Pregnant and constipated what can i do
Constipation in Pregnancy: 5 Fool-Proof Remedies
Infrequent bowel movements. Abdominal pain. The passage of hard stools.
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.
Why Am I Constipated?
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, according to a study published in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica.
From over-the-counter pills to natural cures, there are a whole host of remedies available for relieving constipation.
But when pregnancy’s involved, the number of solutions shrinks.
These five remedies are pregnancy-safe.
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A diet high in fiber helps prevention constipation. It also supplies pregnant women with vitamins and antioxidants.
Pregnant women should try to consume 25 to 30 grams of dietary fiber each day to stay regular and healthy.
Good choices include fresh fruits, vegetables, beans, peas, lentils, bran cereals, prunes, and whole-grain bread.
Try cutting up some raspberries, apples, bananas, figs, and strawberries for a refreshing fruit salad. Or roast some sweet corn, Brussels sprouts, and carrots for a delightful side dish.
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It’s important to stay hydrated during pregnancy. That might mean doubling your water intake.
Pregnant women should drink at least eight 12-ounce glasses of water a day. This will help keep your bowels soft and moving smoothly through your digestive tract.
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Try breaking up your daily food intake into five or six smaller meals to help with constipation relief.
This will allow the stomach to digest food without having to work overtime, and allow it to transfer food to the intestine and colon smoothly.
Eating large meals can overload your stomach and make it harder for your digestive system to process what you’ve consumed.
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Regular physical activity can help reduce constipation. Exercise stimulates your bowels. Pregnant women should try to exercise three times a week for 20 to 30 minutes each.
The options for exercise are endless. Try walking down your favorite hiking path, swimming at your local gym, or practicing prenatal yoga on a relaxing afternoon.
Check with your doctor about what exercises are safe for you and your baby.
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If other natural options have failed, doctors will sometimes prescribe stool softeners like Colace on a short-term basis to help pregnant women with constipation. Colace stool softeners are available online. However, long-term use can lead to dehydration or change your electrolyte balance.
Stool softeners help moisten your bowels so they are easier to pass. They are especially useful for pregnant women taking constipation-causing iron supplements. Doctors will often prescribe softeners along with iron pills. You can find a variety of iron supplements here.
Stool softeners are medications, so it’s best to check with your doctor if they are safe for you.
Takeaway
Constipation relief during pregnancy is common, and it can be remedied.
Just follow the steps above to help ease the discomfort of backed up bowels while you wait for your little one to arrive.
Tips for a Healthy and Happy Pregnancy6 Natural Constipation Remedies
Constipation can be an uncomfortable problem to have. But many people experience it from time to time, especially while pregnant or taking certain medications.
There are many potential causes of constipation. There are also many treatment options. Adjusting your lifestyle habits or reaching for home remedies may be all you need to treat occasional constipation.
Take the time to learn about some of the best natural remedies for constipation.
Staying in bed all day may seem like a nice way to spend a lazy Sunday. But skipping your morning bathroom break can lead to problems.
Not going to the bathroom regularly can cause your stools to harden and your intestines to slow their motion. Try to go to the bathroom before bedtime and first thing in the morning. Not everyone needs to go at these times, but following a regular schedule can help. You may be able to ward off future bouts of constipation by getting up and moving around at the same time every day.
You might not feel like taking a trip to the gym when you’re backed up, but exercise may provide the relief you need. Going for a walk or run, for example, can help stimulate the muscles in your intestines and colon. Any physical movement helps the bowels move things through.
To help prevent and relieve constipation, make exercise a regular part of your routine. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week.
That’s equivalent to 30 minutes of aerobic exercise per day, five days a week. If that seems like too much for you, set a smaller goal to start. Try to get some physical activity every day to stay regular.
Drinking enough fluids can also help prevent and treat constipation. It can help move food through your digestive system and stop stool from hardening.
In general, you should aim to drink about nine cups of liquid a day if you’re a woman and 13 cups if you’re a man. If you’re constipated or taking fiber supplements, you may need to drink more. Ask your doctor for guidance.
Though water is an ideal choice, don’t discount the benefits of other beverages. Green tea, black tea, coffee, and other drinks can all count towards your daily fluid intake.
Getting enough fiber in your diet is crucial. There are two main types of fiber: soluble fiber soaks up water, which helps keep your stool soft; insoluble fiber adds bulk to your stool, which helps it move through your digestive system faster.
To help treat mild cases of constipation, try eating easy-to-digest foods that are high in fiber, such as berries, bananas, prunes, or avocado. To prevent future problems, include plenty of fiber-rich foods in your diet, including vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. You may also benefit from a daily fiber supplement, such as psyllium husk (Metamucil).
Getting enough magnesium in your diet might also help relieve constipation. Oral magnesium supplements function as osmotic laxatives. That means they pull water into your digestive system, which helps soften your stool.
