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Constipation

Pregnancy symptoms

Constipation

Constipation occurs when there is abdominal pain or discomfort, difficult and infrequent bowel movements, and the passage of hard stools. Unfortunately, constipation affects approximately half of all women at some point during their pregnancy.

What causes constipation during pregnancy?
Constipation in pregnant women is thought to occur due to hormones that relax the intestinal muscle and by the pressure of the expanding uterus on the intestines. This causes food and waste to move slower through your system.

Here are other common causes of constipation during pregnancy:

How to prevent or treat constipation during pregnancy?
Here are a few things that you can do to help prevent or treat constipation:

When to get medical help?
If you have tried changing your diet and exercising more but your symptoms have not got better, you should consult with your doctor. Do not take laxative pills unless your doctor prescribed it.

Verified:

Dr. Wanwadee Sapmee Panyakat (OB-GYN) (3 February 2020)

Sources:

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