Physicians
tell us that no two pregnancies are ever the same, as the symptoms
differ even when you are carrying a baby who has the same sex as your
last.
Many complications sometimes
attend pregnancies, making it look as if the journey goes beyond the
regular nine months. Some of those complications include pain in the
middle or lower belly, fever, blurred vision, swollen feet or hands
(oedema), and nagging headaches.
The
pregnant woman may also experience vaginal bleeding or fluid leak via
the same organ; burning sensation when she urinates, and vomiting. This
tells you that pregnancies come with sack load of surprises and
concerns, and you must be aware of all these so that you can take the
best precautions possible.
Of course,
physicians warn that none of these complaints should be ignored.
Obstetrician/gynaecologist, Dr. Kayode Peters, says one of the reasons
why antenatal visit is very important is to make sure that a pregnancy
is progressing in healthy manner, and the mother and child are in top
shape.
Beyond this list of discomforts, physicians warn that one other symptom that must not be ignored in pregnancy is constipation.
General
Practitioner, Dr. Abdulwarees Alawiye, says constipation refers to
bowel movements that are infrequent or hard to pass. Even in a situation
where the victim is not pregnant, the discomforts that come with
constipation is better imagined than experienced, hence the need to
guard against it as much as possible.
Why you are constipated
Experts warn that constipation is quite
common in pregnancy because nearly half of all pregnant women get
constipated at one point or the other while their pregnancies last!
Alawiye says during pregnancy, “elevated
progesterone levels cause smooth muscle to relax, and this slows down
the passage of food through the pregnant woman’s intestines.”
The situation naturally leads to
increased water absorption from the bowel, culminating in constipation,
he explains. “And that’s why, for some women, the first sign that they
have lapsed into labour is the uncontrollable passage of loose bowels.
This is simply because as the progesterone level drops, it allows for
the hitherto relaxed muscles to rev up again,” he enthuses.
Gynaecologists note that as the uterus
grows rapidly, it compresses the pregnant mom’s bowel and pushes the
stomach upward, effectively contributing to the likelihood of
constipation.
“This is largely the reason why constipation usually happens in the last trimester of pregnancy,” Peters says.
And if you are the type that gives in to
being lazy during pregnancy, it may slow down your body processes and
result in constipation.
Alawiye also warns that pregnant women are susceptible to stress, another contributory factor for constipation.
“Just as it affects other areas of
health, chronic stress can also disrupt the regularity of bowel
movement, leading to constipation. And when you resort to
self-medication, your guess is as good as mine — it would only make
things worse,” Peters cautions.
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