Of all the many changes that happen to your body during pregnancy, constipation may be one of the most inconvenient. It’s a common problem that affects almost half of all pregnant women, according to the American Pregnancy Association.
There’s no single reason why constipation accompanies pregnancy, though hormone changes play a big role. Coping with constipation is an important battle.
Visit us at ThriveOB and Women’s Wellness in Barrington, Illinois, for any of your pregnancy-related concerns. We’re here to help you clear the little hurdles on the way to a healthy delivery.
Let’s examine constipation during pregnancy more closely so you can determine what may be causing the problem and how to ease the symptoms safely.
You likely know the symptoms of constipation since most people experience them from time to time prior to pregnancy. Bowel movements become irregular and difficult to pass, taking on a hard, dry texture.
You may need to strain to pass stool, which is sometimes painful. Constipation can also cause abdominal pain and bloating from gas.
Constipation from pregnancy usually appears partway through your first trimester or later, as the increased levels of pregnancy hormones take effect.
Here are some of the reasons why you may be suffering from constipation during pregnancy:
One of the hormones that skyrockets production during pregnancy is progesterone. Its job is to relax smooth muscle tissue like that in the uterus and gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
As the GI tract relaxes, the movement of waste through the intestines also slows. This allows the body to draw more water from the stool, causing it to dry out and become harder to pass.
The demands of pregnancy on your body can leave you in short supply of iron. You need to make more blood to circulate through both the baby’s and your own body, and iron is crucial to this process, which is a reason for taking prenatal supplements.
However, an excess of iron also affects how your intestines break down and absorb nutrients, leading to harder, drier stool.
Your body’s need for water changes, too. Since hormones and iron cause your GI tract to dry out, boosting your water intake can help counteract some causes of constipation.
However, pressure on your bladder increases, too, reducing urine storage, so increasing water consumption may feel counterintuitive with this other effect of pregnancy.
Water is not the only issue with digestion. Your need for dietary fiber may also be increasing.
The extra load your baby adds makes it more difficult to maintain pre-pregnancy activity levels. Water, fiber, and physical activity can help your body overcome constipation, but pregnancy can also make it more difficult.
Managing constipation once it starts isn’t as simple as before you were pregnant. Check with us before choosing a laxative or stool softener, since not all are suitable for use during pregnancy.
Contact us at ThriveOB and Women’s Wellness to discuss your options. Call our appointment line at 847-868-2908 to book your visit today.
