Is Constipation a Pregnancy Symptom

is constipation a sign of pregnancy

A sign may be the thing at the end of your road that reads ‘STOP’, but a sign can also mean an indication of something. For example, there likely won’t be a sign at the road sign that reads ‘NAUSEA’ the same way, but being nauseous can be a sign that you’re beginning to feel motion sickness. So there all sorts of signs for conditions, but symptoms are different from signs. If we talk about pregnancy, the standard sign for pregnancy is a woman not having her period. But is constipation a sign of pregnancy? No, that’s a pregnancy symptom but it is true that some women are going to be all about refrieds and Metamucil during those 9 months.

Constipation pregnancy certainly is an issue, and like anything else some women will get it more than others. Her physiology will play a huge role in that, and whether or not she’s pleasant around the home doesn’t factor into this at all. Constipation during pregnancy has everything to do with hormone changes, and as it’s well known there is LOTS of that happening when a woman is carrying a baby. The hormone progesterone goes way up, and when it does then there’s less fluid available in the digestive tract.

This increases the chance of constipation, but is constipation a sign of pregnancy? No it’s not, and having not used a toilet for some time isn’t something that’s going to lead you to buy a home pregnancy test kit or anything of the sort. More likely it will have you buying Colace or another effective OTC constipation medication.

Causes of Pregnancy Constipation

What about other constipation during pregnancy factors? Everyone knows it is important to eat healthily while pregnant, but what if a woman has a constant hankering for microwave chimichangas? Is that going to make her more constipated too? This is the kind of stuff we can look at here with this entry, and ladies can keep in mind that better digestive functioning will return after the new addition to the family has arrived. If you continue to be backed up bad after giving birth, there may be another factor that’s harming your digestive process.

But here we are talking about is constipation a sign of pregnancy, we’re also sharing what causes constipation during pregnancy. Spiking hormones is one thing, but another factor is pretty easy to understand and is more of a cause when later in the pregnancy. That’s simply because the growing baby is putting the squeeze on things inside your midsection there, and your digestive tract and bowel is one of them. Using prenatal vitamins is always a good choice, but what can happen is that the iron in the vitamin takes away some of the bacteria in your gut’s ability to break down.

So there is a connection between prenatal vitamins and constipation, and then there are more basic factors like not getting enough water or insufficient fiber in your diet. Some women simply can’t go past a Taco Bell Drive-Thru without going through it, and there’s plenty of fellows that are the same way. Too much of certain foods can either promote constipation or provide a fix for it. How would that work for you?

Fiber is Fantastic

We’ve provided our answer for is constipation a sign of pregnancy, and explained that there’s a difference between signs and symptoms. But we should really get on to what is best for reducing constipation during pregnancy. Starting with more fiber in your diet is a solid choice, and in addition to the basic recommendation of getting 25 to 30 grams of fiber each day there’s more than can be done for pregnancy constipation relief. In fact, this one is pretty much failproof so if you’re already a fan of bran muffins then here you go.

If you’re having constipation pregnancy eat 2 bran muffins and a large bunch of dried apricots along with a good amount of fresh water. If this doesn’t get those pipes moving then we don’t know what will. But in all seriousness, this is a good home constipation recipe. Another good piece of advice for women who can’t have bowel movements while pregnant is to try to get as much exercise as possible. Strenuous exertion isn’t possible obviously, but even just getting moving moderately can help a lot.

That’s all there is to say about is constipation a sign of pregnancy. Of course it’s not, but it sure can be a symptom but there are steps you can take to counter it. And again, it’s only temporary.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The above information is intended to increase awareness of health information and does not suggest treatment or diagnosis. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.

<< Go back to blog