Question:
I gave birth to my daughter a year ago and I still have problems going to the bathroom. I am constipated and have very hard stool that is difficult to pass. I have been taking a stool softener; I drink lots of water, and have a high fiber diet. But I still have this issue. I also had an episiotomy during birth and have weakened anal tissue. Any suggestions on how to soften stools and ease constipation after child birth?
Answer:
Constipation and hard stools after childbirth can be a very common problem. The hard stools represent something deeper with your health, then just not enough fiber or water. According to Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, the colon and the stools are "nourished" or softened by the Blood and Blood systems. There really is no western or allopathic comparison, so bear with me as I try to explain.
Blood is the life force in the body. It is like a river flowing in the countryside, providing water and nourishment to the trees and plants growing around it. If the river becomes dry, everything that draws moisture and nourishment from it will also become dry or weakened. If a dam gets built up stream, naturally or artificially, everything downstream will be affected.
The Blood in our body works the same way. Blood brings the liquid, the moisture, and the nourishment (called Yin in Traditional Chinese Medicine) to the organs in our body. It is what makes our eyes feel moist, our skin supple, our muscles toned, and our stools soft.
Childbirth is very hard on the blood systems of the body. We lose a lot of blood when we give birth. The only way that blood can be replenished is if we are eating the proper foods and herbs that specifically build blood after a traumatic event, like birth. In many eastern cultures, women stew their placenta--the ultimate herbal/nutritious substance to rebuild blood after birth. In this culture, unless you are having a home birth, it is unlikely you will get to use the vital placenta.
There are foods that you can eat after birth (anytime is a good time to start) that will nourish Blood, thereby softening your stools naturally and over time leading to improved muscle tone and elasticity:
- Yellow mung dal, or Yellow lentils (cooks like split pea soup)
- Dates
- Figs
- Oatmeal
- Beet Root, stewed
- Kidney Beans
- Egg plant
- Quality Liver meat
- Asparagus
- Ghee
Some herbs that also help build blood:
- Angelica Root, Dang Gui
- Red Raspberry Leaf
- Apricot seed
- Hemp Seed or Hemp Milk
- Triphala
I'd recommend Triphala Powder as an alternative to the stool softener. Triphala is readily available online. It is an Ayurvedic formula comprising of three fruits. It works like a stool softener, without making your body dependent. Nor does it take moisture from your body and place it in the colon. Triphala is a digestive harmonizer and over time will heal your digestive system. You can start by taking 1/2 tsp in water before bed. If you develop loose stools, cut back your dosage. It works better then fiber. I find with fiber, most people aren't digesting it and excess undigested fiber can lead to hard stools.
If you have issues with your baby being constipated, you might want to review an article I wrote on my blog called Constipation in a Breast-Fed Baby.
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