During pregnancy, you may have to make changes to your diet to help ease some of the common symptoms such as constipation and morning sickness.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Constipation<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
During pregnancy, the body produces higher levels of the hormone \u201cprogesterone\u201d (hormonal changes). This hormone can relax the muscles in the digestive tract, including the muscles that move food through the intestines. This can slow down the digestive process and lead to constipation. Later in pregnancy, as the uterus grows, it can put pressure on the intestines and make it harder for food to move through the digestive system. Constipation combined with straining can also lead to hemorrhoids. Fun times!\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Tips to soften that stool include*:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n *This advice applies to non -pregnant women too!\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you are still experiencing constipation despite these efforts, talk to your doctor. They may recommend a stool softener or laxative that is safe to use during pregnancy.<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Morning sickness<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n It is common for pregnant women to experience nausea and vomiting during the first few weeks of pregnancy. This is often referred to as “morning sickness” although it can occur at any time of the day.<\/i><\/p>\n The exact cause of morning sickness is not fully understood, but it is thought to be related to the hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy. Specifically, the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is believed to play a role in causing nausea and vomiting.<\/i><\/p>\n While morning sickness can be uncomfortable, it is generally considered to be a normal part of pregnancy and is not usually a cause for concern. However, in some cases, severe or persistent nausea and vomiting (a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum) can occur, which may require medical treatment.<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Unfortunately, there is no quick fix, but here are some tips that may help:\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Remember: morning sickness is a normal part of pregnancy and typically improves after the first trimester. If you have concerns about your symptoms or if they are severe, talk to your doctor.<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chrystalla Katelari<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Clinical Dietitian – Nutritionist, MSc<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" During pregnancy, you may have to make changes to your diet to help ease some of the common symptoms such as constipation and morning sickness.\u00a0 Constipation During pregnancy, the body produces higher levels of the hormone \u201cprogesterone\u201d (hormonal changes). This hormone can relax the muscles in the digestive tract, including the muscles that move […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":5141,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5147","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-nutrition"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n