Pregnancy and childbirth is often thought of as being a miraculous event that makes a pregnant woman’s body undergo a number of changes that are amazing in themselves. But, it also means pregnancy is affected by constipation, which in turn, helps to somewhat reduce and dampen the miraculous nature of the event, and brings the woman back down to earth once again.

Constipation Can Take Different Forms

Constipation can take different forms and they range from bloatedness to small rabbit-like stools. It may also result in a good deal of straining to move the bowels and is considered in medical terms, as passing fewer than three stools in a week. Pregnancy and constipation are closely related and a number of women do experience extremely painful bowel movements when they have had an episiotomy.

Pregnancy and constipation can even occur in the case of women that have had a caesarean section delivery as it can make bowel movements be temporarily paralyzed, which is known as ileus. Drinking water during pregnancy will help as water gets absorbed from the intestines into the blood, and if pregnant woman drinks increased quantities of water it would keep both the intestines as well as babies in good health.

To treat pregnancy and constipation, it is necessary that the pregnant woman drinks at least ten eight ounce glasses of water, and in hot and humid conditions, even more fluids need to be consumed. Pregnancy and constipation means keeping the body well hydrated in order that constipation is prevented.

It is also useful to take adequate amounts of calcium as well as vitamin supplements during pregnancy and constipation. In addition, there are also prenatal vitamins that target pregnant women, and which the digestive tracts tolerate the best, which means less nausea as well as bloating – common symptoms of constipation. With the irons, foliate as well as B vitamins contained in prenatal vitamins, there is little doubt that pregnancy and constipation can be tackled by consumption of such prenatal vitamins.

There are also some pregnant women that require taking a stool softener that will help relieve constipation during pregnancy. They help to reduce the wall tension between the colon and the stool and keep the stool soft for natural, easy passage, and more importantly, is not habit forming.

Pregnant women are also known to remain in bed resting for all or part of their pregnancy, and in such instances, an incentive spirometer is mandatory to help clear the lungs as well as keep bowels moving.

To prevent constipation during pregnancy, pregnant women can take daily exercises, drink lots of fluids, take calcium and vitamin supplements, as well as alternate between hot and cold food and drinks.

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