Is it possible for pregnant women to give an enema; features of the procedure

This unpleasant procedure does not happen often in life, but an enema can contribute to an effective procedure in the form of treatment or relief. Enemas can also be useful for infants. Can pregnant women have an enema if they are constipated? This issue still needs to be addressed.

Enemas are recommended by many doctors during pregnancy. It needs to be done because during pregnancy, women often have difficulty emptying their bowels on their own. But, an enema for pregnant women can be useful in other situations.

When you doubt whether a pregnant woman needs to undergo the procedure, you need to pay attention to the following things:

• How is the pregnancy going?
• gestational age;
• what condition is the woman’s body in?
• How does your doctor feel about enemas?

Giving an enema to a pregnant woman is a fairly strict solution for constipation. An enema cleanses the colon, but the problem remains. The manipulation can be repeated no earlier than after 7 days.

Indications for use

An enema is a manipulation in which water or special medications are injected into the rectum to empty the intestines.

Pregnant women are allowed to undergo an enema only after the gynecologist has given consent.

In many situations, problems need to be solved in other ways - using rectal suppositories and a corrective diet. Pregnant women are prescribed enemas when they have persistent difficulty defecating while taking other medications, which do not produce any results.

Constipation is a condition in which the intestines do not have bowel movements for more than 3 days. Stool accumulates in the intestines, which releases toxins into the body and causes discomfort and pain in the abdomen.

With constipation, stool becomes dark and hard; you need to make an effort to stool. After visiting the toilet, there remains a feeling of incomplete emptying, which leads to discomfort.

Constant constipation brings with it a number of problems for the body, both the pregnant woman and the child.

Prevention of constipation in pregnant women

To avoid problems with bowel movements during pregnancy, you need to follow these simple recommendations:

• During pregnancy, it is recommended to combine the principles of a rational and balanced diet with the introduction of products with a laxative effect. Healthy oatmeal and buckwheat, beets, zucchini, cabbage, herbs, dried fruits. Don't forget about fermented milk products with live cultures, which have a positive effect on the digestive process.
• If there is no swelling, then during the day you can safely drink water, teas, decoctions, compotes. Teas with fennel, decoctions of prunes, apple and beet juices that are beneficial for digestion.
• Even during pregnancy you need to lead an active lifestyle, of course, if there is no threat of miscarriage. Aqua aerobics, fitness, and dancing were invented especially for pregnant women.

Contraindications

Any type of procedure increases intestinal motility, which also refers to the contraction of active muscles of the uterus.
In the first months of pregnancy, when giving an enema, tone may appear; in recent months, the existing tone may increase. Therefore, pregnancy is the first contraindication for an enema. There are other reasons why it is forbidden to give an enema to pregnant women, including the use of suppositories and laxatives.

The consequences can be different: from improper positioning of the uterus to miscarriage. General contraindications for performing an enema for a pregnant woman include the following:

• Inflammation of the intestines and tingling in the abdomen;
• Pain inside the abdomen for unknown reasons;
• Weakness, headache, fever;
• Hernia;
• If the patient has suffered a heart attack or stroke;
• Hypertension;
• Abdominal surgery;
• Haemorrhoids.

During pregnancy, doctors cannot recommend to a woman, but only urgently place it. If there are no hints of any contraindication, side effects will remain in any case. There is a risk of toning the uterus. Not only feces and gases come out, but also beneficial microorganisms.

This leads to the fact that beneficial substances are less absorbed into the intestines. The intestines stop working independently as they should.

Features of manipulation - technique

It would be best to choose morning or evening time for this procedure. You need to prepare everything you need in advance:

• syringe;
• waterproof diaper;
• solution (no more than 500 ml);
• glycerin, baby cream, petroleum jelly.

It is best to use boiled water as a solution, cooled to 25-27 degrees Celsius. For a gentler bowel movement, you can add 30-40 ml of liquid glycerin to it (it will lubricate the intestinal walls and facilitate the evacuation of feces).

