HOW TO DEAL WITH
CONSTIPATION
IN PREGNANCY
A CAUSE FOR WORRY
THOUGH PREGNANCY IS
A WONDERFUL TIME IN
LIFE, ONE OF THE MOST
COMMON COMPLAINTS
MANY WOMEN FACE IS
CONSTIPATION. HEALTH
FINDS OUT HOW WOMEN
CAN DEAL WITH THIS PESKY
PROBLEM.
REASONS
According to studies, nearly three out of four pregnant
women will experience constipation and other bowel issues at
some point. During pregnancy, the hormone progesterone increases which triggers your body’s muscles to relax, including
the intestinal muscles. As the intestines slow down so does
digestion which leads to constipation. Also in the latter part
of pregnancy, the growing weight of the baby in the womb,
along with the undesirable effects of iron preparations mean
this problem can be compounded. Basically, when you are
pregnant, not only does your body experience many changes
but your habits change too. You may eat different things or
you may be taking supplements recommended by your doctor. These are all contributing factors.
Mar/Apr 2016
26
IS CONSTIPATION A REASON
TO WORRY? WHILE EXPERTS
SAY NOT REALLY, HOWEVER
IT CAN BE A SYMPTOM OF
ANOTHER PROBLEM. IF YOU
HAVE SEVERE CONSTIPATION
THAT IS ACCOMPANIED
BY ABDOMINAL PAIN,
ALTERNATES WITH DIARRHEA,
OR YOU PASS MUCUS OR
BLOOD, CALL YOUR DOCTOR
IMMEDIATELY. ADDITIONALLY,
STRAINING DURING A
BOWEL MOVEMENT OR
PASSING A HARD STOOL
CAN LEAD TO OR WORSEN
HEMORRHOIDS, WHICH
ARE SWOLLEN VEINS IN
THE RECTAL AREA. IN THE
CASE WHERE THE PAIN IS
SEVERE OR YOU HAVE RECTAL
BLEEDING, CALL YOUR
CAREGIVER SO YOU CAN BE
EVALUATED.