Pregnancy and Constipation
Pregnancy can be a challenging ordeal for the mother-to-be. Not only is she prone to gaining weight, but she also experiences lots of discomfort during her trimesters. Even if pregnant women have lots of aches and pains, they cannot immediately take in medications, as they may have adverse effects on the unborn baby. One such condition that is common among pregnant women is constipation. Studies have shown that women are not the only ones who are more prone to constipation, but aged persons and young children as well.
What is constipation anyway? Why does this affect many pregnant women? To answer that question, here is a short backgrounder on the digestive system. We all know that our intestines are the final pit stop of digested food. At this point, the nutrients from the food are absorbed by the body. In the large intestine, or the colon, excess water used in the digestive process is reabsorbed into the body, ready for use in other metabolic processes. People get constipated when water is lacking in the diet, and so stool or feces becomes hardened.
Constipation is not only characterized by hardened stool, but also of irregular or infrequent bowel movement. Ideally, experts say that bowel movement should be at least once a day. If someone has bowel movement for less than three times a week, he or she may be constipated.
Pregnant women are said to be prone to constipation because of hormonal levels in their bodies. Some hormones act as muscle relaxants, which help facilitate the expansion of the uterus. In this regard, food is said to travel slower down the digestive tract. Also, iron supplements have been found to cause constipation in pregnant women. The solution for this is to drink plenty of fluids and to add fiber to the diet. Fiber can be found in whole wheat products as well as fruits and vegetables.
It is not recommended for women to take laxatives, as this may induce dehydration if taken in wrong amounts. Also, according to the American Pregnancy Association, pregnant women should not take in mineral oils when constipated, as nutrient absorption can be reduced.
Constipation Tip #1
Watch your Diet. Constipation is often caused by people's diets. This is not to say you must eat healthy all the time, but instead to make sure you are getting plenty of water into your body as well as eating fruit and green vegetables to help clean out your insides.
|
Constipation Tip #2
Don't Forget about the Fiber. The human body needs the fiber that comes from grain products to help digest and allow your body to have natural bowel movements. Often time's constipation is caused by a lack of fiber in the body. Fiber pills or powder can be taken as a supplement if needed.
|
ConstipationTip #3
If you are having trouble going number 2, then you can try some basic stretching to loosen up the bowels. First you can twist side to side, this triggers the energy points in your intestines and will get things moving. Next you can squat down for a few minutes to stretch out your colon and help get things moving. Sounds funny, but it works.
|
|