Here we discuss the symptoms of constipation, how to prevent it, and the conditions that constipation may lead to: haemorrhoids and anal fissures. Making sure you eat a healthy and balanced diet, drinking plenty of water and keeping active will help prevent constipation NICE, Read on to find out more about constipation, what causes it and other conditions that might follow constipation.
Constipation is when you go for a poo less often than usual and have difficulty having a poo. You may experience discomfort, excessive straining and feel like you have not completely emptied your bowels Moriarty, ; Bradley, The hormonal changes in pregnancy , which encourage parts of your body to relax and make room for the baby, also make constipation more likely.
Constipation during pregnancy might also be caused by reduced physical activity and changes in dietary habits NHS Choices, a. As your baby grows and your uterus stretches, it can also press on your intestines and cause digestive delays or obstructions NHS Choices, a. Make sure you are eating a healthy and varied diet, drinking enough water and keeping physically active NHS Choices, a. Read our article on five ways to help prevent constipation in pregnancy. Talk to your pharmacist about which ones are suitable for you during pregnancy NHS Choices, Laxatives help you poo more regularly and usually take effect within a few days.
But useful as you may find them, you should only use them for a short amount of time NHS Choices, Laxatives that stimulate the bowel, like senna, might be more effective in relieving constipation than bulk forming laxatives, like bran. However, using stimulant laxatives may cause more abdominal discomfort and diarrhoea Jewell and Young, ; Rungsiprakarn et al, ; NICE, Constipation can lead to haemorrhoids piles or anal fissures NHS Choices, The current guidance to help manage haemorrhoids piles and anal fissures includes the same lifestyle changes as for constipation NICE, a; b.
This page was last reviewed in July Our support line offers practical and emotional support with feeding your baby and general enquiries for parents, members and volunteers: We also offer antenatal courses which are a great way to find out more about birth, labour and life with a new baby.
