Is constipation normal during pregnancy?

Many expectant mothers who have just become pregnant and do not have much pregnancy experience often take a lot of nutritional supplements to supplement nutrition in order to allow their babies to absorb more nutrients from their bodies. However, a person's digestive system has a normal capacity. If you eat too many nutritional supplements, it can easily lead to overnutrition and cause some physical problems. So is it normal for some pregnant women to suffer from constipation after one month of pregnancy?

Will I be constipated if I am one month pregnant?

After pregnancy, for the healthy growth of the baby, the expectant mother eats a lot of nutritious foods and consumes a lot of high-protein, high-fat foods, but these foods are sometimes too refined and the dietary fiber that is beneficial to the intestines is removed. Insufficient vegetable intake will result in insufficient fiber content in the gastrointestinal tract, which is not conducive to the downward movement of chyme and stool, and can easily cause constipation.

Lack of activity is also a factor. After becoming pregnant, many women are afraid that being too active will hurt the fetus. Coupled with the special "care" of their family members, they often become less active and sit or lie down all day. This reduces the ability of the gastrointestinal tract, which has already reduced motility, to digest food, and aggravates abdominal distension and constipation.

The harm of constipation in pregnant women

Constipation will increase toxins in the expectant mother's body, leading to metabolic disorders, endocrine disorders and imbalance of trace elements, resulting in skin pigmentation, itching, dull complexion, dry hair, and spots. It can also cause symptoms of mild toxemia, such as loss of appetite, mental depression, dizziness and fatigue, which can lead to anemia and malnutrition over time. It is very detrimental to the baby's development. Frequent straining during bowel movements can also contribute to the formation of hemorrhoids. It can also cause abnormal development of breast tissue cells.

Constipation is one of the most common troubles during pregnancy and is also one of the most frequently neglected issues during pregnancy. However, don't underestimate these little bad habits, as they will make you regret it for the rest of your life if you are not careful. In the late stages of pregnancy, constipation will become more and more severe, and the mother often goes without a bowel movement for several days or even 1 to 2 weeks, causing abdominal pain and bloating. In severe cases, it can lead to intestinal obstruction and premature birth, endangering the safety of mother and baby. A patient had most of her small intestine removed at 38 weeks of pregnancy due to constipation and intestinal obstruction leading to small intestinal necrosis. For some constipated expectant mothers during childbirth, the feces accumulated in the intestines hinder the baby's descent, causing prolonged labor or even dystocia.

Be careful when treating constipation during pregnancy, as inappropriate treatment may also cause harm to the baby. Expectant mothers belong to a special group. When treating constipation, they should not take lubricating laxatives orally, such as castor oil, liquid paraffin, etc., as this will affect the intestinal absorption of nutrients and the baby's nutrition cannot be well guaranteed. Taking laxatives or highly stimulating laxatives will increase gastrointestinal motility and cause uterine contractions, leading to miscarriage or premature birth. Lubricating laxatives (liquid paraffin) reduce the expectant mother's absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K), making the newborn baby prone to hypothrombinemia (due to lack of vitamin K) and bleeding.