"Microlax" before childbirth: instructions for the drug, contraindications, reviews from doctors

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April 10, 2020

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Enema at home: pros and cons

Due to the abolition of mandatory enemas in maternity hospitals, many pregnant women began to worry about possible embarrassment during childbirth. Is it worth doing an enema at home, what are the pros and cons of this procedure at home?

Arguments for":

• Purgation. The woman will not worry about involuntary bowel movements, will not be embarrassed and tight, and will not be afraid to push.
• After childbirth, most postpartum women begin to have considerable problems with going to the toilet “in a big way”. And it’s better to have an empty intestine , because you’ll be able to go to the toilet normally on the second or third day, at best.
• An enema tones the uterus. It is done immediately before childbirth, when the labor process has already started, and such “natural stimulation” seems to encourage the uterus to contract faster.

Arguments against":

If the plug has already come off, if contractions have begun, then an enema will only be beneficial. But sometimes women, worried that there will be no time for an enema later, may give it too early. Or mistake training contractions for real ones. In this case, it may turn out that the cervix is ​​not yet ready, not ripe and too hard, and the enema will cause uterine contractions and the onset of contractions.

With an immature cervix, this is undesirable, since the child has no way out and the cervix urgently needs to be opened, and manual opening is very painful, and opening the cervix too slowly will lead to ruptures.

Analogs

Microlax does not have structural analogues, that is, drugs with similar active ingredients.

But there are analogues of action, that is, drugs that can help with constipation: Norgalax, Normacol, Fitomucil,.

Only a doctor should select analogues for pregnant women and newborns! Adults, knowing the characteristics of the disease and the diagnosis made by the doctor, can consult a pharmacist.

Which is better: Duphalac or Microlax?

When talking about the benefits of medications, it is impossible to guarantee 100% effectiveness and digestibility of one of them to all patients. Both the effectiveness and the absence of allergic manifestations depend on the individual characteristics of each person’s body. The situation is further complicated when it comes to pregnant women, who have different periods and different emotional and hormonal fluctuations.

From the point of view of doctors, both drugs have the same direction of action, are acceptable during pregnancy, and are based on synthetic substances. The only caveat is the individual tolerance of each woman.

Microlax collects the same type of negative reviews about burning and itching after administration of the drug, redness in the anal area, which can be severe, but quickly pass. Please note, there are no complaints about the ineffectiveness of the drug!

Duphalac is perceived as a drug with a milder effect, but this opinion is very conditional.

To prevent the use of Microlax from causing you pain:

• use it once, as an emergency remedy for constipation and the need to cleanse the intestines before a medical examination;
• remember that it is not a cure for constipation and does not affect the causes of difficulties at all;
• do not use Microlax if the inside or outside of the anus is damaged;
• taking these three points into account when using Microlax for newborns.

Even if a woman previously did not have any problems associated with the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and in particular with stool, they may arise with the onset of pregnancy. The most common problem in pregnant women is constipation. This is not only related to nutrition. The reasons why it occurs can be different, ranging from hormonal changes to uterine hypertonicity, increased load and pressure on the intestines due to a growing abdomen. Often, to solve this problem, pregnant women use Microlax micro enema: instructions for use, prices, reviews and analogues of the drug in our article.

The instructions for the drug indicate that it can be used during pregnancy. And doctors themselves often prescribe it to their patients with such a delicate problem. The drug has an exclusively local effect, is not absorbed into the bloodstream, and does not in any way affect the tone of the uterine muscles or the fetus itself. Therefore, it is prescribed both in the early stages and in the later stages. Microlax is used to eliminate single or chronic constipation, as well as to cleanse the intestines immediately before childbirth.

Is it necessary to give a classic enema at home?

A standard classic enema is a rubber reservoir (the medical name is “Esmarch mug”) with a volume of up to 2 liters, with a rubber tube and a dense tip. 1-1.5 liters of warm water are poured into this reservoir, air is released, and the tip is inserted into the anus. All the water flows through the tube and the effect occurs quite quickly. It turns out that feces washed

Should I do just such an enema? It's up to you to decide. Not everyone will be able to carry out the procedure correctly. If you've never had an enema and don't have an Esmarch mug, it might be worth trying a microenema.

When is Microlax used?

before childbirth

At a period of 38-42 weeks, with strong, prolonged contractions, but before the amniotic fluid leaves, Microlax can be administered instead of a cleansing enema. It is much more convenient, easier and faster. In many maternity hospitals, the use of microenemas Normacol and Microlax in preparation for childbirth has already become a practice.

There is no need to use Microlax before a cesarean section.

before visiting a proctologist

To make the large intestine accessible for medical examination, X-ray or endoscopic examination, in case of appropriate complaints, Microlax can be used.

Since the large intestine must be completely emptied, 2 microenemas are necessary for preparation.

First, the first one is introduced, after 5-20 minutes the emptying caused by it passes, after 10 minutes the second one is introduced. After the second, bowel movement may not occur, this means that the intestines were cleansed first, there is no need to worry.

It is necessary to cleanse the intestines 1.5 - 2 hours after eating. Between emptying it and visiting the doctor, you should not eat food; drinking water is acceptable.

If there are external injuries to the anus, internal hemorrhoids, rectal fissures, the use of Microlax and its analogues may cause irritation and burning.

If there are any injuries and hemorrhages from the anus, cleansing procedures by any means must be agreed with a doctor; they may not be necessary.

for newborns

Since Microlax is not absorbed into the bloodstream and does not accumulate in the mucous membrane, it is used to relieve constipation in infants.

