Is it normal to have four bowel movements a day at eight and a half months pregnant?

Patient's question:

No

Doctor's answer:

Here are the signs before labor:
Uterine descent: The enlarged uterus begins to descend, reducing pressure on the diaphragm. The pregnant woman may feel relief from shortness of breath, the pressure on her stomach will disappear, and her appetite may increase.
Lower abdominal pain and backache: As the baby's head descends, pressure on the pelvis increases, making the sensation of lower abdominal pain and backache more pronounced.
Increased frequency of urination and defecation: The baby's descent compresses the bladder and rectum, causing a lingering sense of needing to urinate even after doing so, and a lack of relief after a bowel movement.
Increased discharge from the cervix and vagina, spotting: The amount of discharge increases, and some spotting may occur. The baby's movements may become less noticeable at this stage. Don't be alarmed by this—it's because the baby's position has become relatively stable. However, if you still don't feel any movement after 12 hours, seek medical attention immediately.
Stopping weight gain: Sometimes, even weight loss may occur, indicating that the baby is fully developed.