Diarrhea during pregnancy in the third trimester: causes and treatment

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

Every person experiences diarrhea at least once in their life. The phenomenon is quite unpleasant, but quite amenable to correction. However, things get much more complicated if the diarrhea opens up during pregnancy. This manifests itself in the form of loose, watery stools, which can be quite frequent. Often it is accompanied by pain in the abdomen, and sometimes even fever. Diarrhea during pregnancy in the third trimester is complicated by the fact that the expectant mother cannot take certain drugs. It is especially dangerous to take medicines at an early stage, but by the end of the period it is necessary to coordinate the treatment with an experienced doctor.

Causes of an unpleasant phenomenon

Diarrhea during pregnancy in the third trimester can be caused by a number of factors, so only the attending physician can determine what the final matter is. According to statistics, each person has diarrhea 2-3 times a year. This may be due to malnutrition or viralinfection. Moreover, the severity of the course of the disease can also be different. There are acute diarrhea, which is most often the result of various infections and viruses entering the body. The duration of the flow is usually several days.

With a long course, up to several weeks, diarrhoea, which does not pass, is diagnosed. Finally, if this condition lasts for more than a month, then chronic diarrhea can be assumed, which is associated with serious illness.

But this is data that is valid for everyone. And diarrhea during pregnancy in the third trimester is an even more complex phenomenon that can have its own causes.

Features of the future mother's digestion

Even the most insignificant reasons can cause diarrhea during this difficult period. Serious changes are taking place in the body, and a woman is exposed to environmental influences more than ever. All forces are spent on the formation and development of the fetus, the immune system is greatly weakened, and digestion reacts sharply to any influence from the external environment.

That is why diarrhea during pregnancy, in the third trimester, can be caused by the most neutral reasons. For example, regular exercise can increase motor skills and cause short-term diarrhea. A diet rich in vitamins and fiber can also stimulate the liquefaction of feces. And taking synthetic complexes (vitamins and minerals) can cause diarrhea in the last weeks, even if before that you drank them throughout the entire period.

Hormon althe restructuring of the body that goes on throughout pregnancy, in itself, can cause malfunctions in the intestines, which will result in diarrhea or constipation. And in the last weeks, just before the birth, this is generally a normal phenomenon that should not scare you. The body is just preparing for the upcoming birth.

For a doctor's consultation

Of course, we have not listed all the situations when diarrhea occurs during pregnancy in the third trimester. The reasons may be much more serious. Poisoning with any toxins can cause severe diarrhea, and also affect the baby's condition in a far from good way. The second option is the ingestion of protozoa, namely the dysenteric amoeba, which, without proper correction, can cause dehydration. Viral diseases at this stage of bearing a child can also be very dangerous, which means that do not waste time on reasoning, go to the hospital right away.

Worrying symptoms

Diarrhea during pregnancy in the third trimester can manifest itself in different ways. However, there are a number of symptoms that should not go unnoticed. Diarrhea is not a disease, but only a signal that signals the development of a particular ailment. When diarrhea occurs, the following symptoms may appear:

• Severe nausea, possibly accompanied by vomiting.
• Increase in overall body temperature.
• Heavy gas production.
• Pain and general weakness.
• Chills and headache.

The last two symptoms suggest that the condition may worsen further, therefore, without wasting time, you need to see a doctor. In addition, disturbing symptoms are the appearance of mucus with blood in the feces, high fever and vomiting that accompany diarrhea, as well as a dark, almost black color of feces.

Depending on a number of factors, diarrhea can last from one to ten days. Of course, you can’t wait for everything to go away on its own. Now we will look at how diarrhea can be dangerous for an expectant mother.

You need to know

In the early stages, any bacteria, viruses and toxins that enter the body also enter the fetus. Therefore, even with a slight disorder, you should immediately contact a specialist and follow all the recommendations that will be prescribed. Diarrhea during this period can block the access of vitamins and nutrients to the fetus, as well as cause severe dehydration. Moreover, with severe diarrhea, the uterus will spontaneously contract, which means that this will lead to improper development of the fetus in the early stages or even miscarriage.

What is the danger of diarrhea in the later stages

Of course, at this time the placenta is already protecting the baby, which means that bacteria and viruses are not so scary for him. Moreover, at this time it is already allowed to take certain drugs, which greatly facilitates therapy. By the way, diarrhea at week 30 does not always indicate a viral disease. Often at thisperiod and late toxicosis is manifested. This means that you will experience nausea, weakness, and diarrhea is quite possible. But despite this, things are not so rosy.

