Much to my horror, not only did my backside become as broad as the Rio Grande, thanks to the oestrogen produced to lay fat onto my hips and thighs in preparation for breastfeeding my baby, but I also experienced the very unpleasant, infamous constipation followed by, even worse, a small haemorroid! This small haemorroid then became a larger one after the intense, purple faced pushing that is necesssary to get your little bundle out into the world. One of my closest friends quite literally burst the blood vessels on her cheeks with the effort!
Luckily for me it disappeared fairly quickly with the help of some aptly named cream given to me by the midwife at the hospital. That is definitely a tube of cream you relegate to the bottom of your sock drawer!
However, both these conditions can be eased during pregnancy by making a few simple changes to your diet.
Do:
Drink more water-this helps to shift toxins and hydrate your body making it easier to shift waste products
Eat more fruit-Pears in particular have a high fibre content, so add one of those a day to your menu
Eat more vegetables-Green leafy vegetables also have a high fibre content and plant fibre is far more effective at making your colon function properly then grain based fibre
Eating cold wholewheat pasta is a very good colon cleanser and with some blanched verggies followed by a pear for dessert, you colon will be much the happier.
Eat more beans-these also have a high fibre content and occassionaly adding a bean salad to your lunch or evening meal can also help things to move along nicely. Bear in mind, introduce little portions, as they do cause wind as I am sure you know!
Don't:
Eat lots of ready meals or processed foods
Eat lots of baked goods like white breads, pastas, cakes and bisuits as these have little or no fibre content and are a sure fire way to block you up.
The reason you are more prone to constipation is that there is an increase in the levels of progesterone produced by the body. This in turn loosens the smooth muscle in preparation for the birth and includes making your gut slow and lazy. Then, because the increased progestrone also relaxes your blood vessels, you are more prone to haemorroids as the weight of your growing baby increases culminating in the pushing to give birth.
So in a nutshell while it can be difficult to avoid both of these things, you certainly can make simple changes to your diet that will benefit both you and your baby.
Fern Joseph is a mother of three who is passionate about pregnancy and general nutrition. For your FREE Pregnancy Diary visit her website at Fit Healthy Pregnancy
Tags: family, pregnancy, pregnant, birth, constipation, family planning, piles, haemorroid, haemorroid cure