Having a baby is a significant moment in a woman’s life. Feeling those flutters and kicks inside you is a magical reminder that you have created another human being who will bring joy to your home a few weeks from now. It is a rewarding and fulfilling experience to be an expectant mom, but being pregnant has difficult moments too. And one of those is having constipation.
Constipation is a condition that makes it hard for you to pass stool. It is a common symptom in pregnancy which can start in the second trimester but is more prominent in the last few months before having the baby. Untreated constipation can sometimes lead to hemorrhoids or swollen veins in your lower rectum. Hemorrhoids are very uncomfortable once the veins start to bleed or itch.
Before your constipation progresses to something worse, understand how it starts, and know remedies that a pregnant woman like you can do to relieve it.
What causes constipation?
Changes in a woman during pregnancy affect her whole body from the crown that is her hair down to her toenails. If you are pregnant, not all these changes are fun to have but they are there for a reason. When it comes to constipation during late pregnancy, here are the probable causes:
- Hormones. This is the most common cause of the pregnancy symptoms that you are feeling. As your body produces more progesterone, the muscles in the intestinal wall will relax causing a slow-down in stool movement. This delay has a positive effect on the baby since your body will have more time absorbing nutrients to your blood for fetus development. More water is also so the stool becomes more solid and hard to pass.
- Iron supplements. You might be taking prenatal vitamins with iron or separate iron tablets. This important mineral is necessary if you are pregnant but unfortunately, it can cause hard feces.
- Expanding uterus. As the months go by, your uterus will expand exponentially to accommodate your growing baby. This will put pressure on the intestines, which will again slow down the passage of fecal material. So if you are on your third trimester, do not be surprised if you have fewer bathroom trips than normal.
What can I do if I am having constipation while pregnant?
You can manage constipation while being pregnant. Try these lifestyle changes and tips to ease the discomfort that you are undergoing. The key here is regular maintenance. While this may not work for everybody, starting early will make a big difference in the long run:
Fight constipation with fiber.
Fiber is the part of plant food that our stomach and intestines cannot break down. Adequate intake will help soften the stool so that it can be easily passed out of the body. The benchmark for healthy fiber consumption is around 25 to 35 grams each day but it is safe to coordinate with your doctor first before you exceed consumption. Load up your meals with whole grain cereals, vegetables, fruits, and legumes.
Find probiotic beverages.
Our intestines are home to millions of friendly bacteria that maintain the right conditions for optimum digestion and break down of food. We lose these good bacteria daily and probiotic drinks can help you regenerate them again. Yogurt, kimchi, and other fermented food and drinks are especially abundant with these tiny bacteria.
Drink plenty of water.
This is the simplest thing that you can do to avoid constipation and it gives you a lot of benefits too. Besides quenching your thirst and hydrating your body, water can also make your stool soft and easy to pass. Remember, because bowel movements are slowing down in the last months of pregnancy, more water is absorbed by the body making your feces harder. Compensate by drinking more than the usual amount required. Normally, an average person is recommended to drink at least 8 glasses of water daily. Up the game and drink at least 10 to 12 glasses!
Watch how you eat.
Besides watching what you eat, you should also consider how you eat. Instead of having three big meals a day, try six small meals. This will allow your stomach and intestines to digest smaller portions of food. Doing this will not only ease your constipation, but it will also relieve heartburns, which is another pregnancy symptom you would want to avoid.
Have your doctor’s number close.
Yes, constipation is quite manageable. Even if it progresses to hemorrhoids it is still not that life-threatening compared to other diseases. However, it is still agonizing to have especially if your hormones are making you extra sensitive to everything. Having a physician who is just a call away is something to be thankful for. If you have questions that require a session with a doctor, and if your schedule to the Ob-gyne is still weeks away, consult online health clinics. Skip the waiting room at walk-in clinic Brantford and contact an online doctor today.