You can purchase magnesium capsules at health food stores and pharmacies. You can also get magnesium from food sources. Talk to your doctor before talking magnesium if you have a history of kidney problems. Conveniently, most foods that are high in magnesium are also high in fiber. For example, whole grains and dark leafy greens are good sources of both.
According to Dr. Arielle Miller Levitan, an Illinois-based internal medicine specialist, eating a tablespoon or two of coconut oil each day might help lubricate your intestines.
In turn, this may help prevent constipation. Ask your doctor if this remedy might work for you.
If the idea of swallowing a spoonful of coconut oil doesn’t appeal to you, there are other ways to add it to your diet. For example, you could mix it into your morning coffee or blend it with vinegar for a simple salad dressing.
The next time you feel a little constipated, try these home remedies. They may be all you need to get your bowels moving again.
If these remedies don’t work, or you find that you’re chronically constipated, talk to your doctor. They might recommend lifestyle changes, medication changes, or other treatments. In some cases, chronic constipation is caused by another underlying health condition. Your doctor can help you identify and treat the cause
Constipation during pregnancy: causes, recommendations
In addition, constipation in pregnant women may be caused by changes in the nature of food, the use of smooth muscle-relaxing drugs (lowering uterine activity, progesterone) 3 or mineral supplements containing iron and calcium4.
Sometimes a woman has to lie down all the time, and at least minimal physical activity is necessary to maintain a normal bowel movement 3 . Another reason for the formation of constipation in pregnant women can be a decrease in fluid intake, starting from the earliest dates 4 .
In addition, constipation in pregnant women may be caused by changes in the nature of food, the use of smooth muscle-relaxing drugs (lowering uterine activity, progesterone) 3 or mineral supplements containing iron and calcium4. Sometimes a woman has to lie down all the time, and at least minimal physical activity is necessary to maintain a normal bowel movement 3 . Another reason for the formation of constipation in pregnant women can be a decrease in fluid intake, starting from the earliest dates 4 .
Thus, low bowel tone during pregnancy is generally initially protective, but may result in constipation 1 .
Possible complications of constipation in pregnancy
Gestational constipation can not only drastically reduce the quality of life, but also pose a certain threat to the well-being of the pregnant woman and the fetus.
Prolonged stagnation of feces can lead to a series of disorders, among other things, to the activation of opportunistic microorganisms. The penetration of microbes and their metabolic products through the intestinal wall can be at least a predisposing factor, and sometimes a direct cause of complicated pregnancy, problems in childbirth and the postpartum period 1 .
Disruption of the normal balance of the colonic microbiota during constipation may later cause a change in the composition of the microflora of the cervical canal.
This condition can cause intrauterine ascending infection and the occurrence of various complications of the gestation period.
The course of pregnancy against the background of stagnation in the large intestine can lead to the threat of interruption, untimely discharge of amniotic fluid, inflammation of the uterine mucosa 1 .
The pathological increase in intestinal permeability caused by constipation impairs its barrier function, and even after childbirth it may not fully recover. That is why constipation is a situation that cannot be ignored and must be treated 1 .
Disruption of the normal balance of the colonic microbiota during constipation may later cause a change in the composition of the microflora of the cervical canal. nine0029
This condition can cause intrauterine ascending infection and the occurrence of various complications of the gestation period. The course of pregnancy against the background of stagnation in the large intestine can lead to the threat of termination, untimely discharge of amniotic fluid, inflammation of the uterine mucosa 1 .
The pathological increase in intestinal permeability caused by constipation impairs its barrier function, and even after childbirth it may not fully recover. That's why constipation is a situation that cannot be ignored and must be treated 1 .
Treatment of gestational constipation
The main rules for the prevention and treatment of constipation in pregnant women are primarily diet and recommendations for increasing physical activity 4 . Treatment of constipation, especially in pregnant women, begins with dietary measures 4 .
For a laxative purpose, foods rich in indigestible plant fibers (fiber) are introduced into the menu. There are many such substances in raw fruits and vegetables, wholemeal bread 4 .
In terms of nutritional properties, wheat bran is considered the most acceptable for human consumption, which can be added 2-3 teaspoons to prepared meals 3 .
Prunes, kefir, dried apricots are considered products that help relieve constipation. The menu is recommended to include beets, zucchini, cabbage, lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes. It is recommended to limit the consumption of strong tea and coffee, sweets and cocoa, flour dishes in the diet 3 . nine0009
It may also be necessary to correct the mode of motor activity, the amount of which is discussed with the doctor 3 . Gymnastics, walking or swimming in the pool may be recommended for a pregnant woman, if this is not contraindicated for health reasons 4 .
In some cases, despite following all recommendations, it may be necessary to use laxatives 4 . The choice of a possible drug cannot be made independently, because self-medication with laxatives during pregnancy is especially undesirable 1 .
The use of any medicine during pregnancy carries certain risks that only a doctor can weigh.
