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Review
. 2012 Aug;58(8):836-8.

Treating constipation during pregnancy

Magan Trottier  1 , Aida Erebara, Pina Bozzo
Affiliations
Review

Treating constipation during pregnancy

Magan Trottier et al. Can Fam Physician. 2012 Aug.

Abstract
in English, French

Question: Many of my patients experience constipation during pregnancy, even after increasing dietary fibre and fluids. Are there any safe treatments I can recommend to them?

Answer: Although the recommended first-line therapy for constipation includes increasing fibre, fluids, and exercise, these are sometimes ineffective. Therefore, laxatives such as bulk-forming agents, lubricant laxatives, stool softeners, osmotic laxatives, and stimulant laxatives might be considered. Although few of the various types of laxatives have been assessed for safety in pregnancy, they have minimal systemic absorption. Therefore, they are not expected to be associated with an increased risk of congenital anomalies. However, it is recommended that osmotic and stimulant laxatives be used only in the short term or occasionally to avoid dehydration or electrolyte imbalances in pregnant women.

Question Beaucoup de mes patientes enceintes souffrent de constipation, même si elles consomment plus de fibres alimentaires et de liquides. Existe-t-il des traitements sécuritaires que je pourrais leur recommander?

Réponse Bien que le traitement de première intention recommandé pour la constipation préconise l’ajout de fibres, de liquides et d’activité physique, ces moyens demeurent parfois inefficaces. Par conséquent, on peut envisager des laxatifs comme les laxatifs de lest, les lubrifiants, les émollients, les laxatifs osmotiques et les laxatifs stimulants. L’innocuité durant la grossesse de bon nombre de ces types de produits n’a pas été étudiée, mais leur absorption systémique est minime. On ne s’attend donc pas à ce qu’ils soient associés à un risque accru d’anomalies congénitales. Cependant, il est recommandé de n’utiliser les laxatifs osmotiques ou stimulants qu’à court terme ou qu’à l’occasion pour éviter la déshydratation ou les déséquilibres des électrolytes chez les femmes enceintes.

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