Laxatives during pregnancy

Use of purgatives during pregnancy

There are some instances when pregnant women need or want to take a laxative. A purgative or laxative is a foodstuff or a medication that is used to make the stool looser, and to ensure more regular bowel movements. There are some situations in which this effect is important to people, or to women specifically in this case. Laxatives are typically used as a means of help for sorting out irregularity in emptying the bowels. Constipation is diagnosed in cases where a person has a bowel movement less frequently than thrice a week.

Pregnancy is a quite altered state in the organism, compared to normal state in the body of a woman that is not pregnant. Many different problems may arise for women who are pregnant, and among them is constipation. And laxatives may once again come into play, as a quick and efficient way of relieving this problem. It is not always safe for all women to take laxatives while they are pregnant, but if some precautionary measures are taken into consideration, laxatives can be very beneficial for pregnant ladies.

Pregnancy and constipation as a result

In the opening period of pregnancy, the hormone under the name of progesterone is something that can induce some changes in the body, and that is when some women have troubles with constipation. The speed of the digestive processes in the body is decreased due to the activity of progesterone, and that is why the bowel movements may occur irregularly.

Another influential factor for irregularity in emptying the bowels is the intake of vitamin supplements. These supplements are often recommended to pregnant women, and that is with a good reason. Supplements that are used to make up for the necessary amount of iron and calcium in the body can induce irregularity in the bowel emptying process. Also, what may contribute to the emergency of constipation is stress that some pregnant women experience as well as poor content of dietary fibers in nutrition.

A factor that is crucial in a majority of instances of constipation is insufficient level of workout. Pregnant woman frequently avoid physical exercise, some on their own initiative and some because they have been recommended so by their doctor. In this case, the best way to relieve the problem is to eat healthily and to get at least some physical exercise. However, if a woman for instance is prevented from working out regularly, she may resort to the use of a laxative, provided she is guided by the expert hand of her doctor.