How long does it take for bowel movements to become normal after a normal birth?

After a woman becomes pregnant, she must start laying the foundation for future childbirth. If she wants a natural birth, she must pay more attention to her daily diet and exercise. Natural birth is the most beneficial way of delivery for women and babies, so those who can give birth naturally must choose it. But how long after a natural birth will it take to have normal bowel movements? If the mother does not have the habit of constipation, she can usually defecate on the same day or the next day. Of course, she may defecate on the third day, which is also normal.

How long after a normal delivery can I have a bowel movement?

Because of the pain from the episiotomy wound during normal delivery, mothers will experience many inconveniences in their daily lives. A common embarrassment is that when going to the toilet, the wound will be very painful because it is still in the healing period. Some mothers will refrain from going to the toilet for fear of pain or they have a fear of normal bowel movements. It is normal to feel pain from the wound. After it heals slowly, the pain will be reduced day by day. Timely bowel movements are also for the health of the intestines. Generally, you can defecate within 1-3 days after a normal delivery. This is the normal metabolic process of the human body.

What to do if you are constipated after a natural birth?

Postpartum constipation is the result of multiple factors. First of all, the enlarged uterus during pregnancy compresses the abdominal and pelvic muscles, which will reduce abdominal pressure, which will directly affect defecation. In addition, in the few days before delivery, the patient spends a long time in bed and has less activity time, which weakens the gastrointestinal motility. These factors will aggravate the symptoms of constipation.

By the time a mother realizes she is constipated, she has already suffered a lot of pain. Therefore, every pregnant mother should take preventive measures in order to have a more comfortable toileting experience after delivery.

First of all, the diet during pregnancy must take care of gastrointestinal health. It is necessary to supplement more foods rich in dietary fiber, such as whole grains, and consume more fruits rich in vitamins to replenish the body's water, which can play a role in moisturizing the intestines and promoting bowel movements. Nutritious soups with high fat content also have a moisturizing effect but are too greasy. Mothers can choose to drink honey water, which will make defecation relatively easier after delivery.

Secondly, try to get out of bed and walk around more within 24 hours after a normal birth. You can go to the bathroom to urinate or defecate with the help of your family member or by holding on to the wall.

If you have constipation and severe wound pain when going to the toilet after delivery, do not use too much force to avoid the wound opening and affecting later recovery. You can use some laxatives under the doctor's advice.