If you’re pregnant, you’ve probably experienced these three familiar signs of constipation. Hormonal changes, pressure on the womb, and the iron in prenatal vitamins are to blame. An increase in the progesterone hormone during pregnancy causes the relaxation of your body’s muscles. That includes your intestines. And slower moving intestines means slower digestion. This can lead to constipation. Constipation is common during pregnancy. Almost three out of four pregnant women will experience constipation and other bowel issues at some point.
Constipation is a common complaint among pregnant women. It could even be one of the first signs that you’re expecting. But, that doesn’t mean you have to suffer. There are a number of things you can do to help get things moving and stay regular again.
In this post, we will cover the causes, risks, and remedies of constipation during pregnancy. We’ll even let you know which over-the-counter meds are considered safe to take.
Constipation can be quite unpleasant, but unfortunately extremely common during pregnancy. And as your belly gets bigger and you get toward the end of your pregnancy, the pressure of your growing uterus on your rectum only exacerbates the issue.
There are a number of reasons that could be the cause of your pregnancy constipation.
It might even be a combination of them:
- Progesterone Levels: What can’t you blame on hormones? Progesterone levels are elevated during pregnancy, and this hormone is known to relax the muscles in the digestive tract, causing bowels to pass slowly through the intestines.
- Iron Supplements: Although iron is an important nutrient during pregnancy, constipation can be a side effect of getting too much. Iron supplements are notorious for causing GI upsets, so you may need to speak with your midwife or doctor about switching to a prenatal vitamin with less iron. You may even be better off getting iron strictly from foods if you continue to have problems.
- Dehydration: Pregnancy makes you more prone to dehydration, as your body is using more water to help form the placenta and amniotic sac. If you’re dehydrated, your body struggles to perform normal functions and it can even lead to some serious complications.
- Lack Of Activity: As your belly gets bigger, it can become harder to stay active, or at least stay motivated, which is important for keeping you regular.
- Stress: Pregnancy can be a stressful time, especially as you get closer and closer to your due date. Your brain and your gut talk back and forth, and stress can start holding everything up.
If you find yourself having difficulty going to the toilet, you may need to try these 10 pregnancy-safe home remedies to get things moving again.
- Plenty Of Fluids: Drinking lots of water throughout the day will help flush things through. Make sure you’re getting at least ten 8-ounce glasses of water a day to replace lost fluids.
- Get Moving: Moving helps things get moving! Walking, swimming, and yoga are all great exercises for your pregnant body.
- Warm Bath: A nice warm soak will help relax your stomach muscles and will encourage stools to move through.
- Increase Fiber Intake: High-fiber foods help remove undigested food from your intestines and into the toilet. Broccoli, berries, beans, brown rice, and green leafy vegetables all work wonders to help you go.
- Drink Lemon Water: Take the juice from half a lemon, mix it into a glass of water, and drink before you go to bed. The water helps soften the stool, and the lemon has a high acidic content, which works on the GI tract to get things moving.
- Eat ‘P’ Foods: Many ‘P’ foods contain sorbitol, which acts as a natural laxative. Pears, prunes, peaches, peas, and pumpkin all work great for remedying constipation. I would drink a glass of prune juice when I would get backed up when I was pregnant with baby No. 2 and it worked every time.
- Up Your Vitamin C: High doses of vitamin C is known to loosen the bowels. Try eating foods that are high in vitamin C, like broccoli, bell peppers, and strawberries, or add in a supplement. Be sure not go over 2,000 milligrams per day though, including your prenatal vitamin.
- Add In Some Probiotics: The probiotic strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium encourage healthy bowels and help regulate the digestive system.Yogurt and kefir are both great options for adding in some healthy gut bacteria to your diet.
- Magnesium: Magnesium directs water to the stools, making them softer and easier to pass. Be sure you’re getting 350 milligrams per day by eating magnesium-rich foods, such as dark chocolate, spinach, nuts, and fish .
- Use A Squatty Potty: The angle makes all the difference when it comes to pooping, and the squatty potty puts your body into a natural squatting position that helps prevent straining, constipation, and even hemorrhoids. Plus, it also helps you with getting ready to push during labor!
Continue to drink lots of fluids, stay active, and consume foods with fiber, probiotics, and magnesium throughout your pregnancy.These are vital for a healthy pregnancy and will help prevent your constipation from returning.
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