Constipation and gas during pregnancy

No one likes to dwell on digestive issues during pregnancy, but the truth is there’s a good chance you may end up with constipation, excess gas, or both. Once again, you can chalk it up to hormones. “Progesterone wreaks havoc on your body during pregnancy,” says Hayes. It relaxes the muscles in your gastrointestinal tract and slows digestion, causing constipation and allowing gas to build up, she says. Fortunately, you’ll find things go back to normal within a few weeks of your baby’s birth.

Solution

Just being a little more active every day can help with constipation, says Hayes. In fact, a 20-minute walk might be all it takes to get things moving. “Eating more high-fibre foods (fruit, veggies, whole grains) and drinking lots of fluids will also help,” she says. If you haven’t had a bowel movement in three days, talk to your healthcare provider. (It may be as simple as switching pregnancy vitamins – sometimes too much iron can make pregnancy constipation worse.)

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