How to Cope With Constipation During Pregnancy

With pregnancy comes a number of changes to your body. If you’re experiencing infrequent or uncomfortable bowel movements—in other words, constipation—don’t worry. This is quite common during pregnancy for many different reasons, which we’ll explain in our article. Read on to learn what can cause constipation during pregnancy and what you can do to alleviate or prevent the discomfort.

What Is Constipation During Pregnancy?

Constipation during pregnancy refers to infrequent, difficult, or painful bowel movements. It is characterized by having fewer than three bowel movements per week, passing hard or lumpy stools, and experiencing straining or discomfort during defecation. These symptoms can be common during pregnancy due to hormonal fluctuations and the physical changes occurring during this period.

When Does Constipation Start in Pregnancy?

Constipation can begin at any stage of pregnancy but is particularly common during the first trimester and third trimester. In early pregnancy, elevated progesterone levels can slow down the digestive system, leading to constipation. Later in pregnancy, the growing uterus may exert pressure on the intestines, further contributing to digestive slowdowns.

How Common Is Constipation During Pregnancy?

Constipation is a common issue during pregnancy, with studies indicating that around 16% and 39% of pregnant people experience this condition. Read on to discover what factors can contribute to constipation during pregnancy, including hormonal changes, dietary habits, and physical activity levels.

What Causes Constipation in Pregnancy?

Constipation can happen at any time in life, but you may be more susceptible to this condition during the later stages of pregnancy, perhaps when you’re in the third trimester. So, why does constipation happen during pregnancy:

• Hormonal changes. During pregnancy, you generally have higher levels of the hormone progesterone, which can slow down digestion.

• Iron supplements. If you’re taking iron supplements or there’s iron in your prenatal vitamins, this may lead to constipation. It’s important to note that your body needs more iron during pregnancy to supply more blood and oxygen to your baby and prevent iron deficiency anemia.

• Physical changes. As your body changes during pregnancy, the weight of your uterus puts pressure on your rectum, which can worsen constipation if you already have it.

• Lifestyle. If you’re not drinking enough water, eating enough fiber, or incorporating some exercise into your daily routine, this might slow down your digestive system and lead to constipation. In our section below, How to Prevent and Treat Constipation During Pregnancy, we’ll give you some helpful lifestyle tips to help get things moving.

Signs of Constipation During Pregnancy

Recognizing the signs of constipation during pregnancy, from pain when passing a stool to infrequent bowel movements, can help in managing this condition effectively. Key indicators include:

• Infrequent bowel movements. Experiencing fewer than three bowel movements per week.

• Hard or lumpy stools. Stools that are dry, hard, or lumpy, making them difficult or painful to pass.

• Straining during bowel movements. Needing to strain or experiencing pain when passing stools.

• Abdominal discomfort. Feeling bloated, gassy, or experiencing stomach cramps.

• Incomplete evacuation. Sensing that not all stool has passed after a bowel movement.

Contact your healthcare provider if you experience blood in your bowel movement or black stools while pregnant.

Is Constipation a Sign of Pregnancy?

Constipation can be a symptom during early pregnancy for some individuals. As mentioned in previous sections, it’s often caused by hormonal changes, particularly increased levels of progesterone. This can lead to constipation. However, constipation alone is not a definitive sign of pregnancy, as it can also be related to other factors like diet, stress, or illness.

Other early signs of pregnancy that may accompany constipation include missed periods, morning sickness, fatigue, tender or swollen breasts, or frequent urination.

If you’re constipated and think you may be pregnant, it’s best to take a pregnancy test to confirm.

How to Prevent and Treat Constipation During Pregnancy

Having infrequent bowel movements or stools that are difficult to pass can be quite uncomfortable even at the best of times, but these symptoms of constipation can be even more unpleasant when you’re pregnant and dealing with a host of other aches and pains.

You may wish there were miracle home remedies, or a medical formula, for immediate constipation relief during pregnancy, but unfortunately, there isn’t. Instead, focus on changes you can make to your diet and levels of activity, which may get things moving in time.

Here are some measures you can take to help prevent or relieve constipation during pregnancy:

• Drink lots of fluids, such as water, prune juice, and other 100 percent fruit juices.

• Consume high-fiber foods, aiming for at least 25 grams per day. Include vegetables, fruits, beans, whole-grain products, and bran cereal in your diet. Increasing your fiber intake suddenly can cause a side effect of excess gas, so take care to eat your meals slowly and avoid swallowing too much air. Also, avoid carbonated drinks and chewing gum to help prevent a build-up of gas.

• Exercise regularly. Check with your healthcare provider to find out what you can safely do. Even simply walking more can help encourage your digestive system to get going.

• Instead of eating three large meals a day, eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day to make the food easier to digest.

Medication for Constipation

If you’re finding that the lifestyle changes listed above don’t work for you, turn to your healthcare provider. Your provider may recommend one of these over-the-counter medications for you during pregnancy, such as a stool softener, which can help you pass hard stools. But it’s important to remember that these are not a cure for constipation:

• A bulk-forming agent, which works by absorbing water and adding moisture to your stool to make it easier to pass. Make sure to drink extra fluids if you’re taking this medication.

• A stool softener, which adds liquid to your stool to soften it

• A stimulant, which uses a chemical to stimulate intestinal activity.

Don’t use any of the above medications without consulting your healthcare provider first.

Potential Complications of Constipation

If the symptoms of constipation persist for several weeks or longer, this indicates chronic constipation, which can lead to complications such as:

• Hemorrhoids, which are swollen veins in your anus

• Anal fissures, which are tears of the skin in your anus

• Fecal impaction, which is when hardened stool accumulates in your intestines

• Rectal prolapse, which is when your rectum protrudes from the anus.

To help avoid complications, it’s safest to get in touch with your healthcare provider at the first signs of constipation or pain.

When to Contact Your Healthcare Provider

If you’re experiencing constipation during pregnancy, contact your healthcare provider if you notice the following:

• You’ve been constipated for more than 3 weeks

• Bleeding when you pass stools or blood in your stools

• Black stools

• Difficulty performing your normal daily activities

• Severe stomach pain

• Unexplained weight loss.

The Bottom Line

Constipation can be a pain in the bottom (literally!), but try not to let it ruin your last few months of pregnancy! Talk to your healthcare provider, and make some of the lifestyle changes we’ve listed in this article. In time, things will get moving down there, and you can get back to more enjoyable tasks such as shopping for baby gear, decorating your baby’s nursery, or even just putting your feet up for a bit.

One thing to keep in mind is that, at the other end of the spectrum, you may experience diarrhea from time to time during your pregnancy. You should always mention this to your healthcare provider, especially if you suspect it may be caused by something like food poisoning or a tummy bug.

Whether you’re in early pregnancy or your little one is about to arrive, download the Pampers Club app for exclusive baby education and rewards on your future diaper purchases.

_{How We Wrote This Article The information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. You can find a full list of sources used for this article below. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.}