Constipation and Pregnancy
The HOWs and WHYs of Constipation During Pregnancy
Studies have shown that constipation during pregnancy is mainly due to hormonal imbalance in the body. During pregnancy, a woman’s body goes haywire and produces a huge amount of female hormones more than the usual.
While these female hormones greatly help the developing fetus and the soon to be mother by ensuring a safe and normal pregnancy, the same female hormones also slows and lessens bowel movements; therefore resulting in constipation during pregnancy.
Specifically, the female hormone progesterone is the culprit behind constipation during pregnancy. Progesterone acts a muscle relaxant and as such, it relaxes the bowel walls and lessens the peristaltic action needed to properly pass out body wastes.
