At least half of all pregnant women seem to have problems with constipation. One reason for this may be changes in hormones that slow the movement of food through the digestive tract. Sometimes iron supplements may also cause constipation.

During the last part of pregnancy, pressure on your rectum from your uterus may add to the problem. Here are some suggestions that may help:

• Drink plenty of liquids – at least 6-8 glasses of water each day, including 1-2 glasses of fruit juice such as prune juice.
  
  
• Liquids (such as coffee, tea and cola) which make you go to the bathroom should not be consumed. They will tend to create a negative water balance in your body and thus make your stools harder and more difficult to pass.
  
  
• Eat food high in fiber, such as raw fruits and vegetables and bran cereals.
  
  
• Exercise daily – walking is a good form of exercise. If those forms of treatment are not successful, you might consider skipping your prenatal vitamin for a few days, and adding a daily dose of Milk of Magnesia until regular again.
  
  
• The iron in the prenatal vitamin worsens constipation.
  
  
• If there is a boulder at the opening that you can't pass, then probably the best bet is the use of a disposable enema or a glycerin suppository. The enemas come in water and oil retention. The longer you hold them the better they will work. (sounds gross, eh? Not to the desperate.)