During pregnancy, changes in bowel habits aren’t just linked to your diet; they are also due to your hormones. Your body is producing extra progesterone which cleverly makes your muscles relax so your baby can grow inside you. However, this also affects your intestines, meaning food moves through you more slowly. While this physiological change helps your body absorb the nutrients from your food better; it also leads to an increased absorption of water from the colon which can make for more infrequent bowel motions.
Infrequent bowel motions during pregnancy can also be caused by the extra pressure the uterus puts on the bowel and rectum, slowing down bowel movements.
Moving things along
If ever you find you bowel movements need speeding up, diet and exercise can help set things in motion!
Eat regular meals and have at least five portions a day of fruits and vegetables every day. Getting plenty of fibre from fruit, vegetables and wholegrains is very important. Fluids will also help to soften your stools and make them easier to pass, so drink lots! Aim for at least eight glasses of water a day and try fruit juices such as prune juice to help.
When you’re bloated and blocked up, you may not feel like exercising, but 20 to 30 minutes a day of swimming, walking, or another gentle exercise you enjoy, can help kick start your system.
You might also want to review any pregnancy vitamin supplements or iron tablets you're taking as they can slow your bowels down too, but double check with your health care professional before making any changes.