The procedure is best carried out in the bathroom. It is necessary to take a comfortable position, the knee-elbow position is best, or lying on your left side, with your legs bent to your chest and bent at the knee. With one hand, slightly spread the buttocks, and with the other, slowly insert the tip of the syringe, after releasing the air from it by lightly pressing until the first portion of liquid appears. Slowly squeezing the bulb, wait until the solution is completely poured out, and, without unclenching, remove it from the anus. Without changing your body position, wait for the urge to defecate and go to the restroom.

At the first sign of complications, you should immediately call your doctor and consult with him about further actions!

Is it possible to do an enema during pregnancy?

In pregnant women, enemas provoke a reduction in uterine activity, which can lead to miscarriage, and in the last months of pregnancy can lead to early labor.

An enema should not be given to women who:

1. There are miscarriages in practice;
2. The tone of the uterus increases;
3. Placentation decreases;
4. There are any threats of termination of pregnancy.

Pregnant women should be aware that using an enema does not treat constipation, but only cleanses the intestines.

In the early stages

The first 28 weeks are considered the safest. Enemas during early pregnancy have the least effect on the uterus, since the uterus has not increased in size.

But, if a woman was at risk of miscarriage, has pain in the lower abdomen and bloody discharge, the procedure can only worsen the situation. In such cases, you need a doctor’s advice and you need to choose another method of relieving constipation.

In the later stages

It is dangerous to carry out this procedure on later lines. An enema in pregnant women at home cannot be performed during sick periods, as premature birth is possible.

It is recommended to rinse the intestines in the hospital.

Types of procedures

They classify therapeutic, siphon and diagnostic enemas; which one is more suitable for the patient depends on the cause of stool retention.

The first type is used when carrying out cleansing, laxative and medicinal manipulations, the second - when preparing the patient for instrumental diagnostics. Therapeutic helps cleanse the intestines of gases and feces, stimulates gastrointestinal motility, and has a local laxative or resorptive effect.

Based on the composition of the solutions, there are several types of effective enemas:

• oil;
• soapy;
• saline, hypertonic;
• with soda solution;
• glycerin enema;
• with lemon juice or vinegar;
• with salt water;
• with hydrogen peroxide 3%;
• Ognev procedure;
• medicinal;
• nutritious.

Those suffering from constipation do not always know which enema is best to give when experiencing intestinal spasms. In such cases, procedures with oils, soda, hypertonic, salty liquid are recommended. For constipation at home, mainly use water, soap or oily solutions. Glycerin, acidic and with the addition of hydrogen peroxide are suitable for stimulating intestinal peristalsis.

A salt enema for constipation helps restore bowel movements in cases of hypertension, body edema, fluid retention in the body, when ordinary cleansing manipulations with water are contraindicated. Table, sea, and sodium salt are suitable for preparing the solution.

Before you do an enema at home, you need to study what temperature the liquid should be. Taking into account the cause of the pathology, a cold, warm or hot procedure is performed. The low temperature composition stimulates peristalsis during paresis, intestinal atony, and has antipyretic properties. Manipulations in the form of an enema with a warm solution relieve intestinal spasms, dissolve feces, and with a hot solution (40–45˚) they increase the urge to defecate in diseases of the pelvic organs in men.

Cleansing

A laxative enema is designed to cleanse the lower colon. During the procedure, feces dissolve and the evacuation function of the intestines is stimulated. Indications for treatment are episodic delays in fecal ejection, preparation for diagnosis, and the inability to independently perform an act of defecation due to hard feces.

For atonic type of constipation, cold water (12–20˚) is filled into a rubber bulb, this increases the motor activity of the digestive tract, weakened due to atony.

In case of spastic stool disorder, the water temperature should be 38–40˚, warm liquid relieves spasms and reduces pain.

Recipes and names

Sometimes enemas are prescribed not to cleanse the intestines, but to prevent worms. The most effective enemas are soda and garlic.

Garlic enema

Chop a clove of garlic and soak it in boiled water overnight. In the morning, the solution must be filtered, heated to the desired temperature and injected into the intestine. It is important to carry out the procedure only in the morning.

Chop a couple of cloves of garlic, add a liter of hot water and add 3 tablespoons of tansy. The solution needs to sit for about half an hour, then cool to 22°C and enema.