Why is there a need for the drug? In a newly born child, the functions of the gastrointestinal tract organs are at the stage of formation. The intestinal microflora is just beginning to fill up, the enzyme system is getting better, and the contractions of the small intestine are being streamlined. It is the uneven contraction of the intestinal walls that causes intestinal colic.

Artificial feeding or unbalanced nutrition of a nursing mother can cause constipation in the baby.

How it is administered to newborns The set of actions is the same as for adults, but the tip should be inserted to a special mark in its middle, and not along its entire length!

In the body of a child, the components of the drug act in the same way as in an adult.

To help the baby, immediately after administering Microlax you need to massage the tummy. Use light circular movements around the navel in a clockwise direction, without closing the circle, until the effect of the drug appears.

Similar to its use in adults, Microlax cannot be administered to newborns on a permanent basis. It is necessary to eliminate the causes of constipation with a balanced diet, herbal infusions, and enzyme preparations as prescribed by the pediatrician!

What is a microenema?

This is a small plastic tube with a special tip, inside there is a solution to loosen the intestines. Such microenemas are easily sold in pharmacies (microlax, norgalax, glycelax). Anyone can use the microenema; it comes with fairly simple instructions. After 10-15 minutes you will feel the urge to defecate.

A regular water enema is much more effective than microenemas, but microenemas are easier to use. In addition, you can take a microenema with you to the maternity hospital and administer it in the prenatal ward.

Even if not all of your intestines are emptied, the maternity hospital staff will be grateful to you.

If you have time, you can give a microenema a second time about an hour after the first.

How to do an enema correctly?

For any enema, be it an Esmarch mug or a microenema, the recommendations are similar:

• prepare the enema (release air and water or remove the cap);
• lie on your side;
• bend your knees;
• lubricate the tip with Vaseline or rich baby cream;
• carefully insert the tip into the anus;
• pour in water or squeeze out the contents of the tube (the water is poured in carefully and gradually as you feel the intestines being filled);
• you need to go to the toilet almost immediately if it is a classic water enema, or stay in the same position for 10 minutes if it is a microenema.

Ideally, the enema should not be given by the pregnant woman herself , but by someone whom she trusts and is not embarrassed about.

Features of the procedure if a woman is bothered by hemorrhoids

The procedure is the same, but with hemorrhoids you need to be very careful, it all depends on its stage.

If hemorrhoids manifest themselves only in the form of pain during bowel movements and spotting, an enema can be done independently with caution.

If the nodes are very painful and there is a lot of blood, it is better not to do a classic enema at home, but to arrange for it to be done in the maternity hospital only if the obstetrician-gynecologist .

The enema tip must be inserted very carefully so that it does not rest against a dense and painful hemorrhoidal node inside the rectum.

For hemorrhoids, it is still preferable not to use a water enema in volumes of up to one and a half liters, but rather a soft microenema. Because leaching and sudden bowel movements can cause even more harm, increasing pressure on the veins and causing the formation of new microcracks.

The best option for hemorrhoids is the most gentle and laxative diet a few days before childbirth and a microenema with the onset of contractions or the removal of the plug. No one can predict the day of birth, so it is advisable to scrupulously follow such a diet starting from 39 weeks. These are fermented milk products (yogurt, kefir), fresh and boiled vegetables, laxative fruits, and maximum flour breads or crackers.

Use of the drug

The drug is intended for rectal administration. Before using the drug, you should wash your hands well and also clean the skin in the rectal area. The seal from the microenema should be removed immediately before use. After removing the seal, press slightly on the tube until a certain amount of solution appears. Then the tip must be inserted into the rectum, squeezing out all its contents from the tube. The microenema should be removed with the walls of the tube compressed.

In addition, the annotation contains some recommendations. For patients over three years of age, the tip must be inserted into the rectum along its entire length. For children under 3 years old, the tip is inserted halfway - there is a special mark on it. The frequency of use of the laxative solution, as well as the exact dosage, should be determined by a specialist.

Most often, adult patients and children over 3 years of age are prescribed a single use of one microenema containing 5 ml of solution. Children under 3 years of age are recommended to use the product in an individual dosage.

In addition, experts do not recommend using Microlax for a long time. If a patient has chronic constipation, he should consult a doctor about prescribing a special therapeutic regimen.

According to reviews, Microlax is often used before childbirth instead of an enema, and this procedure is considered quite effective.

Natural enema

Gynecologists and “experienced” pregnant women have such a concept as a natural enema. People say that the body “cleanses itself before childbirth.” That is, in the last stages, diarrhea and diarrhea, and even vomiting, may suddenly begin. This cleaning can continue for 24 hours . In this way, the intestines and stomach are cleansed, and usually at the same time weak contractions begin, which the pregnant woman herself may not even feel.

Such a natural enema is one of the main harbingers of labor ; it is even more reliable than a mucus plug, indicating that labor will begin within the next few days or even hours.

After such cleaning, the pregnant woman must be fully prepared to go to the maternity hospital at any time; all bags and belongings must be collected and documents prepared.

Do I need to do an enema after a “natural enema”? If more than two days have passed since the cleansing, you can try a regular enema. If less, it’s better to do a microenema .

And in any case, you must definitely tell the doctor at the maternity hospital about cleansing the body and about an enema or microenema.

A natural enema does not happen to everyone. This is not a reason to worry. Labor can begin without any cleansing with contractions or water breaking. Like abdominal prolapse, a natural enema, as opposed to a plug or contractions, is very individual.