Glycerin suppositories in pregnancy: instructions for use

Glycerin suppositories have a gentle laxative effect and are recommended for difficulties with defecation of various origins:

• sedentary lifestyle;
• poor nutrition;
• hormonal imbalances;
• factors caused by the vital activity of the organism;
• psycho-emotional states.

At the initial stages of pregnancy, there is an active production of the hormone progesterone, which relaxes the muscles of the internal organs, which prevents uterine overstrain and reduces the risk of termination of pregnancy. As a “side effect”, there is a slowdown in intestinal motility and difficulty with defecation.

During the gestational period, women experience internal restructuring of the body:

• In the intestines, the sensitivity of nerve receptors to various irritants decreases, which increases the risk of delayed bowel movement.
• The increasing volume of the uterus compresses the intestinal tract, causing displacement and, as a result, constipation in the late stages of the gestational period.
• A pregnant woman moves less in the last weeks, which leads to a delay in the act of defecation.
• Due to the change in taste preferences, plant foods that are good for the gastrointestinal tract disappear from the diet. Many pregnant women want salty or pickled foods. If they often eat such products, the intestines begin to malfunction.
• During toxicosis, expectant mothers limit the amount of liquid, which reduces swelling, but on the other hand, leads to deterioration of the gastrointestinal tract. An important factor is the lability of the mood of pregnant women.
• They get irritated at any reason, are easily hurt, and worry about their baby or the successful outcome of childbirth.

Regardless of the cause of constipation, glycerin suppositories can be used. The drug, during pregnancy, effectively eliminates problems with insufficient bowel movements and helps restore stable functioning of the intestinal tract.

Can glycerin suppositories be used during pregnancy?

Suppositories containing glycerin, according to the manufacturer's instructions, are used to eliminate incomplete bowel movement during gestation. The medicine gently irritates the inner lining of the large intestine and provokes its contraction. Glycerol, the active ingredient of suppositories, liquefies feces and speeds up the process of defecation. If a pregnant woman is diagnosed with a threat of miscarriage, it is necessary to remember that any drug that stimulates contractile movements of any section in the intestinal tract leads to uterine tone. To reduce the risk of a threat of miscarriage, even those women who have not been diagnosed with uterine tone will need to consult a doctor. First, it is necessary to use safe methods, such as normalizing water balance, adjusting stool with a diet using vegetables and fruits, as well as walks in the fresh air.

Indications glycerin suppositories

An indication for the use of glycerin suppositories is constipation. It is recommended to take the drug in situations where abdominal tension is contraindicated, but it is necessary to cleanse the intestines. These are the following situations:

The postoperative period, when there is a risk of suture rupture;

• myocardial infarction;
• period of remission in hemorrhoids;
• limitation of mobility.

Glycerin suppositories during the gestation period can be used only on the recommendation of the attending gynecologist. The drug liquefies feces and activates intestinal peristalsis. If a woman has hemorrhoids during the gestation period, as a result of a circulatory disorder caused by the growing fetus, then glycerin suppositories relieve irritation and pain. During an exacerbation of thrombosis of hemorrhoidal veins with inflammation and slight bleeding, glycerin suppositories are not used. For this, with short-term constipation, it is better to establish a proper diet, which involves frequent meals with a large amount of vegetable fiber, and to exclude salty and pickled dishes.

Glycerin suppositories for constipation during pregnancy

After conception, the female body's systems undergo restructuring in order to safely bear the fetus. Internal changes are accompanied by discomfort, the causes of which are physiological changes. If a pregnant woman suffers from constipation, then the question arises, what remedy to choose so as not to harm the baby and your body?

The action of tablets and drops is based on a fairly strong irritation of the sensitive nerve fibers of the colon, which is unsafe for pregnant women. In addition, they negatively affect the gastric mucosa.

During pregnancy, magnesium preparations are strictly prohibited at all stages. This medication harshly and intensively stimulates the intestinal tract and can ultimately provoke uterine contractions. In the first trimester, it is contraindicated to use drops containing sodium picosulfate. Almost all rectal suppositories are also prohibited, with the exception of glycerin ones. Suppositories containing glycerin act sparingly on the receptors of the rectum.

Glycerin suppositories for hemorrhoids during pregnancy

The appearance of thrombosis of hemorrhoidal veins is caused by lifestyle. Hypodynamia, irrational nutrition, frequent hypothermia, which contribute to the slowing of hemodynamics in the pelvic area lead to this disease.

