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!
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!
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Medication brand
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Best for
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Taisho Seiyaku Colac 350 Tablet
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Best for short-term relief
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Metamucil Smooth Orange 4-in-1 Fibre Supplement
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Best for long-term chronic relief
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Dulcolax Constipation Relief
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Best for those on a budget
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ICM Lactus Syrup
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Best for gentle relief
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Phillip’s, Genuine Milk of Magnesia
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Best for stool softening
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Top 5 Medications For Constipation During Pregnancy
 | Taisho Seiyaku Colac 350 Tablet Best for short-term relief |  | View Details | Buy Now |
 | Metamucil Smooth Orange 4-in-1 Fibre Supplement Best for long-term chronic relief | | View Details | Buy Now |
 | Dulcolax Constipation Relief Best for those on a budget | | View Details | Buy Now |
 | ICM Lactus Syrup Best for gentle relief | | View Details | Buy Now |
 | Phillip's, Genuine Milk of Magnesia Best for stool softening | | View Details | Buy Now |
Best for short-term relief
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.
Best for long-term chronic relief
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.
Best for those on a budget
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.
Best for gentle relief
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.
Best for stool softening
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.
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!
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Brand
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Best for…
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Number of dosages
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Price
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Price/dosage
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Taisho Seiyaku Colac 350 Tablet
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Best for short-term relief
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175
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$48
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$0.274
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Metamucil Smooth Orange 4-in-1 Fibre Supplement
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Best for long-term chronic relief
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114
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$33.50
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$0.294
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Dulcolax Constipation Relief
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Best for those on a budget
|
100
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$6.50
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$0.065
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ICM Lactus Syrup
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Best for gentle relief
|
66
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$35.90
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$0.543
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Phillip’s, Genuine Milk of Magnesia
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Best for stool softening
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35
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$15.90
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$0.454
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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
