Constipation during pregnancy
During pregnancy, your body is expanding, evolving, and creating greater amounts of the hormones progesterone and oestrogen. Your intestinal muscles also tend to relax when you're pregnant. This slows down the entire digestive tract, so your intestines need more time to process food.
Constipation during pregnancy can cause abdominal pain or discomfort, along with hard, difficult and infrequent poos. These are the usual signs of constipation during pregnancy1,2.
15 min read
Common symptoms of constipation during pregnancy
For a safe and peaceful pregnancy, it's important to address any discomfort. This includes constipation, which is second to nausea as the most common gastrointestinal complaint in pregnancy3. Constipation is most prominent during the third trimester when it can impact day-to-day life, makings things very uncomfortable. Symptoms include:
Fewer than three poos a week. This is a rough estimate based on average data. If you're in doubt about whether or not you're constipated, don’t hesitate to speak to your doctor4.
Dry, hard poo or excessive straining
Feeling gassy, bloated and uncomfortable
Feeling like you can’t completely empty your bowels
Causes of constipation during pregnancy
Pregnancy creates a lot of change in a woman’s body. And around 50% of pregnant women experience constipation, with the odds increasing as your due date approaches. Although the condition isn't dangerous, you still need to address it to look after yourself and your baby1,2.
During pregnancy: hormonal increases and bodily changes
First trimester. The main cause of feeling bloated in this trimester is the increased amount of progesterone your body is creating. This hormone is here to prevent uterus contractions up to the eighth month of pregnancy. It acts on all muscles of the body, including the digestive system. By relaxing the intestinal muscles, progesterone causes digestion to slow down and reduces peristaltic contractions. This means food passes more slowly through the gastrointestinal tract, leading to dryer and harder poo2.
Second trimester. In your middle trimester, the uterus is growing and pressing against the lower bowel.
Third trimester. Your levels of the hormone aldosterone increase during this trimester. And this makes your colon absorb more liquid and electrolytes. This tends to make poo harder and bowel movements more difficult. It also slows things down in the intestine2.
Stress
Constipation can affect your day-to-day life, and that adds unnecessary stress to your days.
Diet & lifestyle
Good nutrition isn’t just important during pregnancy. Whether you're already pregnant or planning to become pregnant, eating a healthy, well-balanced diet is one of the best things you can do for yourself... and your future child.
Medication
Some medicines can lead to constipation, such as4:
- Drugs used to treat depression
- Antacids containing aluminium or calcium
- Iron supplements
- Some allergy medicines (antihistamines)
- Certain painkillers (opioids, NSAIDs)
- Some drugs for high blood pressure, including diuretics
- Some drugs used to treat Parkinson’s disease
If you suffer from constipation during pregnancy and use these kinds of medicines, don't stop them taking them. Talk to your doctor instead.
After childbirth: decreasing hormones and recovery
After childbirth, your body begins to recover from the important changes that have taken place in the abdominal area and uterus. It doesn't take long for the hormone levels in your blood to drop. And this change can affect activity in the intestine and cause short-lived constipation.
Quick tips to prevent constipation during pregnancy
Once you’ve managed to pinpoint constipation as the cause of your discomfort, you can do something about it. The good news is, a few simple daily habits can help you feel lighter and brighter:
Frequently Asked Questions
When you start talking constipation, the same questions often pop up. Here they are, along with the answers.
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Yes, women experience constipation more often than men. This can be explained by the presence of oestrogen and progesterone, hormones that directly interfere with movement in the intestines. Especially during their menstrual cycles and pregnancy, women can get constipated4.
Another reason that constipation affects more women is the pelvic floor. This plays an important role in emptying the intestines.
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During pregnancy, your body is expanding, evolving and creating greater amounts of the hormones progesterone and oestrogen. Your intestinal muscles tend to relax and the entire digestive tract slows down. As a result, it can take longer to process food, which can cause constipation.
Constipation during pregnancy can cause abdominal pain or discomfort, along with difficult, infrequent and hard poos. Although constipation isn't dangerous during pregnancy, you still need to address it to protect yourself and your baby1,2. -
Medicines can affect the unborn baby and should not be taken during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester, and during breast feeding. Ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice before taking laxatives during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
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Science has shown that stress and constipation often go hand in hand. Studies show a slower rate of motility (speed of transit of food) through the colon in patients who have anxiety. A theory put forward to explain this link involves the enteric nervous system and the gut-brain axis7.
The enteric nervous system (ENS) or ‘second brain’ describes the nerves lining the digestive tract. These nerves, which consist of millions of neurons, control the digestion of food. In states of stress and anxiety, disruption to the ENS-brain connection reduces motility through the gastrointestinal tract, leading to constipation. This is a malfunctioning of the ‘gut-brain axis’, which connects the gut to the brain8.
The Dulco® range
Occasional constipation is very common and can happen to anyone from time to time. It’s natural to have questions about how to find relief from constipation. And below, you'll find answers to some of the most common questions.
