Pregnant Women Face Constipation

Constipation is stated as change in bowel habits, in which the amount of stool is decreased, hard, decreased in frequency and if there is excessive straining during elimination. Constipation is the common problem, it is the time when it gets hard to pass the stool and painful elimination. Constipation is the symptom with many causes. People find it difficult to have a bowel movement and it is often painful, experiencing straining, bloating and sensational of the full bowel. The causes include obstructed defecation and colonic slow transit. Some people feel constipated if they do not have bowel movement each day. Normally defecation takes place three times a day or three times a week.

Constipation can not be termed as a disease. It is the bowel change that takes place in every individual at some point of their life. Poor diet can be the cause of the constipation. Understanding its reasons, symptoms and taking measures to prevent can help eradicate the problem. Constipation is the common problem during the childbirth. Pregnant women face such kind of problems. Some of the common problems of constipation are;

• Not enough fiber in the diet
• Lack of physical work out
• Medication
• Milk
• Irritable bowel
• Change in life style
• Change in daily routine like pregnancy, aging and travel
• Ignoring the bowel movement
• Dehydration
• Specific disease or condition
• Problem with intestinal functio

Pregnant women often complaint of constipation. The pressure of growing womb (uterus) on rectum accompanied with pregnancy hormones slow the transit of food through digestive tract causes constipation during pregnancy. Taking iron supplements while pregnancy and also having constipation can become more problematic. Changes that should be made while constipation in pregnancy are;

• Take fiber food like pulses, rajma, chana, ragi, wholegrain bread such as wheat chapatti etc.
• Those who take low-fiber diet should gradually increase the amount of fiber in their food. Instant change in the amount of fiber diet may have abdominal cramps and can leave you feel bloated. It is important to drink plenty of water or fluid otherwise eating more fiber alone can give you more pain
• Avoid refined flour (Maida) and adapt healthier diet like wheat, grains, and pulses. If junk food and refined food are your routine diet than it’s high time to switch on to light and healthy food.
• It is mandatory to drink 6-8 glass of water each day. Quantity of fluid can be increased by taking juice, lassi, lemon water, coconut water. Taking lukewarm water with the lemon in it early morning can help in bowel movement.
• Include dried fruit like dates, prunes (munakka) in your diet
• Follow a daily exercise routine to keep you fit and fine. Walking, exercise, and other physical activity can make you feel healthy

At times constipation can lead to serious problem such as hemorrhoids caused due to straining of bowel movement and anal fissures i.e. tears in skin around the anus.