Exercise stimulates your bowels. Pregnant women should try to exercise three times a week for 20 to 30 minutes each. The options for exercise are endless. Try walking down your favorite hiking path, swimming at your local gym, or practicing prenatal yoga on a relaxing afternoon.
If other natural options have failed, doctors will sometimes prescribe stool softeners like Colace on a short-term basis to help pregnant women with constipation. Colace stool softeners are available online. However, long-term use can lead to dehydration or change your electrolyte balance. Stool softeners help moisten your bowels so they are easier to pass.
They are especially useful for pregnant women taking constipation-causing iron supplements. Doctors will often prescribe softeners along with iron pills. You can find a variety of iron supplements here. Just follow the steps above to help ease the discomfort of backed up bowels while you wait for your little one to arrive. Low levels of dietary fibre in your diet can contribute to constipation during pregnancy — as they can at any other time.
There are, however, reasons why constipation is more common during pregnancy. An increase in the pregnancy hormone progesterone can cause your gut to work less efficiently and your food to move more slowly through your intestines.
This is known as reduced gastric motility. Another cause of constipation is the medicines and supplements that some women take during pregnancy. Medicines prescribed for nausea and vomiting , antacids for heartburn , and some strong pain medicines can induce constipation in some women. Supplements like iron and calcium, as well as some multivitamins can also trigger constipation. If you take any of these during your pregnancy and are troubled by constipation, speak with your doctor about whether a change in the formulation of your medicine or supplement can help.
Sometimes a simple change of brands or dose can reduce constipation. However, everyone is different and a formulation that causes constipation for one person might work well for another. Women who have had constipation before pregnancy are, unfortunately, likely to experience worsening of symptoms during pregnancy.
If you have constipation and are planning a pregnancy , try to get into good habits before you become pregnant. Keeping to a healthy diet , drinking plenty of fluids, and doing regular exercise may help you maintain regular bowel motions. The first step in treating constipation is to increase the fluids and fibre in your diet. Eating wholegrain foods, fruit and vegetables can often resolve constipation. If symptoms continue, then fibre supplements or laxatives may be a short-term solution — however, it is always better to stimulate the bowel with a healthy diet rather than take medications.
Taking laxatives can sometimes result in side effects such as abdominal pain and diarrhoea. While most cases of constipation are not a sign of illness, sometimes there are complications such as haemorrhoids , faecal impaction or rectal prolapse. In rare cases, constipation can be caused by more serious conditions such as tumours.
Most laxatives are not well absorbed into the bloodstream and can be taken during pregnancy and breastfeeding , but always check with your pharmacist before taking a medicine while pregnant. There are several reasons why constipation may continue after birth.
Constipation is a common problem during pregnancy: Up to half of pregnant women get constipated at some point. One reason for constipation during pregnancy is an increase in the hormone progesterone, which relaxes muscles throughout the body, including the digestive tract.
This means that food moves through the intestines more slowly. Additionally, there are distinct changes in your blood vessels and total body fluid while pregnant. Your blood vessels dilate so they can hold approximately 50 percent more fluid by the time you deliver. This can lead to symptoms of dehydration, including constipation and headaches. Other factors can include eating a low-fiber diet which many women switch to due to nausea or pregnancy bloating , and reduced physical activity because of pregnancy fatigue and discomfort.
And the problem may be compounded later in pregnancy by the pressure of your growing uterus on your colon and rectum. Iron supplements, especially in high doses, can make constipation worse. It can. Also, your intestines will absorb less water overall, which causes stools to dry out more. Later in your pregnancy, these issues are exacerbated by an enlarging uterus, which may slow the movement of feces through your system. Not usually, but occasionally constipation during pregnancy can be a symptom of another problem.
For example, health conditions that can cause constipation include:. If you have severe constipation that's accompanied by abdominal pain, alternates with diarrhea, or you pass mucus or blood, call your doctor or midwife immediately. Constipation can cause other problems, too. One of the most common is hemorrhoids , which are swollen veins in the rectum and anus. These are common in pregnancy due to the natural pressure put on your abdomen.
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Constipation and pregnancy: What to know. Medically reviewed by Holly Ernst, P. Causes Home remedies Other treatments Complications When to see a doctor Constipation is a very common symptom that many women experience during pregnancy.
Home remedies. Other treatments. When to see a doctor.
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