Do you also have constipation during pregnancy? (Pregnancy Constipation) Let's talk about this!

Expecting a baby is a wonderful and hopeful time in life. But it's normal to experience some discomfort and changes in your body during this time. Do you also feel strangely uncomfortable, like you can't go to the toilet for a few days, and your stomach is full? Then you're not alone. Many mothers experience this condition called constipation during pregnancy. So don't worry, we'll talk about it all clearly today.

Simply put, what is constipation?

Constipation is when you have difficulty passing stool. Normally, we call it constipation when we do not pass stool every day and it remains stuck for several days. Do you know why this happens? After we get the nutrients our body needs from the food we eat, there is waste that remains, which must travel through our intestines and be excreted as feces. But if for some reason this waste is stuck in the intestines for too long, the water in it is reabsorbed by the body. Then the stool becomes dry, hard like a rock, and very difficult to pass. This discomfort is called constipation.

We can get this even when we're not pregnant, but it's more likely to happen during pregnancy. This is due to the hormonal changes going on in your body.

When does constipation start during pregnancy?

This discomfort usually starts as soon as the hormone levels in your body start to increase during pregnancy. This means that you may experience constipation as early as the second or third month of the first trimester . About 40 out of 100 women experience this condition at some point during their pregnancy. Constipation can get worse, especially in the third trimester , when the baby's weight puts more pressure on the intestines. Sometimes, this condition can last for up to three months after the baby is born.

What are the main causes of constipation during pregnancy?

There are several main reasons why this problem occurs during pregnancy. Let's see what they are.

• Progesterone hormone: This hormone is essential for the successful maintenance of pregnancy. But one thing this hormone does is relax the muscles in the body. The muscles in our intestines also relax. Then the functioning of the intestines slows down a bit. Due to this, the speed of food waste moving through the intestines decreases and it stays in the intestines for a longer time. When it stays in the intestines for a longer time, a lot of the water in it is absorbed by the body and the stool becomes dry and hard .
• Growing baby: As your baby grows, your uterus also grows and gains weight. This increased weight can put pressure on your intestines, making it harder for stool to pass through easily.
• Iron in your prenatal vitamins: During pregnancy, your doctor will give you a prenatal vitamin that contains iron. It is very important for your body to make blood, which is needed by you and your baby. But sometimes, when the amount of iron increases, it becomes difficult for the beneficial bacteria in your intestines to digest food. That is also one of the causes of constipation.
• Lifestyle changes: During this time, things like your diet, water intake, and exercise habits will change.
• Low-fiber diet: Fiber is something that softens stools and helps them pass more easily. During pregnancy, some people may eat less fruits, vegetables, and greens due to loss of appetite.
• Drinking less water: To keep your stool soft, you need to drink plenty of water.
• Decreased exercise: Due to the fatigue and discomfort experienced during pregnancy, walking and exercising decrease. As the body becomes less active, the function of the intestines also decreases.

How do I know for sure if I have constipation?

If you feel these things instead of the usual feeling of well-being and relief when you go to the toilet, it could be a sign of constipation.

Sometimes, persistent constipation can lead to or worsen conditions like hemorrhoids and anal fissures . Both of these conditions are common during pregnancy.

What can we do about this inconvenience?

We can't stop the hormonal changes during pregnancy, but making a few small changes to our lifestyle can greatly relieve the discomfort of constipation.

1. Include fiber-rich foods in your diet: The advice to "eat well" may be simple, but it has great power. Eating fiber-rich foods helps soften stools and make them easier to pass. Try to include about 25-30 grams of fiber in your diet per day .

• What are these fiber-rich foods?
• Vegetables: spinach, gotukola, kankun, mukunuwenna
• Vegetables: beans, squash, carrots, beets, pumpkin, okra
• Fruits: Papaya, mango, banana, avocado, orange
• Grains: Oats, millet, brown rice, peas, chickpeas, green beans

2. Drink plenty of water: You've probably heard that you should drink 8 glasses of water a day. But if you're pregnant, that's not enough. You should drink at least 8-12 glasses of water a day . This is because you need more fluids to meet your and your baby's needs, as well as to soften your stools.

• If you're too lazy to drink water, try things like orange water, fresh fruit juice without added sugar, soups, and low-fat milk.

3. Get some exercise: It's normal to feel tired and want to sit still during pregnancy. But sitting still is not good for constipation. Engage in a moderate-intensity exercise that is comfortable for you for about 20-30 minutes a day, at least three days a week .

• Things like brisk walking, swimming, and yoga, especially for pregnant women, are all great. But before starting any exercise, it's important to talk to your doctor and ask what's right for you.

4. Talk to your doctor about your vitamin: You may be having trouble absorbing the amount of iron in your vitamin. Tell your doctor about this and he or she may recommend a different vitamin with less iron. Never stop or change your vitamin without first consulting your doctor.

Do you need to see a doctor?

Yes, sometimes you definitely need to see a doctor.

• If you have constipation for more than one to two weeks.
• If there is no relief despite making the lifestyle changes mentioned above.
• If there is blood in the stool.
• If you have severe stomach pain.

At times like this, your doctor will give you a safe laxative or fiber supplement.

Will this constipation harm the baby?

No. This is the biggest fear of many mothers. You may wonder if something will happen to the baby because of this pressure and discomfort in the abdomen. But don't worry. Although constipation is uncomfortable for you, it won't harm your baby.

Once your hormone levels return to normal after having a baby, your bowel function will return to normal, and this problem will likely go away.