Soda enema

Soda has a good effect on the disappearance of parasites, relieves constipation, helps with intoxication and in case of slagging. Features of soda tincture are as follows:

• does not cause intestinal spasms;
• the risk of early labor is minimal.

The recipe is:

1. One glass of clean water;
2. Half a teaspoon of soda.
3. Soda must be diluted with water until completely dissolved.
4. The solution must be poured into the enema and the procedure can be performed.

There are also oil enemas. They are used in case of various diseases, hemorrhoids, inflammation of nodes and to cleanse the intestines. For manipulation you need pure sea buckthorn, olive or sunflower oil. The oil temperature should be 36°C. In terms of quantity, do not exceed 100 ml. The effect appears after a couple of hours, not earlier.

Video:

5How to give an enema to a pregnant woman

A cleansing enema is done with the addition of Vaseline or castor oil. If the doctor has approved this procedure, then add 1 tbsp to a container of 1 liter of water. castor oil. Lubricate the tip with vegetable oil and insert into the anus. You should lie on your left side and relax.

You need to hold the contents of the intestines for 5-10 minutes, after which you can go to the toilet. For an enema, you can use a syringe with a capacity of 500 ml. But it is inconvenient to do the procedure in the second half of pregnancy, so it is better to buy an Esmarch mug, fill it with water and hang it at a height of about 1.5 m, using an adjusting tap to supply water pressure. It is prohibited to use someone else's syringe.

Algorithm for performing the procedure at home

Although the procedure seems easy, every expectant mother should know all the features in its implementation. The temperature of the liquid should not exceed 22–23°C.

The volume of solution is taken to be minimal. A pregnant woman is recommended to take a syringe bulb for an enema, which is designed for half a liter. After the liquid has been collected into the enema, you need to follow the following principle:

• You need to find a convenient place for manipulation. Since the bowels are emptied immediately, it is most convenient to choose the bathroom. If the bathroom is small, you can choose a sofa that is prematurely covered with oilcloth. Place a basin or bucket nearby.
• We take a comfortable position - it is best to lie on your side or stand on all fours. The abdominal muscles should be in a relaxed state. The tip of the syringe should be coated with Vaseline and slowly inserted into the anus. If pain occurs, you should immediately remove the nozzle and repeat the same thing. It is difficult for a woman to carry out the manipulation on her own, so you need to ask someone close to you to do it.
• After the tip is inserted, the solution is introduced into the rectum slowly. When the urge appears, the woman needs to change her position so that her hips are positioned higher than her head.
• After completing the fluid administration, you need to leave the woman for 20 minutes. Then help her get to the toilet, where she needs to relieve herself. After all the procedures, the woman needs to swim.

Self-administering an enema

The algorithm for performing the procedure at home is as follows:

1. The pregnant woman needs to take a horizontal position on the couch, which is covered with a diaper.
2. You should lie down on your left side with your legs tucked under you. You can perform the procedure while standing on all fours.
3. The solution is filled with an enema bulb and a special device - Esmarch's mug. Their tips are lubricated with Vaseline; you can also use a lubricant.
4. Excess water and air are squeezed out of the bulb and inserted into the anus.
5. After a minute, they begin to slowly pour the solution into the rectum. This should not be done quickly, in small portions.
6. It is advisable to breathe correctly (deeply and slowly) when infusing.
7. If you feel pain, it is recommended to massage your stomach in a clockwise direction.
8. After the solution is completely injected, a diaper is placed on the perineal area.

After introducing the liquid into the rectum, you have to wait from five to fifteen minutes. During this period, it is advisable to be in a supine position.

Features and Precautions

In order for an enema for constipation during pregnancy to bring maximum benefits to the body, you need to adhere to the following simple rules:

• It is definitely recommended to undergo a full examination to be sure of your health.
• Doctors prescribe an ultrasound to assess the tone of the uterus. If the muscles are relaxed, then laxatives can be used. Otherwise, the enema may lead to premature birth.
• If you have had miscarriages in the past, it is also not recommended to use laxatives, including enemas.
• You should not abuse this method, because during the procedure, beneficial microorganisms responsible for the quality digestion of food are also washed out of the intestinal system.

