If you are newly pregnant, you will notice all sorts of crazy side effects that seem to be all over the map. They range from night sweats to dry skin to extra saliva in your mouth. They literally change weekly and some can be worse than others. Some of the worse, longest lasting, and consistent side effects of having a bump in the oven are heart burn and constipation. I have not been blessed with heart burn yet but give me some time. I still have 21 weeks to go! However, I am an un-official expert on constipation. This is not your run-of-the-mill constipation that you have experienced from time to time throughout your normal life. This is a whole new beast. This is the type of constipation that will have you do things that you never thought that you would be desperate enough to do!
Constipation, nausea, heartburn……they all have one thing in common. They creep up on you during this blissful time known as your pregnancy. Try to manage these symptoms are soon as you can with as many natural solutions as possible. Your diet will dictate a lot during your pregnancy but even the healthiest of pregos will suffer from these annoying stomach issues from time to time. As usual, try to keep active. Walking is something that helps your GI tract before, during, and after pregnancy. Consult your physician, talk to your pals about solutions they used, and don’t ever assume that you are the only person to suffer from this. When it comes to pregnancy, someone has had your symptom before. It doesn’t matter if it’s excess ear wax or horrible pregnancy gas…..someone out there has had it, your doctor has heard it before, and there is some sort of relief out there.
Here are some reasons for your constipation:
– hCG is a pregnancy hormone that rages during the early stages of your pregnancy and it contributes to many annoying pregnancy side effects and lucky for us, constipation is one of them.
– Pre-natal vitamins. Chances are you are taking pre-natal vitamins if you are pregnant and studies have shown that vitamin compliance is the highest for very health conscience people and pregnant women. Most women make a concerted effort to be healthy during their pregnancy which means that you are Captain Consistency when it comes to taking your prenatal vitamins. This excess calcium and iron are two of the ingredients in your prenatal or multi-vitamins that can add to your constipation.
Please note that many of these suggestions are medications which I took and confirmed with my physician. I am only suggesting items that I took and I am not a physician so please talk to your doctor about any medications that you are looking into. You can usually just call the nurse line at your ob/gyn office when you have issues. I have found that they are quick to respond and have tons of great advice. If you have any severe symptoms or symptoms that last more than a few days, always contact your health care provider.
Here are some solutions if you are suffering from pregnancy constipation.
– Take fiber daily. I love the fiber gummies and they have been really helpful. Items such a Metamucil can be added to your water to up your daily fiber regimen.
– Take your vitamins at night and try a food-based vitamin. Both of those things helped me. Foof based vitamins are great if you are also experiencing nausea. I used the Rainbow light brand from Whole Foods.
– Probiotics have also been used to cure constipation. I didn’t try this but it is one of the many benefits of probiotics.
– I took Colace every evening which is a stool softener. This helps you because not only will you be constipated at times but your stool can be VERY hard and seem stuck. You cannot force yourself to go to the bathroom or push too hard. This will lead to hemorrhoids and other issues which you do not want to get into. Trust me!
– Foods like sweet potatoes with butter were a great source of fiber and easy on my stomach.
– Fruit cups are great because they help you get your daily fruit intake and the sugary solution also helps keep things moving in your intestinal tract.
– Keep hydrated. Constipation cannot win the battle against hydration. I am sure you have already been told to increase your water intake but if you are battling constipation, double it!!
– Avoid bananas, fried food, sodas or anything you notice adds to this fun little issue.
– Keep your fruit / vegetable / roughage intake very high. I also ate prunes daily. Try the snack packs because they stay fresh longer.
– Having oil in your diet really helps. I would make sure to use extra virgin olive oil in my salads and also take an extra table spoon to help keep my intestinal tract lubricated.
– Warm water and liquids also help.
– Massaging your stomach gently and following along the intestinal tract can be helpful.
– If your constipation has been going on for days then you can try some more full-proof solutions:
- Take milk of magnesia every few days. This isn’t something you should be doing daily.
