How to relieve constipation during pregnancy immediately

Constipation during pregnancy is a common problem and nearly half of all pregnant women get constipated at some point. Constipation occurs when there is abdominal pain or discomfort, difficult and infrequent bowel movements, and the passage of hard stools.

What causes constipation during pregnancy?

In general, worry, anxiety, minimal physical exercise, and a low-fiber diet may cause constipation. Constipation during pregnancy is due to the increase in progesterone hormones that relax the intestinal muscle causing food and waste to move slower through your system.

Sometimes iron tablets may contribute to constipation. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water if you are taking iron supplements. You may need to switch to a different type of iron tablet, but it is important to talk to your health care provider first.

How can I prevent or treat constipation during pregnancy?

Prevention and treatment of constipation involve many of the same steps.

Here are a few things that you can do to help prevent constipation from occurring or treat it if you are already experiencing it:

• Eat a high fiber diet: Ideally, you will consume 25 to 30 grams per day of dietary fiber from fruits, vegetables, breakfast cereals, whole-grain bread, prunes, and bran. This helps ensure bulkier stools that are easier to poop.
• Drink a lot of fluids: Drinking plenty of fluids is important, particularly when increasing fiber intake helps ensure softer stools. Drink 10 to 12 cups of fluids each day. It is the combination of a high fiber diet and plenty of liquids that best help you eliminate your waste. Sweat, hot/humid climates, and exercise may increase your need for additional fluids.
• Exercise routinely: If you are inactive, you have a greater chance of constipation. Walking, swimming and other moderate exercises will help the intestines work by stimulating your bowels. Schedule exercise three times a week for 20-30 minutes each.
• Over-the-counter remedies: There are over-the-counter products such as Metamucil (Category B) which may help soften your bowel movements and reduce constipation. Always speak to your health care provider before using over-the-counter medications.
• Reduce or eliminate iron supplements: Iron supplements may contribute to constipation. Good nutrition can often meet your iron needs during pregnancy. Taking smaller doses of iron throughout the day rather than taking it all at once can reduce constipation. Talk to your health care provider about checking your iron levels and recommendations to manage iron intake during pregnancy. Find natural ways to get iron here.

What remedies should not be used for constipation during pregnancy?

Laxative pills are NOT recommended for the treatment of constipation during pregnancy because they might stimulate uterine contractions and cause dehydration. Talk to your doctor about taking an over-the-counter fiber supplement or a laxative or stool softener.

Mineral oils should NOT be used during pregnancy because they reduce nutrient absorption.

Is constipation during pregnancy ever serious?

Usually not, but occasionally constipation during pregnancy can be a symptom of another problem. If you have severe constipation that’s accompanied by abdominal pain, alternates with diarrhea, or you pass mucus or blood, call your doctor or midwife immediately.

Also, straining during a bowel movement or passing a hard stool can lead to or worsen hemorrhoids, which are swollen veins in the rectal area. Hemorrhoids can be extremely uncomfortable, though they rarely cause serious problems. In most cases, they go away fairly soon after your baby is born. However, if the pain is severe, or if you have rectal bleeding, call your doctor.

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Compiled using information from the following sources:
Mayo Clinic Guide To A Healthy Pregnancy Harms, Roger W., M.D., et al, Part 3.
William’s Obstetrics Twenty-Second Ed. Cunningham, F. Gary, et al, Ch. 8.

Irregular bowel movements that cause a bloated, gassy, clogged-up feeling are a very common pregnancy complaint. Here's what you can do if you're feeling stopped up.

When does constipation generally start during pregnancy?

Constipation tends to start as early as progesterone levels rise, around the second to third month of pregnancy. It may get worse as pregnancy progresses and your uterus grows.

What causes constipation during pregnancy?

As with many other pregnancy symptoms, pregnancy hormones are the culprit behind constipation.[1] Progesterone causes the muscles in your bowels to relax, allowing food to hang around longer in the digestive tract.

The upside is that there's added time for nutrients to be absorbed into your bloodstream and reach your baby. The downside is you end up with a waste-product traffic jam. Your expanding uterus also takes up valuable space normally occupied by your bowel, cramping its usual activity.

