Natural Remedies for Constipation Relief During Pregnancy

Constipation is very common during pregnancy but there are natural remedies for constipation relief during pregnancy that are safe and effective.

Just when you are able to get food into your body without having it come back up, that you suddenly find you can not get the food out of your body. Nearly half of all the women who are pregnant suffer from constipation during pregnancy. I know that I struggled with it a few times during my pregnancies with my two sons.

When you are pregnant your body increases progesterone which in turns relaxes the muscles of the bowels and causes your digestive tracks to work much slower. Your digestive track works slower to make sure your body absorbs the nutrients from your food for your baby. But when your digestion is slow, more fluid is absorbed out of your stool, making it harder to pass. This can create constipation, which if it not kept under control, can lead to hemorrhoids.

There are some ways you can help avoid constipation throughout your pregnancy.

Fiber is a Natural Remedy for Constipation Relief During Pregnancy

For some, eating plenty of fiber in your diet can help with constipation. Fiber absorbs water and can help to soften your stools and speed their passage. Eating plenty of high fiber foods like vegetables, fruit and chia seed can help.  For some who are constipated, fiber can actually make constipation worse.  The fiber can absorb too much liquid and make the stool dry and hard to pass. For more information on fiber and help to determine if adding fiber is a good idea for you, please read my article on fiber. 

Fresh fruits are also an excellent way to get your fiber in. Melons and plums have a high amount of fiber in them as wells as dried fruits like figs, raisins, apricots and of course the well known favorite prunes. Prunes and prune juice have a like laxative effect and will help keep things moving properly in your body. Aim to eat at least 25 to 30 grams of fiber a day. You can tell you are getting enough fiber if your stools are large and soft and you aren’t straining to pass them.

If you have increased constipation when you add fiber, try a low fiber diet for a few days to give your gut a break to heal. The slowly reintroduce fiber into your diet and see if your constipation improves or worsens.

Dehydration Can Cause Constipation During Pregnancy

Drinking plenty of fluid will help you combat constipation. Fluids help keep digestive products moving through your system so it is very important for you to drink at least six to eight glasses of water a day. Keeping up with your fluids is important especially if you are increasing your intake of fiber. Your body needs to water to soak up the fiber otherwise it can cause more constipation.

If you have been struggling with nausea and vomiting, it is critical to make sure you get enough fluids in. Taking little sips regularly can help instead of drinking a lot of water or other liquid all at once.  I know for me, drinking cold water made me more nauseous than drinking something warm but that can be different for different people.

Herbal teas like organic Peppermint or Ginger (Amazon affiliate links)are excellent for gastrointestinal health and constipation, plus they can help with nausea so you can keep more down.  A Pregnancy Tea is also a great way to increase your fluids and support your pregnancy at the same time.

My Electrolyte Drink is excellent for keeping you hydrated and also helps to relieve constipation so it is an excellent option.

Prenatal Vitamins Can Cause Constipation

Some of the prenatal vitamins that women take contain a lot of iron. Iron supplements can play a big part in constipation. Talk to your doctor to see if you can switch for a while to a different prenatal that contains less iron or at least stay off of the prenatal for a while until your constipation is under control. Mama Bird makes an excellent prenatal vitamin that doesn’t contain iron.  It also has methylfolate for people with MTHFR gene mutation.

Yoga is a Natural Remedy for Constipation During Pregnancy

Before you continue with your exercise regimen, consult your doctor. He or she may have some suggestions that will help you to manage your pregnancy better. If you are used to strenuous exercises, you will need to slow down as your pregnancy progresses.

Yoga has many benefits for a pregnant woman. Yoga is good for you as your baby grows inside. More pliable muscles may prevent tears or an episiotomy during delivery. And the movement of your body through the yoga poses can help the stool in your intestines, which is compressed from the baby’s weight on them, to move through your abdomen and exit your body.

If you know nothing about yoga, look for classes that are specifically labeled as prenatal yoga classes. The teaching will take into account your condition and give you the most benefit from the exercise, without compromising the health of your baby.

Even if you donít know how to perform any yoga poses, don’t shy away from joining the class. You can learn to love the movements and continue them after your baby is born.

Prenatal yoga has many benefits for women at all stages of their pregnancy. What you will learn about your body as well as the physical improvements will last far beyond birth.

This video has great information on how to use yoga for digestion during pregnancy.

Magnesium for Constipation Relief During Pregnancy

Magnesium is a very effective natural remedy for constipation relief during pregnancy.  Most of us are magnesium deficient. Even if you are eating a healthy diet with lots of greens and other magnesium-rich foods, our soil is depleted of magnesium so our food is magnesium deficient.  It is hard to get enough just by diet alone, especially if you don’t have an ideal diet.

