It is estimated that almost half of all pregnant women will experience pregnancy constipation, so you are definitely not alone. If you are experiencing constipation during your pregnancy, you should contact your doctor. Some doctors will immediately prescribe medication to alleviate pregnancy constipation. However, there are some natural things that you can do as well.

Pregnancy Constipation can be very worrying for any women and while being constipated at anytime is a problem constipation during pregnancy can present a whole new set of complications for you and your unborn child.

Following are the reasons that cause pregnant women to complain about unnerving constipation -

Changed diet habit

Side effects of medicines

Increased stress level

Low intake of fluid

High consumption of dehydrated fluids like caffeine enriched tea, coffee, and alcohol

Insufficient amount of sleep

Some diseases induce constipation like Parkinson's disease, stroke, diabetes, uremia, scleroderma and diseases of GI tract et all.

Constipation in pregnancy is really not a huge surprise. As your gestational period lengthens, your body produces higher levels of the hormone Progesterone and one of the natural side effects is that this pregnancy hormone slows down the digestion of your food which causes your intestinal muscles to relax. Think about the impact of that "slowing down" effect... as the waste moves more slowly through your digestive tract, the stool becomes drier and harder which makes it more difficult for you to actually pass the poop.

Constipation during pregnancy isn't something that pregnant women to have to put up with. It is easily controlled through diet and exercise. Constipation is annoying, painful, and completely unnecessary. You don't put up with constipation when you're not pregnant, and you shouldn't have to live with it during pregnancy either. Use the above tips to get your intestines moving again.

A pregnant woman should also avoid consuming large amounts of meat, especially meat which contains lots of fat such as bacon or sausage. Fiber is a must for someone who wants to avoid becoming constipated, and this means eating lots of fruits and vegetables on a consistent basis. Vegetables and fruits should replace foods which are rich in white flour such as breads and cereals.

Prune juice can help as well, they contain loads of fibers. There are raisins, a handful while watching TV can go a long way. Target to have 25 grams and above fiber intake daily, surely this will keep a smile on the mother's face. Be sure on having them in different varieties. That way it will not be tiring of having the same old thing over and over again. Look for nutritional values on the carton labels when buying at groceries can help as well. Warning, excessive fiber leads to diarrhea that causes dehydration. Over loading the body can be harmful for the mother and her child.

Exercise is another way to keep all of the juices flowing, and your body's systems working efficiently. It is also a great stress reducer, and since stress is a major cause of constipation during pregnancy you are getting a dual benefit.

Read About Week By Week Pregnancy and Pregnancy Week and also read Pregnancy Forum

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