To prevent the disease or prevent a relapse, it is necessary:

• systematic performance of morning exercises;
• long walks in the park, on the lake shore;
• reducing fried and smoked foods in the diet;
• consumption of vegetables and fruits, foods rich in fiber.

During pregnancy, women should pay more attention to their diet and daily routine. A feasible increase in physical activity helps improve blood circulation in the pelvic area. Systematic performance of exercises permitted during pregnancy has a positive effect on the activity of gastrointestinal motility and prevents constipation.

Glycerin suppositories are used at the initial stage of the disease, when the hemorrhoids are not very enlarged. The product is prohibited for use if a pregnant woman has been diagnosed with the third stage of hemorrhoids, in which the nodes fall out of the rectum and intestine and require manual reduction. Also, you should not use rectal suppositories if hemorrhoids are accompanied by bleeding.

The active substance of the suppositories is glycerin. Suppositories reduce pressure on the nodes formed by hemorrhoids. When used correctly, the medication will not harm the health of a woman carrying a child. This remedy:

• will significantly reduce pain;
• prevents the progression of the inflammatory process;
• softens stool;
• will reduce pressure on hemorrhoidal veins.

Glycerin suppositories are not suitable for long-term use, but are better than folk remedies that wash out beneficial intestinal flora.

Release form

Rectal suppositories are available in a specific dosage. They are made in the form of a cylinder or cones with a pointed tip. The weight of the suppositories ranges from 1 g to 4 g, and the diameter is no more than 15 mm. Suppositories have a low melting point and are quickly absorbed in the final part of the digestive tract. The suppositories contain

From 1 g 44 mg to 2 g 46 mg glycerin;

Stearic acid in an amount from 0.12 g to 0.25 g;

Sodium carbonate has a mass from 0.06 g to 0.13 g.

The total weight of one suppository for adults is 2.75 grams for adults and 1.6 grams for children.

Pharmacodynamics

When the suppository is placed in the rectum, the product has a mild irritating effect on its inner lining and reflexively stimulates defecation.

[ 1 ]

Pharmacokinetics

The main effect of glycerin suppositories is a laxative effect, which helps soften hardened fecal matter and facilitates its easy elimination from the body. When used rectally, glycerol quickly dissolves in the intestinal mucosa. The onset of action of glycerin suppositories depends on the characteristics of the body. The active substance is processed by the liver. Most of the glycerol is excreted by the kidneys.

How long does it take for glycerin suppositories to work during pregnancy?

According to the instructions, glycerin suppositories are approved for use during gestation. These instructions do not contain information about the harmful effects of the active components of the drug on the unborn child. Suppositories are inserted rectally, and the active substances enter the inner lining of the intestine, but do not penetrate into the bloodstream. The effect of the drug occurs within 5 minutes, but in some cases you should wait up to 1 hour.

[ 2 ], [ 3 ]

Dosing and administration

The manufacturer's instructions state that glycerin suppositories are recommended to eliminate incomplete bowel movements of any origin, including during pregnancy. Before using the drug, you should independently establish regular bowel movements. Walking, drinking enough liquid, eating vegetables and fruits are good for this. But if the situation is not resolved with the help of such means, you should consult your doctor.

It is not advisable to use the medicine in the first and last trimesters of pregnancy because it will provoke a threat of miscarriage. If the pregnant woman has anal fissures, tumors and bleeding hemorrhoids, then it is not recommended to use suppositories. If itching or burning occurs during the introduction or after the onset of action of the active components, then the drug is stopped, as this is a manifestation of an allergy. If unpleasant painful sensations appear, warm vegetable oil (sunflower, peach, olive) should be inserted into the anus using a medical bulb.

Glycerin suppositories during early pregnancy

The effect of anti-constipation medications is based on irritating the intestinal tract and increasing its motor activity, but during gestation, such medications cause uterine contractions, which is a threat of premature termination of pregnancy. During pregnancy, medications that are not absorbed into the blood are allowed, and the effect of which is slow, gentle and harmless. Glycerin-based suppositories are allowed for pregnant women. They gently affect intestinal motor activity and attract moisture, softening the contents of the intestine. Such medications should be used in extreme cases and should not be used uncontrollably. During this period, pregnant women need to walk more in the fresh air, do special exercises, and stick to a diet.

[ 7 ], [ 8 ]

Glycerin suppositories during late pregnancy

The later weeks of gestation are considered especially critical for pregnant women. Any negative manifestation provokes premature labor or bleeding. Suppositories containing glycerin are prescribed by gynecologists during pregnancy in exceptional cases of severe delay in defecation.

