Paul Larson OB/GYN Clinic, P.A. Edina, Minnesota

Constipation

Constipation is a very common condition affecting pregnant women. Because this condition is so common, we have some ideas to help you achieve natural control of this problem.

The digestive tract extracts the beneficial elements from food and then must eliminate the remainder as waste. The whole process takes 1-3 days, the time varying from one individual to another. Hormonal changes may slow this process and also the addition of iron in the prenatal vitamin exacerbates the condition.

The colon, or large intestine, is the last five feet of the intestinal tract whose job it is to absorb excess water from the fecal waste.

This waste is propelled through the entire digestive tract by muscular contractions. If the contractions are too fast, the feces are liquid (diarrhea) and if they are too slow, the feces are hard (constipation). To prevent constipation, the transit time and moisture level must be correct. How is this achieved? First of all, diet is very important. Helpful are high residue foods, especially those with high fiber content which provide the "bulk" to push waste through and to hold on to the necessary moisture.

Foods high in fiber include:

Bran, whole grains, cereals;
Raw fruit (apples, melons, peaches, and so on);
Cooked or dried fruit;
Raw vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, celery, and so on);
Cooked vegetables (cauliflower, potatoes, rhubarb, string beans, corn, broccoli, spinach, asparagus, and so on).

Some helpful habits to a normal bowel routine:

Eat at regular hours and chew food thoroughly.
Drink plenty of fluids.
Exercise daily.
Answer the urge to have a bowel movement when it comes; it may not return for another day and straining is not healthy.

A high fiber diet seems to be important in preventing colon cancer. As you gradually increase the fiber in your diet, foods like bran and cabbage may initially produce an increase in gas and bloating. This tendency will usually subside in a few weeks. You should also try various high fiber foods to see which best agree with you.

An excellent way of adding fiber and bulk to your diet is the use of Metamucil (psyllium hydrophiilic mucilloid). This product, sold at drug stores, supermarkets, and discount stores, is a natural grain product made from the husk of psyllium seeds. It is also sold under less expensive generic labels. Metamucil is a simplified way to normalizing bowel function that does not require you to radically change your diet.

To be effective, however you must take it daily. We recommend the plain powder (not the instant). Put a heaping teaspoon of powder in a small juice glass, add four ounces of orange or tomato juice (or your favorite juice), stir vigorously until all the powder is suspended and swallow in one gulp, then promptly drink additional water.

Metamucil mixes with the feces and increases fecal bulk and traps water in the stool. It is not absorbed into the body, so it is not a drug. It does not irritate the bowel like most other laxatives. Doctors recommend this product for many intestinal diseases. This product is low in calories and also helps to prevent diarrhea. You may use this product three times daily if necessary.

Fibercon, Hydrocil and Citrucel also increase bulk volume and water content of stools. Citrucel may be the most palatable.


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Constipation

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In This Area