What are some common causes of constipation?

Answer 1

Generally, in pregnant and in non-pregnant persons, the common causes of constipation include the following:

• too little intake of fluid (water, juices, milk, etc)
• too little exercise
• too little roughage/fiber in the diet
• use, over-use, or abuse of anti-diarrheal medications

In pregnant women, especially in the first and third trimesters, the shift in hormones can produce constipation. In the 3rd trimester, pressure from the baby can make movement within the intestines called peristalsis react slower. When doctors use a stethoscope to listen against a pregnant woman's abdomen, he isn't just listening for the baby's heartbeat, he is also listening for the mother's bowel sounds to make sure those are normal (normal peristalsis).