Can you get constipated while pregnant

Constipation During Pregnancy | American Pregnancy Association

Constipation during pregnancy is a common problem and nearly half of all pregnant women get constipated at some point. Constipation occurs when there is abdominal pain or discomfort, difficult and infrequent bowel movements, and the passage of hard stools.

What causes constipation during pregnancy?

In general, worry, anxiety, minimal physical exercise, and a low-fiber diet may cause constipation. Constipation during pregnancy is due to the increase in progesterone hormones that relax the intestinal muscle causing food and waste to move slower through your system.

Sometimes iron tablets may contribute to constipation. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water if you are taking iron supplements. You may need to switch to a different type of iron tablet, but it is important to talk to your health care provider first.

How can I prevent or treat constipation during pregnancy?

Prevention and treatment of constipation involve many of the same steps.

Here are a few things that you can do to help prevent constipation from occurring or treat it if you are already experiencing it:

Eat a high fiber diet: Ideally, you will consume 25 to 30 grams per day of dietary fiber from fruits, vegetables, breakfast cereals, whole-grain bread, prunes, and bran. This helps ensure bulkier stools that are easier to poop.
Drink a lot of fluids: Drinking plenty of fluids is important, particularly when increasing fiber intake helps ensure softer stools. Drink 10 to 12 cups of fluids each day. It is the combination of a high fiber diet and plenty of liquids that best help you eliminate your waste. Sweat, hot/humid climates, and exercise may increase your need for additional fluids.
Exercise routinely: If you are inactive, you have a greater chance of constipation. Walking, swimming and other moderate exercises will help the intestines work by stimulating your bowels. Schedule exercise three times a week for 20-30 minutes each.
Over-the-counter remedies: There are over-the-counter products such as Metamucil (Category B) which may help soften your bowel movements and reduce constipation. Always speak to your health care provider before using over-the-counter medications.
Reduce or eliminate iron supplements: Iron supplements may contribute to constipation. Good nutrition can often meet your iron needs during pregnancy. Taking smaller doses of iron throughout the day rather than taking it all at once can reduce constipation. Talk to your health care provider about checking your iron levels and recommendations to manage iron intake during pregnancy. Find natural ways to get iron here.

What remedies should not be used for constipation during pregnancy?

Laxative pills are NOT recommended for the treatment of constipation during pregnancy because they might stimulate uterine contractions and cause dehydration. Talk to your doctor about taking an over-the-counter fiber supplement or a laxative or stool softener.

Mineral oils should NOT be used during pregnancy because they reduce nutrient absorption.

Is constipation during pregnancy ever serious?

Usually not, but occasionally constipation during pregnancy can be a symptom of another problem. 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.

Also, straining during a bowel movement or passing a hard stool can lead to or worsen hemorrhoids, which are swollen veins in the rectal area. Hemorrhoids can be extremely uncomfortable, though they rarely cause serious problems. In most cases, they go away fairly soon after your baby is born. However, if the pain is severe, or if you have rectal bleeding, call your doctor.

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Compiled using information from the following sources:
Mayo Clinic Guide To A Healthy Pregnancy Harms, Roger W. , M.D., et al, Part 3.
William’s Obstetrics Twenty-Second Ed. Cunningham, F. Gary, et al, Ch. 8.

Constipation During Pregnancy

What are the signs of constipation?

Signs of constipation include many days between bowel movements, small hard stools that are difficult to pass, and lower belly pain.

Why do pregnant women get constipated?

Some of the hormones produced during pregnancy act to slow the movement of the bowel and this can cause you to get constipated. Iron supplements can also make some women get constipated.

What can I do to prevent this?

Eat a diet rich in high-fiber foods such as fresh or dried fruits and vegetables plus high-fiber cereal. If you suddenly eat a lot more fiber, you may get bloating, diarrhea, and gas pressure. If this happens, try increasing the amount slowly over a week or more.

Also, drinking enough water (at least eight glasses per day) and getting regular exercise can all help to prevent constipation.

What can I do if I become constipated?

The first thing to try is to increase the fiber in your diet, drink a lot of water, and exercise regularly. You can also try prunes and prune juice, as these things help to speed up elimination. If these things do not help, see the safe medications page during pregnancy. If you are unable to pass a bowel movement, have severe abdominal pain or rectal bleeding, you should contact your physician.