Preparation of enema solution

To prepare for the procedure, it is important to make the solution correctly. To prepare it, take water at room temperature.

Soda solution

This solution is prepared as follows: dissolve a teaspoon of soda in half a liter of water. After this, the liquid is heated to approximately fifty degrees Celsius.

This enema also cleanses and removes parasites from the body.

Garlic enema

A garlic enema is done to remove helminths from the intestines of a pregnant woman. This solution is dangerous because it can cause irritation and increase blood pressure.

To make such a medicine, you need to pour boiled water over the peeled and chopped head of garlic. After this, the liquid is covered with a lid and, wrapped, infused for half a day.

For treatment, they do a mini enema - take about fifty grams of solution.

Water enema

A water enema is done to cleanse the intestines. In this case, take boiled water, but cooled to room temperature.

It is recommended to add a spoonful of castor oil or Vaseline to it.

Also, for an enema, you can prepare a decoction from such medicinal plants as:

What can an enema help with?

The procedure involves filling the colon with water or a solution using a special device. The volume of liquid ranges from 100-500 ml for a microenema to 1.5-2 liters for a standard one.

You can do an enema during pregnancy, as usual, with a rubber pear-shaped device or an Esmarch mug - a large “hot water bottle” with a hose, a special tip is inserted into the intestine.

Types of procedures are divided into diagnostic and therapeutic. An example of diagnosis is the determination of intestinal obstruction. Therapeutic ones are medicinal, siphonic and cleansing. The former are more often used to treat children and are a solution of the drug, the latter - for poisoning, a large volume of liquid is administered.

It can be done and sometimes it should be done

Medicinal enemas are very rarely used during pregnancy. One option is to rid a woman of parasites living in the intestines. Natural remedies are used here, for example, garlic or wormwood decoction.

Cleansers are used to remove feces and gases from the intestines. This is the type of enema that is done during pregnancy for constipation. Use either plain water or with the addition of petroleum jelly, glycerin, and soda. It softens stool, enhances contraction of the intestinal walls, due to which defecation occurs in about 10 minutes with virtually no straining.

1. The pressure of accumulated feces on the uterus is eliminated.
2. An enema cleanses the intestines of decomposing food debris, which can become a source of poisoning, which is dangerous during pregnancy for both organisms - mother and child.
3. The likelihood of a threat of failure or miscarriage due to tension in the intestinal walls, which is associated with the muscles of the uterus, is reduced.
4. The risk of bacteria spreading to other organs is reduced, which can cause serious illnesses, such as pyelonephritis.

Even if there are no contraindications, an enema during pregnancy can only be done as an emergency measure.

Tips and preventive measures

Before you find out whether pregnant women can have an enema for constipation, remember that this procedure does not have to be regular; it serves as an express aid when it is necessary to rid the body of feces before toxic substances harm the expectant mother and baby. Usually, for constipation, doctors prescribe glycerin suppositories or a course of Dufalak to women.

In order to avoid the need to use an enema during pregnancy, preventive measures should be taken, first of all, this concerns a balanced diet. The diet of the expectant mother should consist of fresh vegetables and fruits, bran bread, buckwheat, barley and oatmeal, dried fruits, boiled beets and fermented milk products. Meals should be fractional: often, but little by little.

Equally important is compliance with the drinking regime, which includes about 1.5-2 liters of clean water (if there are no problems with the urinary system and edema). In addition, you should walk more often and do simple physical exercises. Then you won’t have to face the dilemma: is it possible to have an enema during pregnancy or not?

Every pregnant woman clearly knows that medications can be dangerous. But many common procedures can also cause undesirable consequences. One of them is an enema during pregnancy. Use it with extreme caution.

Late use

In the second trimester, it is not allowed to use an enema at home. Usually the manipulation is carried out in a hospital setting.

Colon cleansing with an enema is done in the maternity hospital after labor begins.

After three months, the fetus is already firmly attached inside. It is not recommended to do enemas during these months. Or bet extremely carefully. It is not recommended because it may provoke labor, which is undesirable in the second trimester.