Glycerin suppositories at 38, 39, 40 weeks of pregnancy

Constipation occurs most frequently in the last month of pregnancy. Constipation during gestation disrupts the general well-being of a woman, causing a feeling of fullness in the large intestine, abdominal pain, nausea, but is the culprit of premature delivery. The reaction to constipation is an increase in the muscle tone of the uterus. An unevacuated intestine forces one to strain, which in the last stages of pregnancy threatens premature delivery.

The last weeks of the gestational period are marred by severe constipation due to the fact that the fetal head descends and presses on the final part of the digestive tract, delaying full defecation. The main causes of constipation in the final stage of pregnancy are caused by:

• compression of the intestines by the growing uterus;
• hormonal system disorders;
• low mobility;
• food preferences;
• use of medications prescribed by a doctor.

The uterus, which has changed its position, compresses the bladder and intestinal loops. By the 40th week, defecation and urination become more frequent. Expectant mothers lose 1-2 kg in weight before childbirth due to the removal of excess fluid from the body in the form of urine.

Constipation at 39 weeks, as well as during the entire period of pregnancy, has a negative character. The mucous membrane of the large intestine has an adsorbing capacity and toxic metabolic products return back to the bloodstream. In this regard, constipation causes poisoning of the body, which negatively affects both the well-being of the pregnant woman and the unborn child.

Poorly emptied intestines put pressure on the uterus, causing an irritating effect, which leads to an increase in its tone. Compression of the intestines provokes squeezing of the pelvic vessels, worsening the outflow of blood from them. These are favorable conditions for the appearance of varicose veins of the lower part of the rectum. Therefore, some expectant mothers experience blood streaks in their stool in the last weeks of pregnancy. Stable bowel function is a guarantee of successful delivery. The mother's intestinal microflora is passed on to her future child. The saturation of the mother's intestines with beneficial microorganisms is the basis for the health of the future child. If insufficient emptying of the intestinal tract appears, it must be eliminated using the recommendations of the attending physician.

The main remedy for insufficient bowel movements during pregnancy is a balanced diet. A woman's diet during gestation includes all the nutrients - proteins, lipids, slow carbohydrates. Eating at least 5 times a day, without overeating. Drink up to one and a half liters of liquid per day. This is mineral water, juices, fruit drinks, compotes, fresh juices, herbal teas, fermented milk drinks.

Physical exercise helps to overcome insufficient bowel movement. Walking before childbirth is useful for expectant mothers. At 39 weeks of gestation, a pregnant woman is not recommended to take a certain position for a long time. It is necessary to change it every quarter of an hour. If these measures could not help to get rid of constipation, then drug therapy is used, which is preceded by a doctor's consultation.

The medical service has at its disposal tablets, suppositories, and drops for constipation. Glycerin suppositories are best for pregnant women during this period. They gently irritate the intestinal receptors, attract water, causing softening of the stool.

Glycerin suppositories can be used by pregnant women after a full examination and consultation with an obstetrician-gynecologist. In standard cases, with a normal pregnancy, 1 suppository of adult dosage (2.75 g) per day is prescribed.

How to use glycerin suppositories during pregnancy?

The rules for using suppositories are as follows:

• Wash your hands and hold them under running cold water to prevent the candle from melting prematurely.
• It is advisable to place the suppository in the refrigerator for a while. Then carefully remove the packaging from the glycerin suppository.
• Wet the anus with cold water.
• Lie on your side.
• Move the upper buttock, opening access to the anus. Insert the suppository into the anus and insert it to a depth of 20-50 mm.
• Bring your buttocks together for a few seconds. Remain in a lying position for 5 minutes. This will prevent the suppository from falling out.
• Throw away the wrapper and wash your hands thoroughly with disinfectant.

How often can you use glycerin suppositories during pregnancy?

Systematic use of this medicine should not be resorted to. The use of suppositories is stopped immediately after the restoration of normal intestinal motility. The duration of administration is determined by the doctor, taking into account the patient's medical history. Do not use more than one suppository per day.

Contraindications

Absolute contraindications to the use of glycerin suppositories during pregnancy are:

• intolerance to drug components;
• abdominal pain of unknown etiology;
• kidney problems;
• proctitis or paraproctitis (inflammation of the rectum);
• diarrhea;
• hemorrhoids in the acute stage.

The use of glycerin suppositories in early and late pregnancy is prescribed under the close supervision of a physician at a women's clinic.

[ 4 ], [ 5 ]

Side effects glycerin suppositories

The negative consequences of using glycerin suppositories are as follows:

• allergic reactions;
• burning, itching of the anus.

