Pregnancy and Constipation

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If you have successfully conceived and are now experiencing the joys of pregnancy I am sure you are now also facing some of the less pleasant aspect of pregnancy. We have all hear of the swollen ankles, the morning sickness, the odd cravings, the backache, but pregnancy and constipation are also something many women have to deal with. You are not alone and it is not something to feel embarrassed about. Somewhere between 30 to 40 per cent of pregnant women deal with constipation at some point in their pregnancy. Here we will look at why pregnancy and constipation can go hand in hand, and what you can do about it.

Pregnancy and constipation – why it happens

When a woman is pregnant the growing uterus adds pressure to your rectum. That along with pregnancy hormones which affect your digestion by slowing it down, can cause constipation. It usually occurs during the 1^st trimester or the 3^rd. Also it may be that the supplements you are taking have too much iron in them, or are just affecting you in that way and causing constipation. In some pregnant women constipation can cause hemorrhoids which are itchy and painful. There are creams that can be used to treat this problem and if you do get them, they usually go away once the baby is born.

What you can do

Go to the toilet as soon as you feel the urge rather than waiting.
Give yourself time and privacy to go so that you do not feel stressed about it.
Look at what you are eating – make sure your diet is high in fiber found in whole grain foods, fresh fruit and vegetables and some cereals. Avoid junk, processed and refined foods.
Drink lots of water, at least 8 glasses a day.
Try drinking prune juice as this can help with constipation.
Get some regular exercise and as well as helping with the constipation it will also help get your body ready for delivery and control your weight gain.
If dietary changes do not help talk to your doctor and he or she can prescribe a safe laxative to use for pregnant women.
Also check that you are not taking in too much calcium as that can also cause constipation.
Establish a time of day when it is time to go such as 30 minutes after breakfast each day.
Use a footrest to give you support and lessen how much you strain.