Magnesium works as an osmotic. It pulls water into the colon softening the stool.  When you get too much magnesium, the stool is very soft or liquid and you expel the stool and the extra magnesium.  No matter what type of magnesium you use, it can cause dehydration, so please make sure to drink lots of fluids.

Omniblue Ocean Minerals (Link to Omniblue’s website) is a mineral supplement that contains elemental magnesium. It is concentrated ocean water that is harvested from vents deep in the ocean so it is pure. OmniBlue contains full-spectrum macro and trace minerals, including but not limited to the following: magnesium, potassium, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, phosphorus, sulphur, sulphates, chlorides as electrolytes, chromium, iron, molybdenum, plus 70 verified trace elements. It is a safe mineral supplement to take during pregnancy.

It is very salty so start with just a drop or two in your water, bone broth, juice or herbal tea and gradually increase your dose until you get relief from your constipation.  Start with ¼ teaspoon for three to four days, then gradually to one teaspoon, and eventually to 1½ teaspoons, which is the average daily adult dose. Spread your dose in increments throughout the day.

Coconut Oil is an Effective Natural Remedy for Constipation Relief During Pregnancy

Coconut oil is rich in Medium Chain Fatty Acids. MCFA’s boost your metabolism which makes the stool pass through your intestines faster.  The oil coats and lubricates harder old stool making it easier to pass and it softens the newly formed stool making it easier to pass.

You can eat coconut oil right off of the spoon if you like the taste and texture.  I have a super tasty recipe for Chocolate Coconut “Poop Candy” that is a great way to increase your intake of coconut oil.

Miralax During Pregnancy

Sometimes an OB or Gynocologist will prescribe Miralax to pregnant women.  I would not use it under any circumstances but especially when pregnant.  My son had horrible side effects from Miralax that took us years to heal.  There have been over 25,000 reports of adverse events from Miralas made to the FDA.  Common side effects include Rage, Aggression, OCD, ADD, Tics, Seizures, Panic Attacks, Kidney problems, Autism-like behaviors, ODD, Night Terrors, Learning Delays, Mouth Sores, Lack of Growth, Hallucinations, Speech Issues, numbness, C-Diff, homicidal and suicidal ideation.

If you would like to learn more about Miralax and hear my son’s story, please read my article Is Miralax Safe for My Child? or my article Seizures While On Miralax Reported

Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy

Baby hemorrhoids are a common thing and one of the many uncomfortable symptoms of pregnancy. These are not hemorrhoids on the baby, but hemorrhoids that the mother-to-be gets during the 10 months of pregnancy. Even the woman who has never gotten hemorrhoids in the past can experience them during pregnancy, so it’s best to be forewarned.

Why do hemorrhoids occur so frequently in pregnant women? Hemorrhoids are caused by undue pressure on the veins in your rectum and intestines below the level of your uterus. When you are pregnant, the growing baby increases the pressure on those veins and arteries. This can cause hemorrhoids and clotting as well as varicose vein and other pressure related problems.

Hemorrhoids can be caused by the pressure of the baby in the uterus, then constipation can aggravate the situation, inflaming hemorrhoids and possibly causing them to rupture and bleed. It is the straining during constipation that causes the anal canal to push out hemorrhoids instead of the bowel movement.

Another reason why pregnant women often end up with hemorrhoids is the same reason why they exhibit wild mood swings and nausea, hormones. The increased progesterone during pregnancy causes a breakdown in the protection mechanism in veins that usually slow or stop swelling. The walls relax and there’s nothing to stop the swelling. Progesterone also contributes to constipation, which as shown above, causes hemorrhoids and makes existing hemorrhoids even worse.

Hemorrhoids during pregnancy are par for the course. There is no need to call your doctor unless you are bleeding.  Try a sitz bath instead or a poultice. I have more information on hemorrhoids in this article.

Tracking Your Bowel Movements

Tracking your bowel movements can help you to develop a regiment that helps you to find the natural remedy for your constipation during your pregnancy that works for you.  To get a free bowel movement tracker please click Here.

For More Support

Constipation during pregnancy is awful to deal.  But there are many safe and effective natural remedies for constipation relief during pregnancy. If you need more ideas or would like more support, I would like to invite you to join my Facebook groups People Against Miralax or Natural Constipation Solutions for more information on how to treat constipation and for support on your journey.

Disclaimers
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*DISCLAIMER, I AM NOT A DOCTOR OR MEDICAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL. ALL IDEAS DISCUSSED AND DESCRIBED IN THIS POST ARE MY OWN AND ARE NOT MEANT TO TREAT OR DIAGNOSE. IF YOU HAVE A MEDICAL CONDITION PLEASE SPEAK WITH YOUR DOCTOR.