With prolonged use, natural intestinal motility is disrupted, and inflammatory processes in the rectum are provoked.

[ 6 ]

Overdose

Rectal use of suppositories containing glycerin in high doses did not cause negative consequences, with the exception of the side effects described above associated with excessive duration of their use:

• irritable bowel symptoms;
• decreased intestinal motility.

Interactions with other drugs

Clinical studies of rectal administration of suppositories did not reveal any harmful interactions of the active substance with other medications.

[ 9 ]

Storage conditions

Suppositories should be stored in a cool place, protected from light. It is strictly forbidden to freeze glycerin suppositories. The storage temperature should not exceed +25 degrees. Suppositories should not be in places easily accessible to children.

[ 10 ], [ 11 ], [ 12 ]

Shelf life

The manufacturing date and expiration date are indicated on the cardboard packaging and blister. The shelf life, if the conditions are met, is 2 years. Suppositories are not recommended for use at the end of the expiration date, since taking medications with an expired period of action may adversely affect the patient's health.

[ 13 ]

Reviews

Glycerin suppositories are prescribed for constipation of various etiologies if oral administration of drugs is not possible. Pregnancy is exactly the condition when tablets or drops of laxative action are absolutely undesirable. Numerous young and expectant mothers leave positive characteristics of the drug. They act quickly and gently, allowing you to get rid of the unpleasant sensations that accompany constipation. Glycerin suppositories are safe during normal pregnancy. Allowed during breastfeeding. The only danger is the negative effect on the intestines if the drug is abused. As a result of self-medication, the following appear:

• electrolyte absorption disorders;
• decreased motility and intestinal atony;
• dyspepsia;
• flatulence;
• addiction.

What to do if glycerin suppositories do not help during pregnancy?

Constipation therapy during pregnancy with medications is carried out with caution. The drug should be prescribed by a doctor, because the list of safe drugs is limited. In addition, the drug must meet the safety criteria for the mother and the unborn child. If problems with the intestines appear during pregnancy, the following effective medications can be prescribed:

• Lactulose-based drugs - "Normolakt", "Prelax", "Transipect". These are saline for expectant mothers at any stage of pregnancy.
• Bifidobacteria. There is a class of laxative medications based on bifidobacteria. They are more often used for diarrhea, but help solve the problem associated with intestinal motility. With their use, intestinal microflora improves and the process of digestion of food is normalized, which benefits the body of expectant mothers. It is advisable to take medications with bifidobacteria in combination with fermented milk products, such as kefir, to enhance the effect.
• Suppositories. Such preparations are mainly produced on the basis of glycerin, under its action feces soften and leave the intestines. The safety of laxative suppositories during gestation is explained by the fact that the active ingredient will not appear in the general bloodstream.

The type of drug and its dosage for pregnant women is selected by the attending physician.

The drug "Magnesia" is prohibited for expectant mothers. This medicine acts harshly and may have negative effects on the course of pregnancy.

Analogues

The following suppositories are considered similar in effect and safe for pregnant women:

• "Evacue". Active ingredients help to establish regular bowel movements and also stimulate the intestinal tract to empty. Active ingredients - potassium bitartrate, sodium bicarbonate, polyethyleneglycol.
• "Bisacodyl". The active substance of the drug irritates the mucous membranes of the colon, which helps to stabilize intestinal motility and get rid of constipation.
• "Dulcolax". Active ingredient - bisacodyl. Irritates the colon, increasing peristalsis, which promotes bowel movement.
• "Glycelax". Active ingredient - glycerol. Action is similar to glycerin suppositories.

Self-medication for constipation during pregnancy is excluded; any of the indicated remedies are used after the doctor’s recommendations.

Microlax or glycerin suppositories

Both medications are permitted during gestation and are classified as laxatives. Glycerin suppositories are a monodrug, the active ingredient of which is glycerin. The multicomponent drug "Microlax" consists of the following substances - sorbitol, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate, sodium citrate.

Rectal remedies used for constipation, such as glycerin suppositories or Microlax enema, are characterized by a rapid onset of effect. After a micro enema, stool appears immediately or after 5-10 minutes. The effect of suppositories occurs a little later, from 5 minutes to 1 hour. The data provided are approximate and generalized. Everything depends on the severity of constipation and the individual characteristics of the pregnant woman.

In case of persistent constipation, decreased intestinal motility, intestinal hypotension, a combined action of suppositories and microclysters can be used. First, a glycerin suppository is used, if there is no effect, then Microlax can be used. Such procedures should be performed after consultation with an obstetrician-gynecologist.