Constipation

Fibre helps prevent constipation.

Why?
Food passes through your body more slowly when you are pregnant, so you can absorb the extra nutrients you and your baby need. This may make it more difficult to go to the bathroom (constipation).

Foods with lots of fibre help prevent constipation. Fibre helps move things through your intestines making it easier to go to the bathroom.

How to cope

  • Eat foods that are sources of fibre, such as:
  • Vegetables, fruit and berries
  • Whole grains, like whole wheat bread
  • Cooked or canned beans, peas and lentils, like canned brown beans
  • Drink plenty of water. Warm or hot drinks may be especially helpful.
  • Keep active; constipation wasn’t really a problem in the past because everyone was so active in day to day living.
  • Eating prunes or drinking prune juice can help.

DO NOT use a laxative to treat constipation without checking first with your midwife, doctor or nurse. Laxatives can trigger the onset of labour contractions.
 

Source: Health Canada.  Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, 2010©