Constipation During Pregnancy

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Hemorrhoids, Discharge, Constipation + More: Help For All The Gross Stuff That Happens During Pregnancy

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By Jennifer L.W. Fink on Oct 27, 2009 at 3:18PM

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a By Jennifer L.W. Fink on Oct 27, 2010 at 3:24PM

Almost half of all pregnant women experience that uncomfortable, backed-up feeling. Why? Progesterone, the dominant hormone of pregnancy, relaxes the bowels, which means that uh, stuff, moves through more slowly. Plus, iron supplements, which are often prescribed to treat anemia, can cause constipation. Symptoms typically start toward the end of the first trimester -- and can continue all the way through ‘til delivery. So don’t wait ‘til it’s been days since your last BM; start upping your fiber intake now. Switch to a high-fiber cereal like Kashi Good Friends cereal. Eat a high-fiber bar for a snack, eat a bean burrito for a quick and easy lunch and munch on raw veggies (which have more fiber than their cooked counterparts). Drink lots of water too, to flush out your system. You can also ask your doctor about a prenatal vitamin that contains a stool softener and over-the-counter constipation remedies -- most are safe to take and effective!

Filed Under:
- childbirth and pregnancy

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How did you deal with all the gross stuff during pregnancy?

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