If you find yourself experiencingconstipation during pregnancy, you are not alone.  Nearly half of all pregnant women experience constipation during some point during their pregnancy.  Bloating and pain are often a result ofconstipation duringpregnancy, and it has even been identified as a cause of pre-term labor.Pregnancy and constipationdon’t have to go together, however.   Fortunately, it is possible to find relief.

Your baby will need as many vitamins, minerals and nutrients as your body can give it while you are carrying it.  Your body accomplishes this by increasing production of the hormone progesterone, which slows down the movement of food through the digestive system.  This slowing allows your body to absorb the maximum of nutrients from the food before it is expelled as waste.  Unfortunately, this slowing can also result inconstipation during pregnancy.

Pregnancy and constipationcan also occur because your body absorbs more water, so that blood flow to the fetus can be increased.  This means that water is directed away from the bowel, resulting in a harder, drier bowel movement and this can causeconstipation during pregnancy.Since food is staying in your digestive system longer, it is able to absorb more water than usual as well.  In addition, just about all prenatal vitamins include extra iron, which is yet another source of constipation.

So, what can you do about this always uncomfortable and frequently painful problem?  Making a few simple changes in your diet can make all the difference.  Be sure to drink at least 8-10 glasses of water daily.  This will help make up for the extra water being absorbed by your body.  Also be sure to increase fiber in your diet.  This is easily accomplished by including whole grains like brown rice.  Eat a lot of fruits and leafy green vegetables.  Prune juice has also been shown to be helpful in preventing constipation.

Mangosteen juice is another effective remedy for constipation.  You may also wish to consult a homeopathic doctor who can help you find natural remedies for your problem.  Be sure to avoid over-the-counter laxatives, as they can be very harsh and even stimulate uterine contractions, resulting in pre-term labor, or even a miscarriage.

Exercise is also an excellent way to fightconstipation during pregnancy.  If you are not accustomed to regular exercise, start slowly by walking for just 15 minutes a day.  Even a little bit of exercise is beneficial in increasing blood flow and reducing stress.  Since stress is yet another cause of constipation, you definitely want to keep it under control.

Pregnancy and constipationcan be an unfortunate combination at a time when you really don’t need any further discomfort.  Fortunately, if you follow even some of the steps above, you will find relief from constipation, and can probably keep it from happening in the first place.  Simply by improving your diet, drinking more water and increasing your exercise, you will find that everything is working much more smoothly, and your baby will be getting all of the nutrition it needs.