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Constipation During Pregnancy: What Is Safe To Take?

Are you having consistent constipation during pregnancy? Check out this pregnancy-safe list of medications.

Constipation is extremely common and normal during pregnancy, and there are several methods to relieve it, including lifestyle changes and medications. For most mothers, medications are highly used due to its ease and convenience as well as success in relieving constipation. If you are keen to find out more about safe medications for constipation while pregnant, read on! 

 

Table of Contents

  • Constipation Meaning
  • Causes of Constipation
  • Symptoms of Constipation
  • Pregnancy Constipation Treatments
  • Safe over-the-counter medications for pregnancy:
  • Top 5 Medications For Constipation
  • Taisho Seiyaku Review
  • Metamucil Smooth Orange 4-in-1 Fibre Supplement 
  • Dulcolax Review
  • ICM Review
  • Phillip's Review
  • Price Comparison

What is constipation?

Constipation involves when one struggles to poop, or with bowel movements. This commonly occurs when the food your body no longer needs hardens in the lower part of your digestive tract, instead of moving out as stool.

Constipation is also much more common during pregnancy due to hormonal changes. Whereby 16% – 39% of women suffer from constipation, making it difficult or painful to pass stools, especially in the third trimester when the fetus is heaviest and putting the most pressure on your bowels.

However, this issue often resolves itself as pregnancy passes. 

 

What is constipation during pregnancy caused by?

Constipation can be caused by a myriad of reasons, one being low levels of dietary fibre, lack of exercise or lack of water.

Alternatively, hormonal changes can cause the gut to work less efficiently and food to move more slowly through the intestines, causing reduced gastric mobility.

The more the food remains in the intestines, the more moisture is absorbed and the waste is hence harder to pass. Lastly, fetus’ extra weight can put extra pressure on your bowels.

 

Symptoms of constipation during pregnancy

Some symptoms of constipation are being able to poop only a few times a week, straining to poop, having a bloated and gassy belly, as well as lumpy and hard stools. 

 

Pregnancy constipation treatments and ways to relieve it

With constipation, there are many different treatments and ways to relieve it. Here are some of the common treatments: 

Eat fiber everyday.  

Fiber softens your stools, making it easier to pass them

Drink 8 to 12 cups of water everyday.

Water supports your health, pregnancy, and softens stools.

Get moderate exercise twice to thrice a week

Even simple walking is good enough, movement helps stimulate the bowels instead of having them sit there. 

Try over-the-counter medications.

These help efficiently and promptly in relieving constipation, while the above lifestyle changes take time to show effect. 

 

Safe over-the-counter medications for pregnancy:

Here are some safe medication and ingredients to look out for when seeking safe treatments for constipation during pregnancy:

  • Colace (docusate sodium)
  • Fibercon (calcium polycarbophil)
  • Metamucil (psyllium)
  • Milk of Magnesia (magnesium hydroxide)
  • Miralax (polyethylene glycol)

 

Top 5 medications for constipation during pregnancy in Singapore

Now that you are more familiar with pregnancy-induced constipation, here are 5 best recommended medications which are safe for pregnancy!

Medication brand

Best for 

Taisho Seiyaku Colac 350 Tablet 

Best for short-term relief

Metamucil Smooth Orange 4-in-1 Fibre Supplement 

Best for long-term chronic relief

Dulcolax Constipation Relief

Best for those on a budget

ICM Lactus Syrup

Best for gentle relief

Phillip’s, Genuine Milk of Magnesia

Best for stool softening

Top 5 Medications For Constipation During Pregnancy
product image
Taisho Seiyaku Colac 350 Tablet
Best for short-term relief
more info icon
View Details
Buy Now
product image
Metamucil Smooth Orange 4-in-1 Fibre Supplement 
Best for long-term chronic relief
more info icon
View Details
Buy Now
product image
Dulcolax Constipation Relief
Best for those on a budget
more info icon
View Details
Buy Now
product image
ICM Lactus Syrup
Best for gentle relief
more info icon
View Details
Buy Now
product image
Phillip's, Genuine Milk of Magnesia
Best for stool softening
more info icon
View Details
Buy Now

 

Taisho Seiyaku Colac 350 Tablet

Best for short-term relief

Taisho Seiyaku Colac 350 Tablet | Constipation During Pregnancy

The Taisho Seiyaku tablets are colac-filled, and colac is a laxative effective for chronic constipation and habitual constipation.

