Constipation is something that MANY adults + children struggle with but never want to talk about! This blog dives into constipation in adults and WHY it is common during pregnancy.
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Top 4 reasons why pregnant women are constipated:
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1. Increase in the hormone progesterone
- This hormone causes the muscles of the intestinal tract to relax, causing food + waste to move a bit slower through the digestive system.
- Because of this increased time spent digesting, moisture is removed and the waste becomes dried out and harder to pass!
2. A growing fetus is heavy!
- A growing fetus makes a woman's uterus heavier + takes up more space.
- This increased weight + lack of extra space puts pressure on the bowel, making it harder for stool to travel through the digestive system!
3. Iron supplementation from a prenatal
- Iron is important to help the body make blood to support the growing fetus!
- Too much iron though can make it harder for bacteria in the bowel to break down food - leading to constipation in pregnant women.
4. Movement + fluid intake
- During pregnancy, it is more important than ever to keep your body moving! This will help with the digestive process + move waste throughout the system.
- Women who do not eat enough fiber, or drink enough water also may have constipation during pregnancy!
- Water helps to soften the waste in the bowels, and if there isn't enough of it, the waste can build up causing constipation.
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Below are our top 4 solutions to relieve constipation during pregnancy:
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FLUIDS: Stay hydrated with lots of water [ you can also infuse *** add into your water *** cucumber and / or watermelon for more natural electrolytes to help stay hydrated ]! Prune juice may also be helpful. Another option is Liquid I.V. as it is jam packed with hydration + electrolytes!
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MOVEMENT: Get the body moving! Physical activity of any kind [ a light walk is always nice! ] helps support digestion + can prevent constipation. Another option is to use your exercise ball!
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FIBER: Include more fiber in your diet. Choose high-fiber foods, such as fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains.
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GET ADJUSTED: Get adjusted by your pregnancy chiropractor!! [ more on this below ]
