Why does early pregnancy cause constipation

Gary, et al, Ch. Constipation in Pregnancy. What causes constipation during pregnancy? How can I prevent or treat constipation during pregnancy? Prevention and treatment of constipation involve many of the same steps. Here are a few things that you can do to help prevent constipation from occurring or treat it if you are already experiencing it: Eat a high fiber diet: Ideally, you will consume 25 to 30 grams per day of dietary fiber from fruits, vegetables, breakfast cereals, whole-grain bread, prunes, and bran.

This helps ensure bulkier stools that are easier to poop. Drink a lot of fluids: Drinking plenty of fluids is important, particularly when increasing fiber intake helps ensure softer stools. Drink 10 to 12 cups of fluids each day. It is the combination of a high fiber diet and plenty of liquids that best help you eliminate your waste. Exercise routinely: If you are inactive, you have a greater chance of constipation.

Walking, swimming and other moderate exercises will help the intestines work by stimulating your bowels. Schedule exercise three times a week for minutes each. Over-the-counter remedies: There are over-the-counter products such as Metamucil Category B which may help soften your bowel movements and reduce constipation.

Always speak to your health care provider before using over-the-counter medications. Reduce or eliminate iron supplements: Iron supplements may contribute to constipation. Good nutrition can often meet your iron needs during pregnancy. Taking smaller doses of iron throughout the day rather than taking it all at once can reduce constipation. Talk to your health care provider about checking your iron levels and recommendations to manage iron intake during pregnancy. Ask your doctor about over-the-counter medicine: Antihistamines such as Benadryl and sleep aids like Unisom may quell queasiness.

The Food and Drug Administration considers both safe during pregnancy, says Dr. Stomach acid tends to make nausea worse, so heartburn medicines like Zantac may also do the trick. If those fail and morning sickness has you miserable, discuss with your doctor whether stronger drugs are worth it.

Many factors conspire to make constipation a pregnancy problem. For one, progesterone slows down the intestine muscles, causing things to move slowly through your system so you might also feel gassy and bloated.

Your baby puts pressure on your rectum as well. An increased blood supply means you need a lot more fluid, so you can easily get dehydrated. Finally, the iron in your prenatal vitamin may be constipating, too.

To add insult to injury, constipation can lead to straining during bowel movements -- and hemorrhoids, which occur when the blood vessels around the rectum become enlarged, itchy, and painful. You may even notice slight rectal bleeding -- your doctor can confirm if it's from hemorrhoids. If you're prone to dilated veins like varicose veins , you're more likely to get hemorrhoids, says Dr.

Also, if you had hemorrhoids during a previous pregnancy, they'll be quicker to reappear. Daftary says. Most women return to regularity after delivery, but constipation may linger for some. If you're breastfeeding, remember to keep drinking extra fluid. If you've had a cesarean section , it may take longer to get regular too: One of the common side effects of narcotic pain relievers is constipation.

It can also occur as a result of recovering in bed. Fiber is your best defense, because it holds on to water and helps things pass through the intestine. Add fiber-rich foods such as a cereal, fruits, vegetables, and beans to your diet. If you can't get your fill from food, try fiber supplements. Finally, exercise is known to boost bowel motility. If lifestyle changes aren't working, ask your doctor about over-the-counter stool softeners like Colace.

Steer clear of laxatives during pregnancy; they can cause an electrolyte imbalance. For hemorrhoids, medicated pads and creams like Tucks and Preparation H are safe. Experts don't know why some women experience heartburn and others don't, but it's no surprise that so many women get it, especially during the last trimester. Some women hardly have any symptoms, whereas others have very severe symptoms.

It is impossible to predict which women will have more severe symptoms. However, in general, if you are expecting twins or triplets then it is likely that your symptoms will be more severe. Extreme tiredness is often the most common sign of an early pregnancy. Although it is common to become more tired in the later stages of pregnancy, this extreme tiredness and lack of energy lethargy usually last for the first twelve weeks first trimester.

The symptoms usually then improve. You may notice that you need to pass urine more frequently than you used to. This is actually due to the effect of the beta-hCG hormone which makes your kidneys work harder to produce more urine. This is different to the reason you will need to pass urine more often in the later stages of pregnancy, which is due to the baby's head pressing on your bladder.

Note : if you experience any burning, stinging or a high temperature fever with these urinary symptoms, contact your doctor or midwife. Urine infections are common when you are pregnant. Your doctor or midwife will arrange to test your urine for an infection.

See the separate leaflet called Urine Infection in Pregnancy for more information. Constipation is more common in the early stages of pregnancy. This is due to the chemical hormone progesterone making your bowel more relaxed and sluggish. It is important to have a healthy diet throughout your pregnancy. If you do become constipated then you should eat more foods with lots of fibre in them, like wholemeal bread, fruit and vegetables.

Make sure you are drinking enough fluids, especially water. Another very early sign of pregnancy is breast tenderness. You may find that just the water from your shower on your breasts makes them feel uncomfortable and very tender.

You may also find that you wake in the night when you roll on to your front because your breasts are tender. Your breasts may tingle at times or even have stabbing pains in them. You may also notice that your breasts become bigger and more swollen over the first few weeks of pregnancy. As your pregnancy develops it is common to notice some veins under the surface of your skin over your breasts.

This is entirely normal. After a few weeks you may notice that the coloured skin around your nipples the areolae becomes darker. Although most women think that feeling sick is the first sign of being pregnant, it is more common to develop other symptoms first.

Feeling sick usually starts around the sixth week of your pregnancy. This can, however, vary between pregnancies in the same woman as well as between different women. You may find that you are being sick vomiting as well as feeling sick. The amount and frequency really does vary between women and can also be different worse or better in later pregnancies. This sickness is commonly referred to as morning sickness. It is more common to experience feeling sick only in the mornings.

However, you may find that this feeling continues throughout the afternoons and even into the evenings. See the separate leaflet called Morning Sickness in Pregnancy for more information.