What to Do to Avoid Constipation During Your Pregnancy

You will find that after the first few months of morning sickness and puking another problem shows up: Constipation. First you cannot keep anything in and now you cannot get rid of it. Constipation is very common during pregnancy. Quite a lot of people suffer from it. There is a cause to this inconvenience: progesterone. The body of a pregnant woman produces progesterone. It slows down digestion because the bowel muscles are more at ease. Your body needs the extra time to absorb the nutrients. Hemorrhoids are the ultimate consequence of the constipation.

But the inconvenience of constipation is not a must during pregnancy. Eat plenty of fiber and it will not be such a big deal anymore. Fibers in combination with water work as a stool softener. Whole grain cereals and oatmeal will do the trick. Whole grain bread instead of white bread and oat bran in your dairy are the solution.

Another source of fiber is fresh fruit. Dried fruits like prunes, apricots, raisins and figs are rich in fiber, and so are melons and plums. For the extra laxative solution that keeps your bowels going consume prunes and prune juice. 25 to 30 grams of fiber a day does not mean you are overdoing it. Larger and softer stools that pass without trouble indicate that you are taking enough fiber in. Of course diarrhea is not good either. Too much fiber can cause diarrhea. Dehydration is a consequence of diarrhea so too much fiber can lead to serious trouble.

Fight constipation also by drinking a lot. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a day to keep digestive products moving. When you increase the amount of fiber you take in daily you have to keep up with fluids. If the fiber does not get soaked you are even more likely to suffer from constipation.

Eat yogurt with the active ingredient called acidophilus. It is a bacterium. It stimulates the breaking down of food. Prenatal vitamins are iron rich and they can be very important when it comes to constipation. Ask your doctor to switch to a different iron supplement if you suffer from constipation.

Certain foods are real culprits in this matter: some cereals (corn flakes), white bread, rice and bananas. If none of these precautions seem to work then ask your doctor for a solution to the problem. Metamucil is usually the doctor recommended product here.

During pregnancy constipation is even more uncomfortable than when you are not pregnant. Avoid constipation and start enjoying your pregnancy.