Midwifery (RM)
Education on Minor Disorders of Pregnancy: Constipation
Constipation in pregnancy is difficult or infrequent passage of stool and may be related to hormones, reduced activity, diet, fluids, supplements, or pressure. Education promotes safe bowel habits and identifies obstruction, bleeding, or severe symptoms.
Purpose
- Promote comfortable regular bowel movements
- Prevent straining and complications
- Identify symptoms needing assessment or prescribed treatment
Indications
- Infrequent, hard, painful, or difficult stools in pregnancy
- Constipation after iron or other medicine
- Abdominal pain, vomiting, bleeding, or persistent symptoms
Equipment
- Private history area
- Approved nutrition and bowel-health materials
- Antenatal record
- Assessment and referral resources
Preparation
- Review prescribed medicines and medical conditions.
- Provide practical, culturally appropriate food examples.
Procedure steps
- Assess baseline bowel pattern, stool consistency, duration, pain, bloating, vomiting, bleeding, diet, fluid intake, activity, and medicines.
- Explain common pregnancy contributors without dismissing persistent symptoms.
- Encourage gradual fibre from fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, with safe fluids if not restricted.
- Encourage regular movement and time for toileting without straining; respond to the urge.
- Review iron and other medicines with the prescriber rather than stopping them independently.
- Discuss approved stool softeners or laxatives only when prescribed or locally recommended.
- Assess for severe pain, persistent vomiting, distension, inability to pass stool or gas, blood, or weight loss.
- Refer symptoms suggesting obstruction, significant disease, or treatment failure.
- Use teach-back and agree on review.
- Document assessment, advice, medicines, referral, and response.
Precautions
- Escalate severe abdominal pain, distension, vomiting, blood, fever, or inability to pass stool or gas.
- Increase fibre gradually and consider clinical restrictions on fluid.
- Do not advise stopping essential supplements without review.
- Avoid unapproved laxatives or herbal remedies.
Aftercare
- Review bowel function and treatment response.
- Coordinate nutrition or medical review when symptoms persist.
Nursing considerations
- Respect privacy and assess symptoms sensitively.
- Balance constipation advice with pregnancy conditions requiring fluid or diet restrictions.
Patient education
- Increase fibre gradually, drink safe fluids if allowed, stay active, and avoid straining.
- Seek help for severe pain, vomiting, distension, blood, or inability to pass stool or gas.
Documentation
- Record bowel symptoms, diet, fluid, medicines, advice, treatment, referral, and follow-up.
- Document red flags.
References and further reading
Educational resource only. Follow current Nursing and Midwifery Council guidance, local institutional protocols, scope of practice, and clinical supervision.
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