ADVERTISEMENT
Subscribe to our Newsletter:
Healthy Diet Plans >>  Diet for Professionals and Conditions >>  Pregnant Women >>  Pregnancy And Constipation

Constipation And Gas In Early Pregnancy - Tips For Constipation

Several women experience constipation during pregnancy and it can be a very uncomfortable situation. This generally happens because the digestive system is affected by hormonal changes. That is why it is even more important to pay attention to diet and exercise.

The body produces more of female hormones during pregnancy, and it is these hormones that ensure a smooth pregnancy. But on the other hand, the same hormones slow down a woman’s intestinal movements. The hormone called progesterone is a muscle relaxant and relaxes all muscles including those that control bowel movement.
Increasing the fiber and fluids in one’s diet is the best way to prevent constipation.

Signs Of Constipation In Pregnancy - How To Treat Them ?

  • A gap of four days or more between every bowel movement
  • The stools are hard and it becomes to difficult to pass them
  • The person also feels that the entire amount of stools haven’t been passed
  • Bleeding in the rectum can happen due to hard stools
  • Lower abdomen pain can be cause because of constipation
  • In a few cases, constipation can also create difficulties while giving birth
  • What can be done to prevent constipation: The change in hormonal levels causes one to become constipated but a lot of fiber in the daily diet, sufficient fluids and enough exercise can prevent constipation. Lack of exercise, anxiety and less intake of fluids too contributes substantially to this problem. Iron supplements cause constipation too.
  • Eat food that is rich in fiber. Your body would need about 25-30 grams of fiber every day, and you can get that by eating cereals, whole grain bread, fruits, and vegetables.
  • Keep your body hydrated with fluids, especially water. Also, since you will be eating more fiber, you will need to drink more fluids along with it. So drink about 10-12 glasses of water every day.
  • Regular exercise is very important too. Incorporate at least 25-30 minutes of low-impact or moderate exercise a few times a week. This will increase blood circulation and decrease muscle lethargy and will promote bowel movement.
  • You might like to consult your physician about over the counter medication to treat constipation.
  • Speak to your doctor and see if you can reduce the intake of iron supplements. Maybe you can eat iron-rich foods instead of take that extra tablet of iron.
  • Sometimes health care experts might recommend stool softeners as these add moisture to the stools and then you can pass them easily. But you need to consult your doctor before using a laxative.
  • See if you are consuming too much of calcium as too much of it can harden your stool. If you are eating too much of calcium, speak to your nutritionist and see if you can reduce the intake of dairy foods.

Submitted on January 16, 2014