It also contains Bisacodyl which stimulates the bowels to relieve constipation effectively, providing short-term relief. 

Features:

  • Colac supplement effective for constipation.
  • Stimulates the bowels directly.
  • Activates movement, relieving constipation.

Taisho Seiyaku Colac 350 Tablet - $48.00

product imageBuy Now

 

Metamucil Smooth Orange 4-in-1 Fibre Supplement 

Best for long-term chronic relief

Metamucil Smooth Orange 4-in-1 Fibre Supplement | Constipation During Pregnancy

Metamucil supplements are a 4-in-1 vitamin that helps to boost health and vitality, helping you feel more active and helps your body’s natural toxin removal process via cleansing.

This makes it a supplement for daily usage that also helps in reducing constipation, effective in long-term chronic relief. 

Features:

  • Multi-health fibre helping to boost health and vitality.
  • Helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
  • Helps maintain digestive health and blood sugar levels.
  • Perfect for long-term chronic relief through promoting gut health.

Metamucil Smooth Orange 4-in-1 Fibre Supplement  - $33.50

product imageBuy Now

 

Dulcolax Constipation Relief

Best for those on a budget

Dulcolax Constipation Relief | Constipation During Pregnancy

Dulcolax is a laxative that stimulates bowel movements and is used to treat constipation or to empty the bowels. This is a straightforward laxative, perfect for those not looking to spend much on an easy and quick fix for constipation. 

Features:

  • Straightforward laxative for relieving of bowels.
  • Stimulates bowel movement.
  • Loosen stool and stimulate bowel movement within 6 – 12 hours, giving predictable overnight relief.

Dulcolax Constipation Relief - $6.50 - $25.08

product imageBuy Now

 

ICM Lactus Syrup

Best for gentle relief

ICM Lactus Syrup | Constipation During Pregnancy

The ICM lactus syrup is perfect for elderly, children and infants, as well as pregnant mothers, due to how gentle its effects are.

It contains lactulose solution to help draw water into the bowel from surrounding body tissues, providing gentle yet effective relief from constipation. 

Features:

  • Gentle yet effective relief from constipation.
  • Softens stool mass.
  • Encourages bowel movement.

ICM Lactus Syrup - $35.90

product imageBuy Now

 

Phillip’s, Genuine Milk of Magnesia

Best for stool softening

Phillips, Genuine Milk of Magnesia | Constipation During Pregnancy

Milk of Magnesia is an incredibly highly relied upon constipation treatment, and Phillips’ provides one of the best ones in the market.

It helps to treat occasional irregular constipation, and produces bowel movement between half to 6 hours. 

Features:

  • Gentle yet effective and highly relied on.
  • #1 milk of magnesia brand.
  • Helps in stool softening.
  • Cramp-free, sugar-free.

Phillip's, Genuine Milk of Magnesia - $15.90

product imageBuy Now

 

Price Comparison Table

Now that you have a better idea of what to look out for when choosing a constipation relief medicine,  it’s time to make a purchase.

Below is a compiled table of mentioned medications and prices to help you make the best cost purchase! 

Brand

Best for…

Number of dosages

Price

Price/dosage

Taisho Seiyaku Colac 350 Tablet 

Best for short-term relief

175

$48

$0.274

Metamucil Smooth Orange 4-in-1 Fibre Supplement 

Best for long-term chronic relief

114

$33.50

$0.294

Dulcolax Constipation Relief

Best for those on a budget

100

$6.50

$0.065

ICM Lactus Syrup

Best for gentle relief

66

$35.90

$0.543

Phillip’s, Genuine Milk of Magnesia

Best for stool softening

35

$15.90

$0.454

Note: Each item and price is up to date as of publication, however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.

 

Soon-to-be-mums, are you also experiening morning sickness? Try drinking tea, read: Best Morning Sickness Tea in Singapore

Editor's note: The product links provided here are aimed to help simplify product searches for our readers. Purchase the items at your own discretion. We do not take liability for any transaction issues and dispute. If you purchase an item from this post, theAsianparent may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
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Written by

Patricia Wang

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