Therefore, only with medical permission, laxatives may be recommended. One of the laxatives that can be prescribed by a doctor to pregnant women starting from the 2nd trimester is Guttalax®: in the 1st trimester of pregnancy, the drug is contraindicated, in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy it is used with caution. Guttalax® is available in drops and tablets5,6. In view of the lack of studies, the use of Guttalax® tablets during pregnancy is recommended only in cases where the potential benefit to the mother outweighs the possible risk to the fetus. During pregnancy, the drug can be used only after consultation with a specialist. nine0009
More about the drug
To increase the efficiency of preparation for the study, the individual functional state of the large intestine is also taken into account.
If you have chronic constipation, you need to pay special attention to diet. In preparation for research, Guttalax® Express can be used in suppositories 8 . nine0102 The active substance - bisacodyl - becomes active and acts only in the lumen of the large intestine, therefore it does not affect the digestion and absorption of nutrients in the small intestine 8 . The drug Guttalax® Express enhances peristalsis, stimulates the natural process of bowel movement, and softens the stool. The development time of the laxative effect of the drug is 20 minutes (from 10 minutes to 30 minutes, in some cases - 45 minutes) 8 . nine0009
THERE ARE CONTRAINDICATIONS. IT IS NECESSARY TO CONSULT WITH A SPECIALIST.
Manifestations of constipation in pregnant women - signs and symptoms
Co-author, editor and medical expert - Klimovich Elina Valerievna.
Number of Views: 54,600
Last Updated: 12/27/2022
Average Read Time: 4 minutes
Constipation is a common problem during pregnancy.
About 75% of women complain of problems with bowel movements during pregnancy. At the same time, these difficulties remain in about a third of women after childbirth. nine0009
Contents:
Detailed description of the symptoms
What constipation can cause in a pregnant woman
Our body constantly produces substances that stimulate bowel movements. During pregnancy, the susceptibility of the intestinal muscles to various kinds of irritants is significantly reduced. The change in the intensity of intestinal reactions is due to the fact that it has a common innervation * with the uterus, because of this, any excessive activation of peristalsis can provoke contractile activity of the uterus. This can be a threat to the child. Unfortunately, this defensive reaction has unpleasant consequences - constipation. Often they occur between 17 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. nine0009
Clinically, constipation in pregnant women is manifested by several main symptoms:
- stool retention for more than 3 days and problems with passing gases, flatulence;
- unpleasant feeling of incomplete emptying of the bowels;
- the need to strain during bowel movements;
- painful stools;
- "sheep feces" (hard, dry, fragmented feces).
In the event of constipation, you should always seek medical advice, especially if you notice deterioration and pain. nine0009
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Detailed description of symptoms
Constipation is characterized by decreased stool frequency. It happens that a pregnant woman manages to empty her intestines only once a week or less. The consistency of feces changes, discomfort and pain in the abdomen (often in its left half), there is a feeling of dissatisfaction after the stool.
Atonic constipation is characterized by very painful defecation, which occurs with great difficulty. Due to microscopic tears of the mucous membrane of the anus, streaks of blood may appear on the surface of the feces. Spasmodic constipation is characterized by fragmented stools ("sheep feces"). This condition is often accompanied by flatulence, a feeling of pressure, expansion, spasmodic pains in the abdomen. With prolonged constipation, there may be a feeling of lethargy, fatigue, a significant decrease in efficiency.
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Pain in a pregnant woman occurs for no apparent reason or may be the result of excitement or physical exertion. Attacks of acute pain or exacerbation of constant discomfort, as a rule, are associated with negative emotions. The pain can be of varying strength, for example, in some cases it radiates to the lower back, leg, anus, and even the genitals. In some pregnant women, along with abdominal pain, there is a burning sensation in the rectum and itching in the anus. Nausea, bitterness in the mouth are often noted; passing gases is difficult. nine0009
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What can cause constipation in a pregnant woman
Feces in the rectum, which a pregnant woman cannot get rid of for a long time, bring her considerable discomfort. However, these are not the only consequences of constipation.
- The large intestine mucosa is characterized by absorptive capacity; in case of constipation, not only water is absorbed into the blood, but also various toxic metabolic products.
Intoxication of the woman and the fetus can lead to negative consequences and disrupt the development of the child in the future. nine0145 - Due to overflowing with dense feces, the rectum presses on the uterus, which leads to irritation. Despite the fact that the sensitivity of the uterus during pregnancy is reduced, there is a certain risk of increased uterine tone and, as a result, premature birth.
- In case of constipation, the intestine presses on the uterus and pelvic vessels, which disrupts the outflow of blood from them. For this reason, hemorrhoids can occur, which is manifested by the appearance of blood in the stool.
Constipation in a pregnant woman is a serious problem. To solve it, contact your doctor.
*Innervation - the supply of organs and tissues with nerve fibers, which ensures their connection with the central nervous system (CNS).
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The information in this article is for reference only and does not replace professional medical advice.
