I am not sure why that is but my friend who is 12 weeks is having a real tough time with that.

So know you are not alone

I dont know for sure, but constipation has alot to do with pregnancy. Your hormones, you uterus putting pressure nyour bowels. Ive read that you are to drink plenty of fluids, eat lots of fiber and exercise. These all help with the constipation, which can lead to hemmeroids. Keep your stool as soft as possible by doing the above.

Well ive heard that your baby gets a lot of your nutrients, so it leaves a lot less stuff for you to go to the bathroom with.

Constipation has nothing to do with the baby using up your nutrients. Your waste is exactly that..Waste. Especially at this early stage. I had a hard time going to the bathroom for about 3 weeks and I was eating tons of fruit which is supposed to be fibrous. It has mostly to do with your changing hormones. Do not use laxatives. I read that it is okay to use a product like metamucil. But believe me, the constipation will eventually go away. I am now 14 weeks pregnant and I have been pretty regular for the past couple of weeks.

The constipation will probably be on and off. You may become constipated again in you third trimester when it is usually worse. I am not trying to scare you at all. I am in my third now and its not hard to bare. Don't let it stress you. Just keep taking your vitamins and eat well. And like she said above do not use laxative or any other over the counter stool softner. Good luck

Well, the above advice is good. So i'll just add a little more to it. My doctor mentioned that prenatal vitamins also increases the possibility of constipation.

These are some of things I have been and they have helped.
1. Carry water or real juice (not juice blends with less than 100% juice) and sip on it all the time. I even keep a capped bottle of water by my bed to sip on before going to sleep, whenever I get up to pee at night and first thing when I wake up. The more water you drink the better. Our bodies are about 80% water.

2. I have increased my fiber intake with the following:
-hot oat bran cereal (it takes 2 min to cook)
-old fashioned oatmeal (doctor advise not to eat instant cause most of the fiber is stripped from it)
-bran cereal (twice a day for about three weeks, now I just do 1 a day)
-east rye crisp crackers instead of saltine cause they have 4 grams fiber in 2 crackers.
-i try to eat fruit at every meal (fresh is best)
-i eat lots of fresh baby spinach (cold or hot) and other greens and veggies.

3. I walk whenever I can for exercise.

4. If you can, go to a good chiroprator or massage therapist. Minor adjustments can help sometimes. A good massage helps you relax and is good for more than just constipation.

5. Rubb your tummy in a clockwise motion whenever you can. This can help a little cause is it is the direction your bowels naturally move in.

Have you tried taking iron supplements ?? I've been taking them throughout my pregnancy, I am now 27 weeks, and I certainly have had no trouble passing bowel movements. Actually sometimes I think it makes me go a little too much, but I was thinking in your case where your having trouble, it might just bring you back to regular.

Good luck.

Ps. Bran will sort you out.

I can tell you it is the prenatal vitamins, they really mess ya up!! I would agree with everyone about the cereal and such. You need to eat like salads, fresh fruit, chex cereal, it gives you the "urge." I had this problem and we talked to my doctor, she said that if after the foods you try and still nothing, you should try prune juice, yyyyyuuuuuccccckkkkk!!! I ate so much salad and fruit that day I went an hour later. If none of this works still, then talk to your doctor and tell them you tried, then maybe they will see what kinda stool softner they can give you. Hope it gets better, I know it is an awful feeling
lots of love,
heather