Ways to Ease Constipation During Pregnancy

Constipation can start as early as your first trimester, though it becomes more common as your pregnancy progresses.

The slower your food moves through your gut, the more moisture is absorbed in the colon, which makes the stool harder. Solid stool is more difficult to expel. Robles also points out that the iron in prenatal vitamins can also cause constipation for some people. If you’re having a lot of difficulty with bowel movements, you might want to talk to your doctor about whether it makes sense to switch to a vitamin with less iron.

In addition to those factors, you may become constipated during pregnancy simply because you’re physically slowing down—you may be walking or exercising less than you did before you were pregnant. If you’ve developed food aversions, you may also have a hard time stomaching fiber-rich foods such as broccoli and carrots, which are known to help prevent constipation.

What to Do About Pregnancy Constipation

Constipation can become a problem if you’re straining to go to the bathroom, since that could cause you to develop hemorrhoids, Robles says. These are inflamed, swollen blood vessels in the rectum and anus that can itch, bleed, and be painful. If this happens to you, see your doctor, who can diagnose the problem and recommend treatments. Meanwhile, here are a few things that you can do to get your bowels back on track:

• Drink a lot of water. Pregnant people require extra hydration, and drinking at least 8 to 12 cups of water per day can help keep your stool soft. Always carrying a water bottle can make it more convenient to sip throughout the day. Not a fan of good old H2O? Hydrate with caffeine-free tea, juice diluted with water, citrus water (citrus fruit soaked in water overnight), or low-fat milk.
• Get out and about. Physical activity helps prevent constipation. Simply walking for 20 to 30 minutes three times a week can help get things moving.
• Make sure there’s plenty of fiber in your diet. Eating fiber-rich foods helps soften stool and increase its bulk. This can help you avoid straining when you go to the bathroom. Fruits such as bananas, apples, and raspberries are great sources of fiber, as well as green, leafy vegetables, peas, beans and lentils, whole-wheat pasta, and popcorn.
• Add a fiber supplement. If you’re having trouble getting enough fiber on your plate, consider taking an over-the-counter supplement, such as one with psyllium, suggests Tara Scott, M.D., a board-certified ob-gyn and medical director at Forum Health, in Akron, Ohio. She notes that these types of constipation treatments are safe to take during pregnancy.
• Take a stool softener. Colace (docusate sodium) and Surfak (docusate calcium) moisten the stool, making it easier to pass. These stool softeners are available over the counter, but it’s still a good idea to talk to your doctor before starting any new treatment during pregnancy.
• Talk to your doctor about a laxative. Scott also recommends asking your doctor about pregnancy-safe herbal teas, such as Smooth Move, which contains the natural laxative senna. Milk of Magnesia and Miralax are other over-the-counter laxatives that can be effective if needed. The key is to know you have options.

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