Pregnant? Constipated? Here's an 'easy-going' Six-Point plan...
Constipation is pretty common, more often later in pregnancy -
especially when the baby's size begins to pressurize your
intestines and make peristalsis less efficient.
Here are a few thoughts and suggestions : (1) No matter how bad
the constipation - NEVER strain. This goes for when you are not
pregnancy too, but especially now. You really need to learn to
relax as much as possible (try Yoga) and employ this technique
when you visit the toilet. The intestines natural muscular
movements that help you go can actually be inhibited by your
efforts to strain. This stops the natural evacuation motion,
plus it can cause piles (ouch!) and is probably not at all good
for the stability of your developing foetus. I know it is tough
- but try to use some relaxation techniques and let the Laws of
Nature take over for the 'bowel movement' process.
(2) Go with prunes! These dried plums have a concentration of
natural fibre that can really help the bowel activity. Organic
dried apricots (look a bit weird - but who wants to be consuming
even small amounts of synthetic fertilizer/insecticides at a
time when a little person is developing inside you!) are also
excellent - (those kind that are quite moist are great.) Eat
some at breakfast, lunch and later meals - or include them in
snacks during the day.
(3) Try to develop a routine - your body will benefit from the
'regularity' - and it should help the 'psychology' of the 'time
to go' period...but again do not try and force it. If you, say,
take a bath or a shower at a certain time - the warm relaxed
feeling may help you to go straight after.
(4) Keep on keeping your fluid intakes high. Drink filtered
water (you don't want any flourides or chlorine if you can avoid
it - and if they are in your local water - they are potential
endocrine disruptors...again why risk it whilst that little one
is developing); fruit juices - NOT fizzy drinks; NOT anything
with artificial sweeteners; NOT anything with caffeine. Coffee
and tea are best avoided not only because of the caffeine - but
they have a mild diuretic effect and can exacerbate de-hydration.
(5) If constipation has ever been a problem, even when not
pregnant - consider re-building the integrity of your gut-flora.
Our intestines are home (as you probably know) to billions of
bacteria. Over time (depending on dietary and other habits) you
can decimate your GOOD bacteria and have an overgrowth in
BADDIES! Try something like the pro-biotic product En-liven that
you can find here under the MiVitality link: http://www.saferalternativ
e.com - to re-colonise the gastrointestinal tract with the
full spectrum of Lactobacillus (friendly) bacteria. This
certified organic product has really worked wonders for many
people and can help overcome that bloated feeling too (But
remember, for your peace-of-mind, it is always wise just to
check with your MD/GP that anything you are thinking of taking
during pregnancy is considered okay by them.)
(6) And as an added thought - not actually to do with
'constipation' directly - but consider changing your bathroom
products to get rid of those things that use synthetic and toxic
chemicals. Ideally use only completely natural, preferably
certified organic products. Some additional advice and links can
be found here via the web-log http://toxictimebomb.blogspot.com
if you are interested. It was more than a worry to us to
discover the many toxic chemicals our little girl might be
exposed to via the shower soaps, shampoos and other stuff we
used when I was first pregnant 10 months ago (Aimee is now a
happy, healthy 1 month old!) - which is why we switched!
(Article published Feb. 2006. NOTE: This article may be
freely distributed and re-published but the 'Author's Bio'
details, and any other links must be left intact)