- Enemas are also full-proof solutions. I know what you are thinking. I am NEVER going to do that. Well then you have not had pregnancy constipation because I went from thinking I would never do that to running to the store for two of them to get some relief!
I hope these solutions help you and that you never need to use this. You may be one of the blessed pregos that never has a single symptom but if you are hang in there! As always, stay positive, keep your chin up, and don’t jump!
Constipation, nausea, heartburn……they all have one thing in common. They creep up on you during this blissful time known as your pregnancy. Try to manage these symptoms are soon as you can with as many natural solutions as possible. Your diet will dictate a lot during your pregnancy but even the healthiest of pregos will suffer from these annoying stomach issues from time to time. As usual, try to keep active. Walking is something that helps your GI tract before, during, and after pregnancy. Consult your physician, talk to your pals about solutions they used, and don’t ever assume that you are the only person to suffer from this. When it comes to pregnancy, someone has had your symptom before. It doesn’t matter if it’s excess ear wax or horrible pregnancy gas…..someone out there has had it, your doctor has heard it before, and there is some sort of relief out there.
Here are some reasons for your constipation:
– hCG is a pregnancy hormone that rages during the early stages of your pregnancy and it contributes to many annoying pregnancy side effects and lucky for us, constipation is one of them.
– Pre-natal vitamins. Chances are you are taking pre-natal vitamins if you are pregnant and studies have shown that vitamin compliance is the highest for very health conscience people and pregnant women. Most women make a concerted effort to be healthy during their pregnancy which means that you are Captain Consistency when it comes to taking your prenatal vitamins. This excess calcium and iron are two of the ingredients in your prenatal or multi-vitamins that can add to your constipation.
Please note that many of these suggestions are medications which I took and confirmed with my physician. I am only suggesting items that I took and I am not a physician so please talk to your doctor about any medications that you are looking into. You can usually just call the nurse line at your ob/gyn office when you have issues. I have found that they are quick to respond and have tons of great advice. If you have any severe symptoms or symptoms that last more than a few days, always contact your health care provider.
Here are some solutions if you are suffering from pregnancy constipation.
– Take fiber daily. I love the fiber gummies and they have been really helpful. Items such a Metamucil can be added to your water to up your daily fiber regimen.
– Take your vitamins at night and try a food-based vitamin. Both of those things helped me. Foof based vitamins are great if you are also experiencing nausea. I used the Rainbow light brand from Whole Foods.
– Probiotics have also been used to cure constipation. I didn’t try this but it is one of the many benefits of probiotics.
– I took Colace every evening which is a stool softener. This helps you because not only will you be constipated at times but your stool can be VERY hard and seem stuck. You cannot force yourself to go to the bathroom or push too hard. This will lead to hemorrhoids and other issues which you do not want to get into. Trust me!
– Foods like sweet potatoes with butter were a great source of fiber and easy on my stomach.
– Fruit cups are great because they help you get your daily fruit intake and the sugary solution also helps keep things moving in your intestinal tract.
– Keep hydrated. Constipation cannot win the battle against hydration. I am sure you have already been told to increase your water intake but if you are battling constipation, double it!!
– Avoid bananas, fried food, sodas or anything you notice adds to this fun little issue.
– Keep your fruit / vegetable / roughage intake very high. I also ate prunes daily. Try the snack packs because they stay fresh longer.
– Having oil in your diet really helps. I would make sure to use extra virgin olive oil in my salads and also take an extra table spoon to help keep my intestinal tract lubricated.
– Warm water and liquids also help.
– Massaging your stomach gently and following along the intestinal tract can be helpful.
– If your constipation has been going on for days then you can try some more full-proof solutions:
- Take milk of magnesia every few days. This isn’t something you should be doing daily.
- Enemas are also full-proof solutions. I know what you are thinking. I am NEVER going to do that. Well then you have not had pregnancy constipation because I went from thinking I would never do that to running to the store for two of them to get some relief!
I hope these solutions help you and that you never need to use this. You may be one of the blessed pregos that never has a single symptom but if you are hang in there! As always, stay positive, keep your chin up, and don’t jump!