Difficult bowel movements during pregnancy is one of the complaints that are often experienced by pregnant women. This condition usually appears in the second trimester of pregnancy. Although generally harmless, it is important for pregnant women to know the cause of difficult bowel movements so that appropriate treatment can be carried out.
There are several things that cause difficult bowel movements during pregnancy and one of them is the increase in the hormone progesterone which affects muscle relaxation, thus slowing bowel movements.
This makes the process of digesting food take longer and triggers constipation. When constipated, pregnant women will experience symptoms of flatulence, hard stools, and difficulty defecating regularly.
Causes of Difficult Defecation During Pregnancy
In addition to the increase in the hormone progesterone, there are several other factors that can also cause constipation during pregnancy, including:
1. Enlarged uterus
With increasing gestational age, the fetus is also growing and making the uterus enlarge. The growing uterus can put pressure on the intestines and rectum, thus interfering with the process of expulsion of feces.
2. Not consuming enough water
Stomach conditions that are easily bloated due to slowed bowel movements, make some pregnant women pay less attention to body fluid intake. In fact, adequate body fluids can support the digestive system to function normally.
Therefore, pregnant women are advised to increase their consumption of water during pregnancy to avoid constipation and dehydration.
3. The influence of diet
Without realizing it, pregnant women may become very picky about food during pregnancy so they don't want to eat foods that should be needed by the body, such as fiber foods.
nowPregnant women are advised to eat foods that contain fiber and adjust their diet so that the body's nutritional needs are still fulfilled and prevent constipation.
4. Take iron supplements
Taking iron supplements is good for preventing a decrease in the number of blood cells and preventing anemia. However, some types of iron supplements can cause side effects such as constipation and nausea.
5. Less moving
An enlarged stomach and increasing weight make most pregnant women lazy to move and do activities. This can increase the risk of pregnant women experiencing difficulty defecating during pregnancy.
6. Stress
Thinking about things that make you anxious and worried can cause stress during pregnancy. Pregnant women are advised to always think positively and stay calm. This is because stress can have a negative impact on health and can trigger difficult bowel movements.
How to Overcome Difficult Defecation During Pregnancy?
Overcoming the problem of difficult bowel movements during pregnancy should not be done carelessly, because it can affect the health condition of the fetus. The following are some natural ways to overcome constipation during pregnancy that pregnant women can do at home:
- Eat foods that are high in fiber, such as brown rice, fruit, vegetables, nuts, and cereals.
- Adequate iron needs from food intake, such as meat, eggs, and kidney beans, as well as iron supplements that have been prescribed by a doctor.
- Drink at least 12 glasses of water per day.
- Light exercise at least 3 times a week, for 20-30 minutes. Pregnant women can consult a doctor to find out the types of exercise that can be done during pregnancy.
- Avoid holding back the urge to defecate and go to the toilet immediately when you feel the urge to defecate.
Difficult bowel movements during pregnancy are generally not dangerous. However, if pregnant women are constipated and accompanied by abdominal pain, diarrhea, mucus or blood discharge during bowel movements, causing hemorrhoids, immediately consult a doctor to get the right treatment.