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DulcoEase® Capsules
DulcoEase® Capsules are a gentle and effective laxative that gradually relieve constipation. The dual effect action softens poo and stimulates the bowel, resulting in an increase in bowel movements and softer poo that's easier to pass.
Dulcolax® Adult Tablets
Dulcolax® Tablets provide targeted relief that works away whilst you sleep, stimulating your natural bowel movement in harmony with your body. Take at night in the comfort of your own home to make it easier to pass poo when you wake up (between 6-12 hours later). So, you can expect to feel good inside and out.
Dulcolax® Adult Pico Liquid oral solution
Dulcolax® Adult Pico Liquid is a fruit flavoured liquid solution that provides predictable, overnight relief from constipation in 6-12 hours.
Dulcolax® Twelve Plus suppositories
Get fast relief in 10-30 minutes with this quick-acting stimulant laxative. Dulcolax® Twelve Plus 10mg suppositories work quickly to stimulate bowel muscles and soften poo, making it easier to pass.
-
Dulcolax® Adult Tablets
Dulcolax® Tablets provide targeted relief that works away whilst you sleep, stimulating your natural bowel movement in harmony with your body. Take at night in the comfort of your own home to make it easier to pass poo when you wake up (between 6-12 hours later). So, you can expect to feel good inside and out.
Dulcolax® Adult Pico Liquid oral solution
Dulcolax® Adult Pico Liquid is a fruit flavoured liquid solution that provides predictable, overnight relief from constipation in 6-12 hours.
-
DulcoEase® Capsules
DulcoEase® Capsules are a gentle and effective laxative that gradually relieve constipation. The dual effect action softens poo and stimulates the bowel, resulting in an increase in bowel movements and softer poo that's easier to pass.
-
Dulcolax® Twelve Plus suppositories
Get fast relief in 10-30 minutes with this quick-acting stimulant laxative. Dulcolax® Twelve Plus 10mg suppositories work quickly to stimulate bowel muscles and soften poo, making it easier to pass.
Learn more about constipation
Here, you'll find answers to some of the most common questions about constipation. You'll also find guidance on how to get rid of it and how to stay regular.
Constipation And Diarrhoea: What is the connection?
Constipation is characterised by uncomfortable or infrequent bowel movements. Whatever your symptoms and complaints of constipation, it can be very uncomfortable and annoying when it's hard to poo.
How does the digestive system work?
Constipation is characterised by uncomfortable or infrequent bowel movements. Whatever your symptoms and complaints of constipation, it can be very uncomfortable and annoying when it's hard to poo.
What is constipation?
Constipation is characterised by uncomfortable or infrequent bowel movements. Whatever your symptoms and complaints of constipation, it can be very uncomfortable and annoying when it's hard to poo.
What is occasional constipation?
Constipation is characterised by uncomfortable or infrequent bowel movements. Whatever your symptoms and complaints of constipation, it can be very uncomfortable and annoying when it's hard to poo.
Bloating and Constipation
Constipation is characterised by uncomfortable or infrequent bowel movements. Whatever your symptoms and complaints of constipation, it can be very uncomfortable and annoying when it's hard to poo.
Constipation and Bowel Movement
Constipation is characterised by uncomfortable or infrequent bowel movements. Whatever your symptoms and complaints of constipation, it can be very uncomfortable and annoying when it's hard to poo.
How to manage occasional constipation in adults
Occasional constipation can happen to anyone from time to time. Because we know how frustrating and stressful it can be, we can help you identify the causes of your constipation. And, best of all, how to prevent it.
How to deal with constipation in children
Constipation is a very common problem for children. It usually isn't a cause for concern, but it can make your little ones feel very uncomfortable.
1. American Pregnancy Association. Constipation in Pregnancy. 2020. https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/pregnancy-health-wellness/constipation-during-pregnancy-964/ Accessed 14/11/2022
2. Harms RW. Mayo Clinic guide to a healthy pregnancy. 2011. Mayo Foundation for medical education and research.
3. Trottier M, Erebara A, Bozzo P. Treating constipation during pregnancy. Can Fam Physician. 2012 Aug;58(8):836-8.
4. Camilleri M, Ford AC, Mawe GM, Dinning PG, Rao SS, Chey WD, Simrén M, Lembo A, Young-Fadok TM, Chang L. Chronic constipation. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017 Dec 14;3:17095.
5. Basilisco G, Coletta M. Chronic constipation: a critical review. Dig Liver Dis. 2013 Nov;45(11):886-93.
6. Sanofi data on file - Coated Tablets 2017.
7. Jessurun JG, van Harten PN, Egberts TC, Pijl YJ, Wilting I, Tenback DE. The Relation between Psychiatric Diagnoses and Constipation in Hospitalized Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study. Psychiatry J. 2016;2016:2459693.
8. Mindsethealth - Anxiety and Constipation - Can Stress Cause Constipation? 2019 https://www.mindsethealth.com/matter/anxiety-and-constipation Accessed 14/11/2022