Diarrhea during pregnancy? What to do? Diarrhea in early pregnancy

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The digestive system changes during pregnancy. The reasons for the changes are not only changes in the location of the internal organs in the abdominal cavity, but also a different hormonal background, a different state of the immune system. Constipation is most common during pregnancy, but in some cases, the body reacts in an unusual way.

What is diarrhea?

Diarrhea is frequent and loose stools. Food moves through the intestines due to its peristalsis, that is, uniform contractions of the smooth muscles of the intestinal walls. If these contractions are not active enough, constipation occurs, and if accelerated, diarrhea occurs. Constipation is, for the most part, a pathology, and diarrhea is an adequate response of the body to intoxication. The fact is that the products that are in the intestines are gradually absorbed into the blood. If toxins are present in the intestines, it is better to stop the absorption, which means that it is necessary to rid the body of these products as soon as possible. With the accelerated movement of food through the intestinesliquid does not have time to be absorbed, so the stool in this case will be liquid.

Causes of diarrhea

Diarrhea occurs in all cases when intestinal motility increases. And this reaction can be caused by various factors.

First of all, it's an infection. If the infectious agent is a virus, diarrhea is accompanied by a number of symptoms: nausea, fever, often catarrhal phenomena in the nose and throat. But viral damage does not last long. All symptoms disappear, usually within a few days.

Bacterial diseases are usually more serious. Diarrhea in this case is accompanied by high fever and severe intoxication of the body. Such a disease will not go away, like a viral one, in a week. Specialized treatment needed.

The gut response to infection is understandable and natural. But sometimes the increase in peristalsis occurs as if by mistake. For example, diarrhea in early pregnancy often coincides with other manifestations of toxicosis.

Sometimes, by increasing peristalsis, the intestine reacts not to an infection, but to parasites or dysbacteriosis.

Diarrhea can be a symptom of an infectious disease or a manifestation of the pregnancy itself. In early pregnancy, diarrhea is more often a sign of trouble, while diarrhea at the very end of the term often portends an early birth.

Diarrhea in early pregnancy

In the first trimester, the uterus is still slightly enlarged, it does not change the position of the internal organs, so it seems that they shouldwork like before. But in early pregnancy, diarrhea is due to changes in the immune system.

When a woman is pregnant, the mother's body must accept a genetically completely different person and not reject him. Of course, the mother and child are separated by the placenta, the bladder, numerous barriers, but still, the woman's immune system is somewhat suppressed so that there is no reaction to the fetus.

In a state where the immune system is depressed, diseases such as dysbacteriosis develop, chronic infections make themselves felt.

Dysbacteriosis may well cause diarrhea during pregnancy. What to do in this case?

It all depends on the severity of the situation: if loose stools happen two or three times a day, you need to visit a doctor as planned. Before the consultation, it is recommended to increase the amount of fluid consumed, eat diet food.

If loose stools are not more than ten times a day, you need to see a doctor urgently, otherwise dehydration may occur.

If intense diarrhea began during pregnancy - what to do, especially if it is accompanied by vomiting? This is a situation where you need to call an ambulance doctor. Because it will not be possible to adequately replenish the liquid in this case.

If the situation is acute, then the most important task is to stabilize the condition of the pregnant woman. And after that, you need to pass an analysis for dysbacteriosis, cultures for infections, a coprogram.

All these testswill allow you to find out the cause of the problem and prescribe treatment.

Infectious diarrhea. Viruses

A common virus can cause diarrhea during pregnancy. What to do in this case?

No matter how hard a woman endures such an infection, the illness rarely lasts. The first thing to do is to stabilize the general condition. At home, this can be done with rehydration solutions, for example, the drug Regidron is shown. If the condition is severe, it is better to hospitalize the patient, because in this case, droppers with ionic solutions are often used.

You can diagnose a viral infection using an electron microscope, a PCR reaction, or a serological method. But usually the diagnosis is made purely clinically, that is, treatment begins, and the diagnosis is confirmed later.

If rotavirus caused diarrhea during pregnancy, what to do and how to eat right? Diet is a necessary condition for recovery from viral diarrhea. It is necessary to exclude the use of fresh milk, fatty foods, certain vegetables that increase fermentation.

To reduce the duration of diarrhea, the following drugs are used: Smecta, Enterosgel, Polyphepan. All of them act only locally, are not absorbed by the intestines and do not affect the course of pregnancy.

Bacteria

If the cause of diarrhea is some kind of bacterial infection, diarrhea will be accompanied by high fever and intoxication: fever, headache,nausea. Most often, the situation does not improve within a few days. All of these symptoms require immediate medical attention. Diagnosis in this case is based on the results of sowing, but treatment usually begins earlier. Unfortunately, bacteria cannot be controlled without antibiotics. The main thing in this case is not to get rid of loose stools, but to eliminate the infection. Therefore, the most modern antibacterial drugs should be used for treatment. The preparations "Regidron", "Enterosgel" or "Smecta" in this case are only auxiliary means.

Poisoning

Sometimes diarrhea is just a reaction to the ingestion of toxins. The intestine accelerates peristalsis, trying to get rid of them. In this case, you should not take any medication to normalize the stool immediately. But if it has not returned to normal within a day, action should be taken.

How to treat diarrhea during pregnancy?

There are drugs that inhibit intestinal motility. They are effective, but categorically contraindicated during pregnancy, so you will have to be content with the usual home remedies.

Boiled rice along with a decoction is an excellent remedy for diarrhea during pregnancy. If there is no appetite, it is better to drink only a decoction. Another safe and harmless remedy is blueberry decoction.

You can use thick jelly, dried fruit compote. But it is better not to use dried fruits themselves.

Diarrhea before childbirth

Diarrhea is not always pathological and disturbingsign. Diarrhea at 38 weeks pregnant can be a sign of impending labor. The uterus is preparing for active work, and the intestines are freed from toxins. If diarrhea is not accompanied by symptoms of intoxication, fever or loss of appetite, there is no reason to worry.

But in some cases there is a backlash. Diarrhea at 38 weeks pregnant due to poisoning or a viral infection can stimulate uterine contractions and hasten the onset of labor.

In this case, you need to act in the same way as always: replenishment of fluid volume, home remedies to normalize peristalsis. Fever and intoxication should prompt medical attention.

Diarrhea is a symptom to look out for, even if it doesn't happen often and doesn't reduce quality of life. It is necessary to find out its cause and treat it.