What can I do about constipation when I'm pregnant?

You don't have to resign yourself to nine months of discomfort. There are plenty of tactics to combat colon congestion (all the while heading off hemorrhoids, a common side effect of constipation):

Fight back with fiber

Fiber-rich foods help you eliminate waste; aim for 25 to 35 grams each day. Check the food labels if you want, but there's no need to do the math. 

Instead, focus on simply eating plenty of whole grain cereals and breads, legumes (edamame and chickpeas, for example), fresh fruits and veggies (raw or lightly cooked — preferably with skin left on), and dried fruits. Going for the green can also help you go, in both the form of leafy green vegetables and kiwi fruit, which packs a potent laxative effect. Sample from this fiber-rich and tasty menu to get started. 

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Try to avoid refined grains (white bread, white rice, refined cereals and pasta) when you can; they tend to back things up. 

Really plugged up? Try adding some bran or a fiber supplement to your diet, starting with a sprinkle and increasing as needed.[2] Be sure to check with your doctor first before you do this, though, and don't go overboard, since these fiber powerhouses can carry away important nutrients before they can be absorbed. 

Also be prepared for some flatulence, another common complaint of pregnancy as well as a temporary side effect of upping the fiber in your diet. You may have to try different types of fiber supplements before finding the right one for you.

Drink up 

Downing between eight and 10 8-ounce glasses of fluids (water, vegetable or fruit juice and broth) every day keeps solids moving through your digestive tract and makes your stool soft and easier to pass. 

You can also turn to warm liquids, including that health spa staple, hot water and lemon, to help stimulate peristalsis (the intestinal contractions that help you go). Prune juice is a good pick for truly tough cases, since it's a mild laxative.

Don't max out at mealtime

Big meals can overtax your digestive tract, leading to things getting backed up. Try eating six mini-meals a day rather than three large ones and you might also experience less gas and bloating.

Go when you gotta go 

Regularly holding it in can worsen constipation, so try to go whenever you have to.

Get your fill of probiotics

The probiotic acidophilus, found in yogurts that contain active cultures, stimulate the intestinal bacteria to break down food better to keep things moving. You can also ask your practitioner to recommend a good probiotic supplement in capsules, chewables or powder form that can be added to smoothies.

Get a move on

Regular exercise during pregnancy encourages regular bowel movements.[3] Even just a 10-minute walk can get things moving, so make sure you're getting the recommended amount of practitioner-approved exercise.

And don't forget about exercising your pelvic floor. Straining when you’re constipated (along with simply being pregnant and giving birth!) can cause your pelvic floor muscles to weaken, but regular Kegels can help keep those muscles stronger. 

Stay away from stimulant laxatives

Not all laxatives and stool softeners (especially herbal or homemade ones) are safe for use during pregnancy. Talk to your practitioner before taking any constipation medication or remedy.

Talk with your doctor 

Ironically, many of the supplements and medications that do a pregnant body good (prenatal vitamins, calcium and iron supplements, and antacids) can exacerbate constipation. So check with your practitioner about alternatives (such as slow-release iron supplements) or adjustments in dosages until the situation improves. 

Also ask your practitioner about taking a magnesium supplement to help fight constipation. Taking it at night may relax achy muscles and help you sleep better, too.

And let your provider know if at-home measures aren’t getting things moving. He or she may recommend over-the-counter meds like docusate or polyethylene glycol.

Can I prevent constipation during pregnancy?

Healthy eating habits and regular exercise encourage a speedy digestive system, which can help prevent constipation during pregnancy.

Consuming lots of fiber-rich foods (fruits, veggies, whole grains, lentils), drinking enough water and staying (or getting) active can all combine to prevent constipation by counteracting the natural digestive slowdown of pregnancy.

When can I expect constipation to end while I'm pregnant?

For some women, constipation lasts throughout pregnancy as progesterone levels peak. However, if you change up your eating and exercise habits, things usually begin moving more smoothly. And you can take steps to combat constipation at any point during your pregnancy.

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

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