The thirtieth week of pregnancy is a turning point, which means you need to be careful. On the one hand, with natural urges, the uterus begins to contract, and this is fraught with the onset of premature labor activity. And at this time, it is still difficult for a baby to survive without additional medical care.

There is another important point that should not be forgotten. At week 30, dehydration is very dangerous. It can cause thrombosis, which is a dangerous complication that is not easily eliminated without serious medical intervention.

Diarrhea before childbirth

From 35 to 41 weeks inclusive, sudden diarrhea may indicate that labor is starting. Moreover, at week 35, this is still completely undesirable, since the baby may be born too weak. Therefore, during this period, you need to carefully monitor your diet and spend less time in public places where you can catch viral diseases.

The body is already tired of pregnancy, and the fetus has become large and strongly presses on the walls of the internal organs. Therefore, diarrhea and constipation are not at all rare guests. This period is also different in that the baby is very actively gaining adipose tissue, which means that the need for nutrients is high. Diarrhea provokes a rapid cleansing of the intestines, which means that few of the beneficial trace elements will be delayed. And the fetus will suffer from lackvital substances. The dehydrated mother's body is greatly weakened, and childbirth is coming soon, in which a lot of strength will be required. The risk of thrombosis also remains.

If diarrhea occurs at 38-40 weeks and is accompanied by cramping pains, then most likely you need to go to the hospital. In nature, everything is provided, and the body simply includes self-purification mechanisms. Doctors react quite calmly to such incidents, advising them to drink more water. As you can see, under completely different circumstances, diarrhea during pregnancy in the third trimester can begin. The reasons for this may be very different, but the reaction of a woman should always be the same. Lie down, relax and analyze your condition. If you feel other symptoms besides loose stools (dizziness, pain, nausea), then call an ambulance.

Treatment

What should a future mother do if diarrhea occurs during pregnancy, in the third trimester. Treatment begins with a special diet. It is the correction of nutrition that can quickly alleviate the condition. On the first day, limit the diet to weak broth (lean beef is best) and a few crackers. From drinks, weak tea and fruit drinks with natural berries (currants or cranberries) are well suited.

On the second day, if there is no severe nausea, you can gradually introduce boiled carrots and lean beef, light soups with vermicelli and rice into the diet. For about a week, a sparing diet should be observed, the basis of which is noodles and rice, bananas and s alted biscuits, as well as the listed products.

Bifidobacteria and lactobacilli

In parallel with the diet, it is very good to introduce foods into the diet that help digestion recover. These are natural yogurts, but not those in bright jars that are sold in bulk in stores. We are talking about live products, the shelf life of which does not exceed a few days. This is natural "Narine", which you can buy ready-made or cook at home from a special starter culture. In mild cases, this is enough to quickly subside diarrhea during pregnancy in the third trimester. What to treat, only your personal doctor can advise. During pregnancy, no pill should be taken without first consulting a specialist.

Recommended drugs

First of all, you need to focus on what definitely will not harm the baby. Therefore, serious antibiotics (the popular Levomycetin) should be excluded before being prescribed by a doctor. If, against the background of a diet and taking a source of bifidobacteria, diarrhea continues during pregnancy in the third trimester, treatment may include the following remedies: Smecta and Enterosgel, activated charcoal. And in order to replenish the reserves of liquid and s alts, it is very useful to have Regidron on hand.

Traditional medicine

Our grandmothers knew many recipes that can quickly and effectively stop diarrhea during pregnancy in the third trimester. How to treat diarrhea, we will now tell.

• A decoction of oatmeal is very useful. To do this, pour 50 gtwo cups of boiling water and let stand for 4 hours. The resulting infusion must be boiled until mucus is formed. Take 2 tablespoons, six times daily.
• Kissel from blueberries and rose hips.
• Sloe tea - if you managed to stock up this berry in the summer, you can brew yourself a he althy drink. To do this, pour two teaspoons of chopped berries with a glass of boiling water and soak over low heat for 15 minutes. This is the daily dose.

All medicinal medicines can be used by a pregnant woman only after consulting a doctor and passing basic tests. But the most important thing is that you yourself must correctly assess your condition. If the diarrhea is not pronounced, without pain and temperature, then it may be enough to take "Smecta" and maintain a sparing diet for several days. But if the condition worsens and the diarrhea does not stop, then call an ambulance.