Pregnancy: How Your Digestion Changes
What is digestion?
Food and drink must be changed into smaller molecules of nutrients to be absorbed
into the blood and carried to cells throughout the body. Digestion is the process
of breaking down food and drink into smaller parts so that the body can use them to
build and nourish cells, and to provide energy.
How does the digestive process work?
Digestion involves:
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The mixing of food with digestive juices
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The movement of food through the digestive tract
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A chemical breakdown of large molecules of food into smaller molecules. The body can
then use them to nourish cells and provide energy. This happens by a process called
absorption. It occurs mostly in the small intestine.
Digestion begins in the mouth, where food and drink are taken in. It ends in the small
intestine.
What makes up the digestive system?
The digestive tract is a series of organs joined in a long, twisting tube from the
mouth to the anus. It consists of:
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Mouth
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Esophagus
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Stomach
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Small intestine
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Large intestine
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Rectum
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Anus
Organs that help with digestion but are not part of the digestive tract include:
Parts of other organ systems, such as nerves and blood, also play a major role in
the digestive process.
How does food move through the digestive system?
Muscles move food and liquid along the digestive tract in a wave-like movement called
peristalsis.
What changes occur in the digestive system during pregnancy?
Pregnancy hormones can affect the digestive system. The hormone progesterone, which
causes smooth muscle relaxation, often causes relaxation and slowing of digestion
in the stomach and the small and large intestines. The gallbladder is also affected
with delayed emptying. That can increase the chances of gallstone formation. Many
of the digestive discomforts of pregnancy, such as morning sickness (nausea or vomiting),
constipation, and heartburn, are all related to the relaxed tone and slowed action
of the digestive system.
The growing uterus itself can affect the digestive system. As the uterus grows, it
can press on or even block parts of the digestive tract. This can lead to slowed movement
of food and constipation. Increasing fluids, regular exercise, and increasing the
fiber in your diet are some of the ways to prevent constipation. Always ask your healthcare
provider before taking any medicine for this condition.
Many women have appetite changes in pregnancy, such as:
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Increased hunger
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Decreased appetite
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Cravings
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Aversions
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Nausea and vomiting
A few women develop pica, a rare craving to eat things other than food. This includes
things like dirt, clay, ice, raw rice, flour, starch, or coal. The craving may mean
there is a nutritional deficiency, such as not enough iron in the body.