Will eating more bananas during pregnancy prevent constipation?

　　pregnancy constipate This is a problem that expectant mothers often encounter. Many people believe that bananas are intestinal moisturizers and can relieve constipation symptoms. But in fact, this is a misunderstanding. Only ripe bananas can relieve constipation. Eating too many raw bananas will aggravate constipation. Because unripe bananas contain more tannic acid, which can hinder digestion and inhibit gastrointestinal motility. In addition, eating too many bananas can easily cause the blood sugar of expectant mothers to rise, increasing gestational diabetes probability.

　　Why constipation?

　　female After pregnancy, under the influence of endocrine hormone changes, the placenta secretes a large amount of progesterone, which reduces gastric acid secretion, decreases gastrointestinal muscle tone, and weakens muscle peristalsis. In this way, the food eaten stays in the gastrointestinal tract for a longer period of time and cannot be excreted normally as before pregnancy.

　　Furthermore, as the food stays in the intestine for a longer period of time, the water in the food residue is reabsorbed by the intestinal wall cells, causing the feces to become dry and hard, making it difficult to pass out of the body.

　　Also, after pregnancy, the pregnant woman’s physical activity is less than before pregnancy, making it difficult for the intestinal muscles to push feces outward.； enlarged Uterus It also puts pressure on the rectum, making it difficult to pass stool.； In addition, the abdominal wall muscles of pregnant women become weak, and there is not enough abdominal pressure to push during defecation. Therefore, even if a pregnant woman feels the urge to defecate and contracts her abdominal muscles, it is still difficult to expel the feces accumulated in the rectum.

　　5 principles to relieve constipation in pregnant women

　　First, eat more fruits, vegetables and grains

　　Pregnant women often have difficulty defecating due to eating too refined foods, so they should eat more vegetables, fruits and coarse grains that are rich in fiber, such as celery, green leafy vegetables, radishes, melons, apples, bananas, pears, oats, mixed beans, brown rice, etc.

　　Second, defecate regularly in the morning

　　The urge to defecate is most likely to occur every morning and after each meal, and it is best to have a bowel movement upon waking up in the morning. Therefore, after getting up, drink a cup of warm water or honey water on an empty stomach before eating breakfast to promote the upright reflex and gastrocolic reflex after getting up. In this way, you will soon feel the urge to defecate, and if you persist for a long time, you will form a good habit of defecation in the morning.

　　Third, pay attention to drinking water skills

　　Pay attention to drinking more water every day, but you must master the skills of drinking water, otherwise even drinking water may not have any effect. For example, drink water at a fixed time every day, and drink in large sips, but not in a binge, so that the water reaches the colon as quickly as possible instead of being absorbed into the bloodstream by the intestines quickly. In this way, the feces can become soft and easy to pass out of the body.

　　Fourth, keep moving your body every day

　　In the third trimester of pregnancy, many pregnant women often become too lazy to move as their bodies become heavier and heavier, so constipation becomes more obvious in the third trimester of pregnancy. Moderate exercise can enhance pregnant women's abdominal muscle contraction, promote intestinal peristalsis, and prevent or relieve constipation. Therefore, even when the body of pregnant women is getting heavier, they should do some exercises within their physical ability, such as walking, light housework, etc., to increase the intestinal defecation power.

　　Fifth, keep your body and mind happy

　　Reasonably arrange work and life, ensure adequate rest and sleep, and maintain a good mental state and an optimistic attitude towards life. Pregnant women should not be upset by the discomfort of vomiting. An irritable attitude can also lead to constipation. You may wish to do more interesting things, such as listening to music, viewing flowers, reading, etc., and try to avoid negative mental stimulation.