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Is it okay to push when pregnant?

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Digestive problems are quite common among all people, and this issue becomes especially relevant for pregnant women. Future mothers often suffer from constipation, especially if there was a predisposition to it before pregnancy or the woman had previously suffered from problems with defecation.

Whether you like it or not, you still have to go to the toilet "for a big one". And before pregnancy, the solution was always to push hard, this action could be done without any pangs of conscience. But during pregnancy, any expectant mother intuitively understands that this can be somewhat dangerous and it turns out she is right, which is confirmed by proctologists.

Experts unanimously state: straining during pregnancy is extremely undesirable, as it leads to an increase in contractile processes in the uterus, which is not at all appropriate in the early stages. Therefore, the logical continuation of thoughts in this direction is the desire to avoid constipation in principle.

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Why shouldn't you push during pregnancy?

If we consider such a moment as straining during pregnancy during constipation, then in this case there are several nuances:

  • pushing during pregnancy can be dangerous if done very intensely, but in the case of occasional mild straining, problems can be avoided;
  • due to the fact that the abdominal muscles are very tense, this can become an impetus for the development of hemorrhoids, and also poses a dangerous risk of miscarriage;
  • To avoid constipation and digestive problems, experts recommend following a diet rich in fiber; physical activity in reasonable amounts and control over the amount of liquid you drink can also help.

Why does constipation occur during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, the level of such a hormone as progesterone increases. It has the property of suppressing intestinal activity, as a result of which the expectant mother may suffer from constipation. Another common cause of constipation during pregnancy is low physical activity. A typical mistake of pregnant women: expectant mothers try not to expose themselves to all sorts of lurking dangers, and therefore move little. And this is fundamentally wrong and, in addition to everything else, promises a problem of constipation.

To avoid swelling, many expectant mothers reduce their water intake. If you drink less during pregnancy, your stool becomes “harder,” which also leads to constipation.

How to prevent constipation during pregnancy?

To avoid the risk of constipation, experts recommend certain preventive measures. Gymnastics for pregnant women, in addition to its main benefit, also helps to get rid of this very unpleasant problem.

Don't be afraid to drink more fluids - the idea that drinking a lot of water can cause swelling in your legs is outdated and not true (swellings are usually caused by completely different reasons). But fluids will come in handy to solve the problem of constipation.

Fiber helps normalize digestive processes and stool, so your diet should definitely include more vegetables, fruits, and cereals. But you shouldn't get carried away with canned goods, semi-finished products, and sweets.

Is it harmful to push during pregnancy?

Pushing is not the most beneficial process for any person. Pushing during pregnancy is dangerous due to the development of hemorrhoids and bleeding, the likelihood of miscarriage increases, and premature labor may begin due to increased uterine contractions.

The first and third trimesters are the most critical and not at all suitable for pushing. Unless the expectant mother does it very often and not too hard. Light and gentle pushing should not harm the baby.

Straining during pregnancy can be harmful if a woman has constant problems with going to the toilet "for a big one". Then it is worth consulting a doctor about what measures are best to take in a particular case, what diet to choose to soften the stool; sometimes he can prescribe laxatives.

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