Constipation During Pregnancy (2751)

Constipation is common in pregnancy.  Do not use laxatives unless your health care professional prescribes them. Laxatives can hurt your baby. Eating inappropriately may lead to constipation. Also, iron supplementation may cause constipation. If your doctor has prescribed supplements and you think your constipation is due to the supplements, discuss this problem with your health care professional. To help prevent constipation:

• Drink lots of water, milk, soup, and fruit juice.

• Eat a leafy salad each day.

• Eat foods high in fiber like beans, fresh fruits, whole wheat bread, high-fiber cereals like bran, raw vegetables, and salads. (Increase your fiber intake gradually to prevent excessive gas formation; ask your health care professional for advice if you experience discomfort.)

- If you consume foods high in fiber, be sure to drink lots of liquids, or constipation will be an even greater problem.

- Try prunes or prune juice.

- Exercise lightly, like walking every day.

- Try brown rice and whole wheat pasta.

- Choose foods that are less processed because they have more fiber. For example, an apple has more fiber than applesauce or apple juice.

- Look for fiber information on cereal boxes, and choose cereals that have more fiber.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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