Constipation is having trouble emptying your bowels on a regular basis, often referred to as “feeling bound up.”
Some people may see hard and small pellets, while others may have normal-shaped bowel movements with a feeling of still being full and uncomfortable. Although some amount of pregnancy constipation is normal, frequent bouts can lead to pain, worsening nausea and hemorrhoids.
What causes it?
The hormone progesterone increases during pregnancy. It causes all of the smooth muscles in your intestine to slow down, and the result can be constipation. Due to morning sickness, many people in the first trimester struggle to drink enough water and eat less fiber than they normally would. Later in pregnancy, the weight of your uterus and baby can often make it harder for stool to pass through your digestive tract. It can also make it harder to push or strain when needed to pass stool.
Tips for dealing with constipation
Try slowly working fiber into your diet along with additional fruits, vegetables and whole grains. If first trimester nausea is getting you down, try a smoothie mixed with plain yogurt and fruit, or whole-grain toast. Remember that when increasing fiber intake, it’s essential to also drink enough water to keep things moving.
In addition to changing what you eat, moving your body can go a long way towards helping with constipation.
If you’ve tried changing up your diet and routine but still find you’re suffering — talk to your OB provider. Stool softeners are commonly used in pregnancy, and some people even need suppositories or a laxative if the constipation is serious. They’ll be able to give you the support and information you need about medication for constipation.
Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team
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Sources
- Sir John Dewhurst. Dewhurst’s Textbook of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 8th ed. Keith Edmonds. John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2012. Print.
- CS Bradley, CM Kennedy, AM Turcea, SS Rao, IE Nygaard. “Constipation in pregnancy: prevalence, symptoms, and risk factors.” Obstetrics & Gynecology. 110(6):1351-7. Web. 12/10/2015.