Chart of Foods and Amount of Fiber

Food	Portion	Dietary Fiber	Soluble	Insoluble
Apple	1 medium	2.9	0.9	2.0
Orange	1 medium	2.0	1.3	0.7
Banana	1 medium	2.0	0.6	1.4
Broccoli	1 stalk	2.7	1.3	1.4
Carrots	1 large	2.9	1. 3	1.6
Tomato	1 small	0.8	0.1	0.7
Potato	1 medium	1.8	1.0	0.7
Corn	2/3 cup	1.6	0.2	1.4
All-Bran	1/2 cup	9.0	1.4	7.6
Fiber One	1/2 cup	14.0	1.0	13.0
Oat Bran	1/2 cup	4.4	2.2	2.2
Cornflakes	1 cup	0.5	0.0	0.5
Rolled Oats	3/4 cup cooked	3.0	1.3	1.7
Whole-wheat Bread	1 slice	1.4	0.3	1.1
White Bread	1 slice	0.4	0.3	0.1
Macaroni	1 cup cooked	0.8	0.5	0.3
Green Peas	2/3 cup cooked	3. 9	0.6	3.3
Kidney Beans	1/2 cup cooked	6.5	1.6	4.9
Pinto Beans	1/2 cup cooked	5.9	1.2	4.7
Lentils	2/3 cup cooked	4.5	0.6	3.9

Resources
Data from Anderson JW, Bridges SR: Dietary fiber content of selected foods. Am J Clin Nutr;47:440-7, 1988 and Bowes AD: Bowes and Church’s Food values of portions commonly used. 14th ed. New York: Harper & Row, 1985.

Treatments for constipation during pregnancy

What is the problem?

The term "constipation" is defined as difficulty in passing stools and reduced frequency of stools (defecations - bowel movements to empty it). Constipation is characterized by discomfort, excessive straining, hard or lumpy stools, a feeling of incomplete emptying, and infrequent bowel movements. Constipation is a common symptom during pregnancy. This may be the result of a combination of factors including hormonal changes (shifts) during pregnancy affecting the digestive system, physical inactivity, and dietary changes during pregnancy. Also, as the fetus (baby) grows, it can compress the mother's intestines and thereby cause bowel delays/obstructions.

Why is this important?

Constipation during pregnancy is associated with impaired quality of life and distress for pregnant women, as well as physical problems, including the development of hemorrhoids. A number of treatment options have been suggested, including the use of medications, nutritional supplements, or dietary changes.

Non-pharmacological interventions (changes in diet, water intake and exercise) are generally recommended initially, and if these are ineffective or insufficient, medical (pharmacological) interventions are recommended. Medical interventions include a wide range of drugs: lubricants (lubricants), bulking agents, osmotic and stimulant laxatives, stool softeners (emollient laxatives), enemas and suppositories (laxatives in suppositories and enemas).

This review looked at the benefits of drug and non-drug interventions for constipation in pregnancy and whether they are safe for women and children.

What evidence did we find?

We identified four studies, but only two studies (a total of 180 women) provided data for analysis. These studies compared stimulant laxatives with bulk laxatives and dietary supplements (dietary fiber) with no intervention. The included studies were considered to be of moderate (moderate) quality.

We have looked at two main comparisons. In the first comparison, we found that stimulant laxatives may be more effective in treating constipation than bulk laxatives ( moderate-quality evidence ). However, it can also lead to more abdominal discomfort ( low-quality evidence ) and diarrhea ( moderate-quality evidence ). We found no difference in women's satisfaction ( moderate quality of evidence ). A second comparison between fiber supplementation and no intervention found that fiber supplementation may be effective in increasing stool frequency ( moderate-quality evidence ). The use of dietary supplements (fibers) was associated with improved stool consistency as defined by the testers (hard stool frequency decreased by 11% to 14%, normal stool frequency increased by 5% to 10%, and loose stool frequency increased by 0% to 6 %).

There were no studies looking at other types of interventions such as osmotic laxatives, stool softeners (stool softener laxatives), lubricants (lubricating laxatives), enemas, and suppositories (suppositories).

