Being pregnant is synonymous with many good feelings, hope, and a positive anticipation for a new life that is about to arrive. But as many women know, the process isn’t always easy—a true festival of hormones takes over the woman’s body, forcing her to change her lifestyle to adapt to this phase. And with this, of course, some problems arise, such as constipation during pregnancy. The good news is that these changes don’t always have to be negative, even when issues like constipation during pregnancy appear. Since it’s not an uncommon occurrence, many people work towards making sure fewer and fewer pregnant women suffer from this condition, all without harming any other aspect of pregnancy and, most importantly, the baby. Through proper diets and nutrition, a pregnant woman can overcome constipation without much trouble. But to fight it, it’s necessary to know some basic information, such as the harms of constipation and how it affects your body.

What is Constipation?

Constipation, also called sluggish bowel or bowel irregularity, is when the intestines have difficulty performing their function, which requires a great effort when evacuating, usually associated with very hard, dry stools. Constipation also brings symptoms like abdominal discomfort and cramps. This condition isn’t just about how often someone has a bowel movement but about the difficulty they experience during the act. Many people with constipation evacuate daily but still suffer from the pain and symptoms of this condition.

Why Does Constipation Occur in Pregnancy?

Constipation isn’t exclusive to pregnant women. It’s important to highlight this because not every case of constipation in pregnancy is strictly caused by pregnancy. Quite often, a woman may already experience this condition before becoming pregnant and continue to have it afterward, or it may even get worse. But can pregnancy cause constipation? Yes, it can—and in fact, it’s very common. The explanation for this is simple. First of all, the woman’s body changes a lot, as we mentioned at the beginning of the text. One of the biggest and most noticeable changes is in the belly, where the baby is developing. As the woman’s belly grows and the uterus expands, it inevitably leaves less room for the intestines inside her body. The result is exactly this common type of constipation in pregnancy. Besides that, there’s another factor: The large increase of progesterone, one of the main pregnancy hormones, also makes the intestines more sluggish, making constipation during pregnancy more likely.

Can Constipation Harm the Pregnancy?

This isn’t a simple question to answer, since we need to consider that it’s not just about the baby, but also how the mother feels during pregnancy. Constipation during pregnancy does not affect the baby in any way, meaning the baby won’t be directly harmed by the mother’s condition. However, the mother can be harmed, because of all the symptoms already mentioned here and also because her body is more fragile due to pregnancy. Indirectly, constipation during pregnancy does affect the baby, since it’s related to the mother’s nutrition. For this reason, the best way to prevent it is with a balanced diet.

Best Diet for Pregnant Women

For constipation symptoms to be eased and so it doesn’t become a problem in a woman’s pregnancy, it is recommended to follow a pregnancy diet rich in fiber, eating every 3 hours and chewing food thoroughly, preferably slowly to aid digestion, and keeping well hydrated by drinking at least 2 liters of water every day.

Recommended Foods for Pregnant Women

The main foods recommended to fight constipation during pregnancy are:

  • Fruits with skin
  • Whole grain bread
  • Brown rice
  • Vegetables and greens
  • Seeds
  • Nuts

Foods Not Recommended for Pregnant Women

There are also foods that should be avoided to prevent constipation in pregnancy from getting worse. They are:

  • Soft drinks and processed sweets
  • Milk
  • Processed meats
  • Fried foods

Constipation is a problem that affects millions of people, many women, and is quite common during pregnancy. But despite seeming inevitable, it’s a problem that can be calmly resolved and that does not greatly affect pregnancy itself. Medication or intensive treatment are usually not necessary for improving constipation in pregnancy. A controlled and properly followed diet can help so that this is one less problem in your pregnancy. Thus, while worries don’t disappear from the mind of a woman about to give birth, they are certainly reduced. See also: Diarrhea at the End of Pregnancy – Understand the Symptom Photo: Free-Photos