Gestational Constipation and the Gut Microbiota: Mechanisms, Interventions, and Implications From Mechanisms to Precision Interventions for Maternal and Offspring Health (opens in new tab)

Gestational constipation affects up to 40% of pregnant women, yet remains underappreciated as a clinical entity with implications beyond maternal discomfort. This review synthesizes current evidence on the intricate relationships between pregnancy-associated constipation, gut microbiota dynamics, and perinatal health outcomes. Pregnancy induces profound remodeling of the maternal gut ecosystem–characterized by reduced alpha diversity, expansion of Actinomycetota and Pseudomonadota, and increa...