Constipation
Constipation means having fewer than three bowel movements a week, or passing hard, dry stools that are difficult or painful to move. During pregnancy, the hormone progesterone relaxes the bowel muscles, slowing digestion. Iron supplements, which many Singapore mums take throughout pregnancy, make this worse. As your uterus grows it also puts pressure on your bowel. To ease constipation, increase fiber through fruits, vegetables, and wholegrain bread, drink at least eight glasses of water daily, and take short walks regularly. If diet changes are not enough, your doctor or midwife can recommend a safe stool softener. Straining too hard can lead to hemorrhoids, so act early.
What This Means for You
Understanding Constipation is an important part of your pregnancy/postpartum journey. During pregnancy, your care team will use this term regularly. Being familiar with it means you can ask better questions and feel more confident at your antenatal appointments.
Explore our Pregnancy hubGood to Know
KKH and NUH recommend lactulose or Coloxyl as safe stool softeners in pregnancy, but always check with your obstetrician before taking any laxative. Seek care promptly if you have not passed stool for more than three days or experience pain and bloating.
Related Terms
Always consult your healthcare provider for personalised advice.
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