Constipation in Early Pregnancy

Constipation is a common problem for pregnant women in the initial stages of the pregnancy. The most common reason for the problem is the change in the hormonal levels. During the first trimester of pregnancy there is an increase in the progesterone hormones, which slows down the movement of food through the digestive tract. As the muscles in the wall of the bowel relaxes, it becomes difficult to move the food and eliminate the waste. Later on, as the uterus starts to swell and push against the stomach and other organs as it grows, the problem of constipation can persist. Most of the time the constipation in early pregnancy is accompanied by heartburn. This is because of the slower emptying of the stomach, causing the release of increased stomach acid to aid digestion. Here is a list of the common causes and treatment options for pregnant women, who are suffering from this problem.

Causes of Constipation in Early Pregnancy

Release of Progesterone Hormone: The primary cause of constipation in the early stages of pregnancy is due to the body releasing the progesterone hormone which is essential for the female body, that starts carrying a child inside it. These hormones are released to soften the muscles and ligaments which is an essential procedure, to prepare a woman's body for the necessary expansion, needed to accommodate the developing baby and also for childbirth. However, this softening of the intestinal muscles result in slowing down of the digestive system, which can inadvertently lead to constipation in early pregnancy.

Prenatal Vitamins: Another reason for constipation during pregnancy is the consumption of prenatal vitamins which pregnant women may need to take in order to supplement their regular diets. The constipation is caused by the presence of iron in these vitamins. Many pregnant women need the extra iron in their bodies, to be able to cope with the tremendous growth and change in the body. In addition, iron supplements also help keep anemia at bay and keep the blood stronger.

Diet: Women who are prone to morning sickness may lose much of their water through vomiting. In addition, women who lose their appetites during pregnancy due to nausea and vomiting, may not consume enough dietary fiber, thus increasing the chances of constipation during pregnancy. Also, high consumption of dehydrating fluids like caffeine, enriched tea, coffee and alcohol or even a simple change in the dietary habits may cause constipation during early pregnancy.

Stress: Stress can also result in constipation during pregnancy. This is often aggravated by insufficient amounts of sleep.

Certain Diseases: Diseases such as the Parkinson’s disease, stroke, diabetes, uremia, scleroderma can induce constipation in pregnant women.

Symptoms of Constipation in Early Pregnancy

Constipation in early pregnancy is accompanied by certain characteristic symptoms. These include:

• Straining
• Hard stools
• Painful elimination and bloating
• Backaches
• Heartburn
• Mental Stress
• Other mental and physical problems
• Tired and sleeplessness

Gas and bloating are usually more intense for a pregnant woman, as are the chances of developing hemorrhoids or unintentionally creating tissue tears and cracks in the anus and rectum from straining, which causes bleeding.

Treatment of Constipation in Early Pregnancy

For treating the symptoms of constipation during pregnancy, doctors recommend eating fiber rich food, drinking sufficient water and doing some mild exercises.

Fibre-rich food: A is important, since, it pushes the intestines to work harder and absorbs liquid. This ensures that the feces do not dry out, but remain soft, which helps in eliminating waste matter easily from the body. Foods such as fruit, vegetables, wholewheat bread, breakfast cereals, prunes and prune juice contain lots of fibre.

Drink Lots of Water: Pregnant women should aim for at least six tumblers of fluid per day, to eliminate the possibility of constipation. Moderate amounts of tea, a little coffee or some fruit juice is good for pregnant women.

Exercise: Mild pregnancy exercises help in gently stimulating the bowel, which in turn leads to improved digestion. Rather than straining yourself, try walking or swimming for about 20 to 30 minutes, three times a week. This will aid in digestion and also help in enhancing the general well being and fitness, in preparation for the actual delivery.

Although, constipation is not a severe problem, in case it is accompanied by abdominal pain, alternate bouts of diarrhea, passing of mucus or blood, then you need to call your doctor or midwife immediately, in order to evaluate the condition.