;10&amp;quot;&amp;gt;brown rice&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, beans, and fresh fruits and veggies are excellent fiber-rich foods.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Drink plenty of water, about 6-8 glasses a day. The fibery foods that you eat will absorb the water you drink, making your stools softer. (See also: &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/does-drinking-more-water-affect-breastfeeding-284285&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;11&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Does Drinking Water Increase Breast Milk Supply?)&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; &amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;If you have the urge to go, don&amp;amp;#39;t ignore it. As much as you may be fearing more pain, holding on to a bowel movement will only make the stool harder. Go when you sense you need to.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Take a stroll. This may seem intimidating, particularly if you are recovering from a c-section, but a little bit of exercise (even at a slow pace), can help loosen your bowels.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Ask your caregiver if you should be taking a stool softener. If you&amp;amp;#39;ve had a severe tear (third or fourth degree), in all likelihood you already started taking one. You may also need a softener if you are dealing with hemorrhoids, are taking iron supplements for anemia, or are on narcotics for pain relief.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;What About Hemorrhoids:&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Often times &amp;lt;a data-inlink=&amp;quot;sVSHKmR1r9jpo5V8LfzxIw&amp;amp;#61;&amp;amp;#61;&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/constipation-symptoms-2633456&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;12&amp;quot;&amp;gt;constipation&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; and hemorrhoids go hand-in-hand. If you are straining to pass a movement or if your stool is hard, it will likely worsen your hemorrhoids. Though hemorrhoids generally aren&amp;amp;#39;t severe, they are certainly not a pleasure cruise. &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;13&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Treating hemorrhoids&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; and following the above advice should clear things up for you within a week or two following the birth of your baby.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;When Should I &amp;lt;a data-inlink=&amp;quot;6BvDYcm5tWUTMIFRF-a3NQ&amp;amp;#61;&amp;amp;#61;&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/wondering-when-to-call-the-pediatrician-284412&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;14&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Call a Doctor&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;:&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In some cases, though not often, constipation is actually a symptom of a bigger problem. If your constipation persists or if you experience any of the additional symptoms below, contact your doctor or midwife immediately.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;You are having severe stomach pain.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;You are experiencing periods of both constipation and diarrhea.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;You are passing mucous or blood in your stool.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;You consider the rectal pain to be severe.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;You have a troubling amount of rectal bleeding.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<https://www.verywell.com/constipation-after-birth-284550>