Constipation During Pregnancy

Nobody likes to talk about it, but constipation during pregnancy is a crappy reality for many women. A variety of things cause pregnancy constipation:

• An increase in the hormone progesterone, which relaxes muscles throughout the body, including the digestive tract is one culprit. This causes food to pass through the intestines more slowly.
• The pressure of your growing uterus on your rectum later in pregnancy can exacerbate the situation.
• Another culprit is Iron which can make constipation worse.Since pregnant and nursing women need double the amount (27mg), it can wreak havoc on your routine (if you know what we mean). There are special iron blends that help to eliminate this not so friendly guest.
• Other offenders are anxiety, minimal physical exercise, and a low-fiber diet.

Make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids. If your prenatal vitamin contains iron, you may need to switch to a different type of iron, but it is important to talk to your health care provider first. An increase in the size of your uterus may put pressure on your bowels. So much is happening inside your body!