2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21
During pregnancy, changes occur in a woman's body. Most of them are considered normal. But there are manifestations that require medical attention. One of the most common disorders that makes every pregnant woman worry is dark stool during pregnancy. Why the color of the stool changes in pregnant women, and what it signals, is described in the article.
Restructuring of the body
From the moment of conception in the body of a woman, processes begin, aimed at the development of the fetus. The pregnant woman feels a deterioration in well-being and observes problems with the gastrointestinal tract. In the first months of pregnancy, existing diseases of the digestive system may worsen or new diseases may arise. This may result in changes in the consistency and color of the stool.
Much depends on the nutrition of the pregnant woman. The intake of fried, s alty, smoked foods can lead to a number of complications in the work of the stomach andpancreas.
Dark feces during early pregnancy is also due to hormonal changes. A woman's body produces a large amount of the hormone progesterone, which affects all organs, causing them to function differently. Therefore, dark stool during pregnancy does not always indicate illness. In many cases, this change is normal and does not require medical attention.
In addition to darkening of the feces, a woman's urination frequency, pulse, pressure, hemoglobin level and even psychological state change.
Other causes of discolored stools
Very often, darkening of the feces is the norm and occurs as a result of the hormonal activity of the body. Also, dark-colored feces during pregnancy are due to taking certain medications or synthetic vitamins. Manufacturers of drugs always indicate in the instructions the action of the components on the organs of different systems.
Sometimes pregnant women can drink activated charcoal during indigestion. This natural sorbent is allowed for women in position, but under its action a change in the color of feces can be observed. In that case, there is no reason to worry.
Also, dark stool during pregnancy is observed if a woman has eaten foods containing dark pigments. Organic dyes are not absorbed by the body and are excreted along with the feces, giving it a dark color.
If, apart from changing the stool, no other violations are noticed and the pregnant woman feels normal,you shouldn't panic. Doctors recommend such women to observe their he alth for several days. If during this time the color of the feces does not change, you should visit a doctor.
Foods that change stool color
Dark stools during pregnancy may be due to the following foods:
- Black berries (blueberries, currants).
- Some fruits (blue grapes, pomegranate).
- Prunes.
- Dark-colored vegetables (beets, tomatoes).
- Offal (blood, liver).
- Drinks (red wine, dark grape juice, coffee).
If the pregnant woman consumed any of the listed products the day before, most likely she is he althy. The darkening of the feces occurred under the influence of coloring pigments, which the body brought out along with digested food.
Effect of drugs
Often, women observe changes in stool after taking drugs. Darkening stools can be caused by the following medications:
- Iron preparations ("Ferrum-Lek", "Sorbifer", "Tardiferon").
- Multivitamins that contain iron (Elevit, Vitrum).
- Sorbents (activated carbon).
- Preparations containing bismuth (De-Nol).
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen, Indomethacin, Aspirin).
Most women experience low hemoglobin levels during pregnancy. Therefore, doctors prescribe drugs to them to ensurethe body with the necessary amount of iron. Taking these drugs is the most common cause of black stools.
Before prescribing an iron preparation, the therapist should talk about possible changes in the stool so that the woman reacts calmly to dark feces.
Alarms
Sometimes black stool can be a symptom of an illness. It may indicate bleeding of the digestive system. Pregnant women who previously had a stomach or duodenal ulcer are at risk. In such women, dark stools during pregnancy may indicate internal bleeding caused by an open ulcer. But in this case, not only the color changes, but also the consistency of the stool.
Other symptoms of possible he alth problems:
- feeling worse;
- pallor;
- cold sweat.
If, in addition to darkening of the feces, a woman has these symptoms, she should seek medical help.
If the feces are green
Dark green feces during pregnancy indicates a change in a woman's diet. Basically, staining the stool green is associated with a certain diet. Many pregnant women are he alth conscious and consume excessive amounts of green leafy vegetables. Broccoli, spinach, lettuce contain a green pigment that colors the feces in the appropriate color.
Also, the reason for the green color of feces can becomplexes of vitamins and minerals. Such preparations contain a large number of various microelements, the undigested part of which stains the feces green.
Prevention of stool disorders
In most cases, discoloration of feces is not a symptom of illness. Most often, darkening of the stool is provoked by diet violations.
In order for the gastrointestinal tract to work normally, doctors advise pregnant women to control the intake of different foods, correctly compose a daily diet and carefully monitor the body's reaction to medications.
In some cases, dark-colored feces during pregnancy are associated with diseases of the digestive system. Therefore, women who previously had gastrointestinal diseases should carefully monitor their he alth and be under the supervision of a therapist during the entire pregnancy. To prevent complications, your doctor may prescribe prophylactic medications.
Dark stool due to taking an iron supplement is not a reason to cancel it. Iron deficiency can lead to the development of intrauterine pathologies and even cause premature birth. In this case, it is recommended to discuss with the doctor all the issues of concern in order to respond normally to changes in the body.
If the darkening of the feces is caused by a disease, treatment should be taken seriously. Illnesses of a pregnant woman can adversely affect the fetus.
Recommended:
Why does the tailbone hurt during pregnancy: reasons, what to do?
Often a woman in position has a coccyx pain, why does this happen? What are the causes of this disease? Who should be contacted? What does the treatment involve? Are there any preventive measures that will help reduce the risk of tailbone pain? You can find answers to all these questions in this article
Pregnancy without toxicosis: a norm or a dangerous pathology? Why do you feel sick during early pregnancy?
Pregnancy has its own nuances, it is often accompanied by such a phenomenon as toxicosis. It can be one of the signs indicating the presence of pregnancy, because it appears very early. In general, its duration is quite difficult to predict, because it can only occur in the first trimester, and can accompany it throughout the entire period until delivery. In practice, cases of pregnancy without toxicosis are not uncommon. What is this phenomenon?
Dark stripe on the abdomen during pregnancy: why it appeared and when it will pass
Surely, everyone has heard or knows from their own experience that pregnant women have increased pigmentation. Spots of various sizes appear on the face and in other parts of the body, which indicate a global restructuring in the body and hormonal changes. A dark stripe on the abdomen during pregnancy is no exception, it does not cause any harm to the expectant mother and fetus. It also does not indicate the presence of pathologies or diseases. This phenomenon will be discussed in more detail later
Why pulls the lower abdomen during pregnancy? The reasons
Pregnancy is a kind of test for the expectant mother, physically and emotionally. Especially if the woman is in this state for the first time. You have to constantly listen to the new changes taking place in her body. Changes are often frightening and alarming, especially when they are associated with pain and pulling sensations in the lower abdomen, without which no pregnancy can do. It is important to understand the causes of these pains in order to have time to see a doctor in time
Why does the right side hurt during pregnancy: reasons for what to do
Pregnancy is the best time in every woman's life. But it comes with many inconveniences. The expectant mother may experience discomfort or pain in the abdominal cavity. If you are faced with such problems, then you should not panic, because there will not be much use from unnecessary worries. The most important thing is to figure out why the right side hurts during pregnancy
