Pregnancy and constipation

It's normal to be constipated during pregnancy because hormonal changes cause muscular fibres to relax, reducing intestinal contractions. Then, as the months pass, the size of your uterus impedes digestion.

Advice: drink a large bottle of water every day, walk for half an hour a day and eat plenty of fibre (prunes, figs, green veg etc.) "Make these changes to your diet gradually to avoid irritating the intestine", says Dr Evrard.

However, constipation can lead to very painful haemorrhoids (piles). The swellings usually last for 5 to 6 days. Ask your doctor to prescribe cream or suppositories. "If, despite treatment, the pain continues, go back to your doctor and look into another solution", recommends Dr Evrard.

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