What does this mean?

What little evidence exists suggests that dietary supplements rich in fiber (or fiber - bulk laxatives or fillers) may increase stool frequency. When choosing between stimulant or bulk laxatives: stimulant laxatives may provide better relief of constipation, but may be more likely to cause abdominal discomfort and diarrhea.

More research is needed in this area.

Translation notes:

Translation: Dzhumalieva Elnura Mukhodinovna. Editing: Ziganshina Lilia Evgenievna. Project coordination for translation into Russian: Cochrane Russia - Cochrane Russia (branch of the Northern Cochrane Center on the basis of Kazan Federal University). For questions related to this transfer, please contact us at: [email protected]

Treatment of constipation in pregnant women in a private clinic

50% of pregnant women. In a normal state, bowel movements should be daily and in sufficient volume. Any deviations in this process require attention and adjustment of the diet, lifestyle and even psychological attitude. From a physiological point of view, problems in the work of the gastrointestinal tract are explained by hormonal changes and the physiological characteristics of the body of a pregnant woman (under the influence of various processes in different phases of pregnancy, the contraction of the smooth muscles of the intestine is weakened, in addition, the enlarged uterus compresses the intestines, etc.).

Among other - non-medical reasons - the most common are the features of a woman's lifestyle: systematic stress; lack of mobility; lack of fiber; low water intake (not liquids!) and/or high intake of refined foods and foods with a high composition of sugar, homogenized fats and salt (fast food). “Refined foods are refined oils, polished rice, white flour and all the familiar white refined sugar, plus fast food with a high composition of sugar, homogenized fats and salt, which slow down the absorption of nutrients by the body and the passage of food in the intestines” (Laima Lankmane, naturopath, herbalist).

Homeopaths claim that constipation is not only a “problem” of the rectum, “it is a problem of the whole organism as a whole and it must be solved in a complex way” (D.V. Arkhipova, Ph.D., homeopath): for example, this may be an allergic reaction to certain foods. Therefore, constipation is, in principle, an individual problem, and an individual approach will be the most effective solution to the problem: “Even equally pregnant women do not have 2 identical constipations: some had them before pregnancy, others did not eat properly, others did not move. All good wishes for real constipation will work only in 10% of cases. The only right decision is a full-fledged visit to a homeopath, who will approach the solution of the disharmony that has arisen, taking into account all the individual characteristics of a woman, looking at her as an integral unique system ”(A. S. Gavrilenko, obstetrician-gynecologist, Ph.D., homeopath , reflexologist).

First, how NOT to solve the problem of constipation: classic laxatives such as hay, aloe vera and castor oil are contraindicated for pregnant women - they can cause premature contractions.

Now about what is POSSIBLE and NEEDED.

