Constipation During Pregnancy

A person is said to have constipation, when he or she has difficulty passing stools.Constipation can be found in people of all ages, however, it is very common in pregnant women. Pregnancy increases the risk of a woman having constipation due to a variety of factors.

During pregnancy a woman's body releases high amounts of progesterone, which lessens the speed of food digestion. This is one of the main causes of constipation occurring during pregnancy. The risk of a woman getting constipation rises in the final stages or in the third trimester of gestation period, because there is an added pressure on the lower intestines by the constantly growing uterus. Some women are asked to take iron or calcium supplements during pregnancy to avoid anemia; however, this can also give rise to constipation in pregnancy. Another cause of constipation is taking complete bed rest due to certain complications. Other causes include no exercise and faulty eating habits.

Although it is not usually very serious, it can cause great discomfort for the pregnant woman. One would experience a bloating sensation in the stomach, which can lead to irritation. A severe case of constipation can lead to hemorrhoids, commonly known as piles, due to which swelling appears on the veins of the anal muscles, which may cause severe pain and bleeding as well.

Normally, these complications do not have long term effects and go away after the birth of the child. But, having constipation is a difficult experience, hence there are certain precautions that one has to follow, to avoid constipation.

Many times, constipation occurs to lack of nutritious and fibrous diet. Hence, it is important for every pregnant woman to consume foods like vegetables, fruits, bran, cereals and whole grain breads, etc, which are high in fiber. Some doctors also recommend the intake of fibrous supplements like Citrucel, psyllium powder or Metamucil.

Along with fibrous foods, it is also very important to drink lots of water. A pregnant woman is expected to drink minimum eight glasses of water. Intake of juices, especially prune juice, is also recommended. However, a woman should totally avoid drinks that contain alcohol or caffeine.

Exercises are also a good way of treating and avoiding the problem of constipation. One should do mild exercises like walking or swimming every day, for at least 20-30 minutes. Exercising can help in easy digestion and excretion of waste products, without any difficulty.

Certain laxatives like suppositories or castor oil can help in softening the stool in the large intestine. However, these laxatives should not be used without the advise of the physician, as they can prove hazardous to the health of the baby. Laxatives can hasten labor pain in a woman, cause contractions in the uterus and also cause dehydration.

Iron supplements consumed in small doses can lessen the risk of constipation. Also, if a pregnant woman is consuming a healthy and nutritious diet, not much of extra iron or calcium supplements would be required.

Sometimes, constipation can also be caused due to holing back the urge to go to the washroom, for different reasons. A pregnant woman should completely avoid this, as it would later make her feel uneasy and constipated.

Though usually constipation does not have any harmful effects on the baby, it is really important that a pregnant woman be careful of what she consumes and does, to avoid any further problems in her pregnancy.