An enema is safe from the 36th week of pregnancy; the fetus is able to survive on its own outside the mother’s body.

Often, to eliminate constipation, it is enough to review your diet, eat healthy, wholesome foods, and include physical activity in your daily routine. It is permissible to enrich the diet with cereals and products containing fiber.

Pregnancy, medication use

Synthetic drugs and natural remedies are contraindicated, but the ailment has not been canceled. A common problem for pregnant women is constipation, which brings discomfort and inconvenience. The body's load increases significantly. What to do in such a situation? How to relieve constipation?

First, you will have to establish the cause of stool retention, and then act.

Causes of constipation in pregnant women

The reasons are different. Common:

1. The hormonal background of the body undergoes changes. Progesterone begins to be produced in large quantities, affecting the intestines, changing its motor ability. There is less movement and disturbances in intestinal motility develop.
2. The uterus increases in size, and the intestines shift upward and backward. Now the abdominal cavity is occupied by the uterus with the fetus inside. The intestines are compressed in an unusual position. It is not surprising that stool retention occurs.
3. Dietary disorder. During pregnancy, taste preferences change. A pregnant woman is able to consume foods that are incompatible with each other. Zhor is replaced by loss of appetite and vice versa. Add here nausea, vomiting, toxicosis. A pregnant woman experiences great overload.
4. Lifestyle changes. A woman moves less, believing that she is taking care of herself. It's a delusion. Decreased mobility often leads to constipation. Note: it is fundamentally wrong to exclude physical activity in a state of “interesting situation”. This is not a disease, but a condition inherent in nature. There is nothing supernatural about this, you just need to take into account the features. Today, special physical complexes have been created for pregnant women. There remains a choice. Moving is good for the body, it contributes to a good emotional background.
5. Avitaminosis. Lack of vitamins affects the normal functioning of the intestines. With constipation, the body experiences a lack of Ca and Fe. This is typical for the first three months of the process. To solve this situation, you just need to drink a complex of vitamins. Which vitamins to choose – consult your doctor.
6. Stress. Pregnancy is a mental burden associated with changes in a woman’s hormonal levels. Sometimes breakdowns occur, mood worsens, and irritability occurs. Stress in the body, when everything in it changes at high speed, affects the functioning of the intestines.
7. Increased water demand. It is worth determining an individual, correct, healthy diet and sticking to it. Drink enough fluid, two liters per day. By “fluid” we mean drinking fresh, clean drinking water.

To eliminate constipation during pregnancy, you need to consult your doctor. Medicines and suppositories are often prescribed. An additional effective method is enemas. Considering the condition of a pregnant woman, remember the limitations in use.

How often can this method be used?

Frequent enemas do not solve the problem, but often aggravate it, so when constipation occurs, a pregnant woman needs to pay attention to her diet and lifestyle. Before resorting to this procedure, you need to consult a gynecologist. If the pregnancy proceeds without pathologies, there is no threat of miscarriage, then you can use this method. But doing an enema is often not recommended, as it can negatively affect bowel function.

Mechanical impact on the rectum disrupts its normal functioning. Frequent enemas can disrupt the intestinal microflora, which can cause indigestion. With dysbacteriosis caused by the abuse of enemas, the absorption of nutrients is disrupted. For the expectant mother, a deficiency of vitamins and minerals will have a very negative impact. A weakened immune system will not be able to protect against viruses and bacteria.

A lack of potassium, calcium, magnesium and other trace elements will disrupt the normal development of the fetus, and in the future this will affect the condition of bones and teeth. Frequent enemas lead not only to the loss of nutrients, but also cause dehydration. Over time, an addictive effect may occur. When you empty your bowels in this way, the rectum will stop functioning on its own, resulting in the need to constantly take laxatives. For a pregnant woman, this will turn into a serious problem.

Therefore, it is recommended to resort to bowel movements with an enema no more than 1-2 times a week. But pregnant women should take care of themselves so that this need does not arise. You can replace the procedure with laxatives or rectal suppositories that have a laxative effect. Most often, doctors do this, because using an enema also causes emotional discomfort in the expectant mother.