If you've ever been pregnant or known someone who has, you may have talked about constipation. Many pregnant women become constipated due to the amount of iron in prenatal vitamins. If you're pregnant and are experiencing constipation, talk to your health care provider about possible safe solutions to relieve your symptoms.
What's In Prenatal Vitamins?
Prenatal vitamins primarily consist of three different types of vitamins and minerals: iron, calcium and folic acid. When you're pregnant, your body requires more iron due to the increased blood volume to support you and the fetus. You will also need calcium, thus increasing the need for that mineral to support healthy bones. The human fetus requires folic acid to decrease the risk of certain birth defects such as spina bifida and other neurological complications.
How Iron Affects You
Iron helps your blood carry oxygen from your lungs to other parts of your body, which is essential for the production of hemoglobin. Healthy adult females require 18 mg of iron every day, while pregnant women require 27 mg of iron per day, according to Mayo Clinic.com. That may not seem like much, but for a healthy pregnancy, it is essential. Consuming too much iron or more iron than your body is used to may cause you to become constipated. Iron can build up in your body and become toxic. If you begin to experience symptoms such as constipation, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, talk to your health care provider right away.
Reducing Constipation
Drink plenty of water. MayoClinic.com recommends drinking eight 8 oz. glasses of water daily to help eliminate constipation. You can also drink fruit juice, especially prune juice, to help restore normal bowel function while you're pregnant. Exercising can also help improve bowel function, as well as including more fruits, vegetables and high-fiber foods. Check with your health care provider to see if he approves of fiber supplements to help improve bowel function.
Other Alternatives
Always seek physician approval prior to trying any type of supplements or over-the-counter remedies to relieve constipation as some products may harm the fetus. Ask your health care provider if it's possible to switch to a different prenatal vitamin or if it's safe to lower the dose of iron that you take during pregnancy. The American Pregnancy Association places emphasis on never trying mineral oil or laxatives to relieve constipation. Ask your doctor what's safe for your pregnancy to ensure you and the developing fetus is healthy.
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