DIET

Need to temporarily eliminate dairy products. “The main milk protein, casein, is one of the most difficult to digest proteins and is also a strong allergen. The fact that cottage cheese itself is capable of causing constipation is probably known to everyone. If you solve the problem with constipation in this way, then carefully introduce natural fermented milk products into the diet (preferably without flavorings and sugar) ”(D.V. Arkhipova, Ph.D., homeopath). It’s not worth worrying that the baby won’t get enough of something - he will take everything he needs from “mother’s reserves”, and the question is not in the amount eaten, but in the amount absorbed by the mother’s body. From the point of view of homeopathy, if you want - eat, no - you don’t need to force yourself, because. food likes and aversions are in accordance with our constitution, and therefore our needs (naturally, this applies to healthy and healthy eating habits).
It is necessary to monitor the fluid used - or rather, drink enough clean water. Volume - from one to three liters per day, if desired, but not less than a liter. “If you don’t feel like drinking water, you need to remove sweet drinks and teas from the diet and compensate for this with clean water (preferably raw, of artesian origin, pleasant to the taste, and even better thawed).” (T.G. Sadovaya, obstetrician, author of the lecture “Nutrition during pregnancy”).
“Dried fruits are obligatory (you can pour prunes with water at night and drink an infusion in the morning), and / or drink a glass of water in the morning on an empty stomach (you can add a little lemon juice there) and a glass of water with honey at night” (I. S. Arefyeva, obstetrician gynecologist).
The diet should have a sufficient amount of fiber: at least 50% of the diet of natural plant foods in raw and processed form (fiber stimulates peristalsis). It can be whole grain cereals, products made from wholemeal flour, fruits before meals or in between, vegetables, berries (the same cranberries help with constipation).
A daily intake of 1 to 3 tablespoons of unrefined oils has a good effect on the body. “Sweet almond oil (food) has a pronounced laxative effect and does not irritate the intestinal wall. Olive and linseed oils, as well as walnut oil, also have a mild laxative effect. Do not forget that unrefined oils should be stored in the refrigerator (with the exception of olive oil), and flaxseed should be eaten within a month after opening the bottle. (O.L. Bannikova, obstetrician).
Add magnesium-rich foods to your diet, such as green leafy vegetables, walnuts and almonds, sunflower seeds (unroasted and preferably pre-soaked for 5-7 hours), green buckwheat and spinach. “You can try this recipe - soak 1 teaspoon of flax seeds in ½ cup of warm water and leave for several hours. Then eat it just like that or add it to porridge, soup” (L. Lankmane, naturopath, phytotherapeutist).
You can try to consume more foods that normalize the balance of intestinal flora - such as kefir (preferably homemade), miso soup, sauerkraut.
You should not get carried away with strong tea, black coffee, cocoa, chocolate, white bread, flour and slimy soups, semolina, blueberries. All these products, like dry food, have a fixing effect. For the time of problems with the gastrointestinal tract, it is better to observe separate fractional meals, drink liquid 15 minutes before meals or some time later, etc. - that is, to facilitate the assimilation of the food consumed as much as possible. Make sure that there are no distortions - the daily diet should be balanced.

HOW TO HELP

You can drink enzymatic preparations for a short time. If these are preparations of animal origin - no more than 7 days, plant enzymes can be taken longer. You can take probiotics, beneficial gut bacteria that aid digestion. Long-term use of these biological products not only normalizes the intestinal flora, but also contributes to a less pronounced manifestation of dysbacteriosis in a newborn child. (D.V. Arkhipova, homeopath, PhD, pediatrician)
Check with the doctor the level of iron - against the background of its deficiency, there may also be disturbances in the work of the intestines. “But keep in mind that some iron-containing dietary supplements, unfortunately, can only worsen this condition (not to mention dosage forms). It is better to add foods rich in iron, such as almonds, pine nuts, apricots, avocados, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, wheat germ ”(L. Lankmane, naturopath, herbalist).
Freshly squeezed juices, diluted 1 to 1 with water 15 minutes before meals, stimulate the production of pancreatic enzymes and aid digestion in the most natural way. (D.V. Arkhipova, homeopath, PhD, pediatrician)
Drink hot - as far as possible - water on an empty stomach, a little later, eat half a banana, chewing it for a long time and soaking it with saliva to a liquid slurry (the banana must be ripe!). (O.L. Bannikova, obstetrician).
Starting from the second trimester, you can use essential oils: exotic basil (Ocimum basilicum in Latin), seaside pine (Pinus Pinaster), saro (Cinnamosma fragrans, Saro), rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora). “Oils should be only edible, of good quality! It is not recommended to use essential oils during the first 3 months of pregnancy. 1st composition - take 1 drop of basil, 2 drops of pine on a small piece of sugar or honey and suck under the tongue in the morning on an empty stomach. 2nd composition - basil 30 drops, rosewood 20 drops, saro 10 drops and 40 drops of apricot kernel oil or any other unrefined food oil. Mix. Take 3 drops of this mixture under the tongue on sugar or honey morning and evening before meals for 5-7 days or as needed. When buying aroma oils, be sure to check whether there is information on the packaging that this oil can be eaten. (O.L. Bannikova, obstetrician)
If this does not help, you can try to use "Duphalac" for a short time.

LIFESTYLE

Enough physical activity, swimming in the pool. Walking for at least one hour. But the load should be increased gradually. To begin with, one lesson should be no more than 30 minutes. The step should be slow, the shoes are comfortable, and the route should be laid away from the roads. Gymnastics for pregnant women for at least 30 minutes daily. As gymnastics, our yoga instructor for pregnant women Svetlana Shnyrova recommends a few simple exercises: