Diarrhea during pregnancy: causes, what to do

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

For many women, pregnancy is a holiday! To feel how the baby is moving inside and to be in anticipation that he is about to be born - a woman cannot experience anything better. However, an interesting situation is associated not only with joy, various troubles occur in the form of some complications. One of them is diarrhea during pregnancy, which is almost inevitable.

Diarrhea occurs with frequent bowel movements, and the stool is liquid. This indicates a large loss of fluid in the body. In addition to the fact that diarrhea causes terrible discomfort to the expectant mother, sometimes it poses a serious danger to the fetus. In this connection, if this complication often torments a woman, one should not hesitate to visit a doctor.

Clinical picture

Diarrhea can catch a pregnant woman at any stage of childbearing. It’s just worth clarifying everything right away: diarrhea in itself is notindependent disease. At the same time, many people treat it as something normal, considering it to be normal. And along with nausea, dizziness, a change in food preferences, a sharp change in mood.

In fact, diarrhea during early or late pregnancy is only a symptom of some disease. And as a rule, other signs may appear, which often lead to a deterioration in the woman's well-being. Among them are:

• nausea;
• chill;
• stomach pain or discomfort;
• flatulence of a strong degree;
• high body temperature;
• headache, including dizziness;
• constant feeling of weakness against the background of rapid fatigue.

As noted above, often with diarrhea, the body can become dehydrated, which manifests itself in the form of poor he alth. There are certain points that every woman needs to know. In particular, we are talking about the following:

• Clots of mucus and blood in feces.
• Against the background of diarrhea during pregnancy, a woman is overcome by nausea and vomiting, her body temperature rises.
• The stool has a dark, almost black tint, and at the same time the woman is worried about severe dizziness. Often, these symptoms indicate a stomach ulcer and other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT).

No matter how specific the symptoms of diarrhea may be, it should in any case be regarded as a characteristic signal that a woman's he alth is in question. ATtherefore, it is necessary to visit the attending physician for a consultation.

Possible threat

What is the danger of frequent loose stools in pregnant women? And there is a danger, both in relation to the child and to the expectant mother. This is especially true in cases where diarrhea during pregnancy is caused by the influence of pathogenic viruses or bacteria. It is not difficult for these microorganisms to penetrate the placental barrier and reach the fetus.

The initial stage of pregnancy is the most critical, because it is at this time that the embryo is being formed and it needs micronutrients more than ever. And because of diarrhea, the female body is not able to absorb the required amount of vitamins. In addition to dehydration, intoxication is subsequently added.

But even more dangerous is that due to gastrointestinal disorders, the uterus can spontaneously contract. This, in turn, can lead to undesirable consequences: either the threat of miscarriage, or various kinds of fetal abnormalities. To avoid serious trouble from diarrhea during pregnancy, every woman should know how dehydration manifests itself:

• Thirst, and constant.
• Drying the palate in the mouth.
• Urine has a darkish tint.
• Heat temperature.
• Dizzy with flies in the eyes.

In this case, you should immediately visit a doctor for diagnosis. At the same time, diarrhea may also appear against the background of toxicosis. And then we can assume that it will soon passon one's own. Only for this it is necessary to strictly adhere to all the recommendations of the attending physician.

Causes of diarrhea in early pregnancy

The causes of diarrhea in pregnant women can be different, including the following:

• High concentration of hormones.
• Relaxed state of smooth muscles.
• Dramatic change in diet.

From the very moment when the fertilized egg is fixed on the wall of the uterus, the female body is enriched with a huge variety of hormones that are necessary for the development of the fetus. During the first trimester, there is an active production of progesterone and estrogen. And this can also cause diarrhea during early pregnancy.

The thing is that every woman is different in individual characteristics, and in each case the body responds differently to such changes. Often this is manifested by nausea, vomiting (mainly in the morning), dizziness.

Sometimes such a radical restructuring is reflected in the work of the digestive tract, and in particular the intestines and pancreas. This is manifested by diarrhea of varying severity.

So that the uterus does not exert its pressure on the fetus during the first trimester, the smooth muscles relax. But at the same time, the intestines also have such muscles. As a result of this relaxation, frequent urination occurs.

Some women are beginning to change their taste preferences, and quite dramatically. The expectant mother begins to consume those he althy foods that she did not even try before pregnancy. However, all this, except for diarrhea during pregnancy in the early stages, does not end with anything else.

To avoid diarrhea, you can stop eating a number of foods or reduce their amount. According to experts, occasionally diarrhea helps to cleanse the gastrointestinal tract from slag. Thus, the child receives only the vitamins he needs.

Second trimester

Toxemia, which often began at the beginning of pregnancy, resolves on its own with the onset of the 12th week. But in some cases, intoxication, accompanied by an intestinal disorder, can last for the second trimester. Toxicosis at this stage of pregnancy is not a pathological condition of the body. In this connection, with normal urine and blood tests, there is no need for a course of treatment.

But the causes of diarrhea during pregnancy in the second trimester, in addition to prolonged toxicosis, may be the following cases:

• Taking vitamin complexes - they can irritate the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, causing diarrhea, nausea and rashes.
• Child's pressure - at this time the baby is no longer small and can press with a certain force on the stomach, pancreas, including the duodenum and large intestine. Thus, the fetus, oppressing the work of some organs, disrupts the digestive process.
• Stressful situations - they often provoke various disorders in pregnant women, including those in the gastrointestinal tract. Fuel is added to the fire by a change in the hormonal background, which causes depression and emotionalbursts.

Usually, the second trimester is measured and calm, and therefore the frequent urge to defecate should not be ignored.

Diarrhea during pregnancy in the second trimester causes over-activation of the intestines, which is fraught with a threat of miscarriage.

Third trimester

As for the III trimester, here the reasons for the appearance of loose stools are as follows:

• Exacerbation of toxicosis - at this time it becomes a serious problem. All manifestations must be eliminated, otherwise intoxication may affect the fetus. Then oxygen starvation cannot be avoided.
• The baby is growing - its dimensions are already about the same as at birth. In this regard, it puts even more pressure on the digestive organs.
• Physical activity - this mainly applies to those women who, while pregnant, do various exercises. At this time, they should switch to performing special exercises in order to reduce the load. Otherwise, it also provokes indigestion.

If diarrhea during pregnancy in the third trimester caught on the 41st or even 42nd week, the woman must be sent to the maternity hospital. Often this indicates the onset of labor.

Diarrhea treatment

Diarrhea is not a case where you can manage on your own by prescribing certain medications. Self-medication is highly discouraged, this applies to all women in position, without exception! This is an irresponsible and dangerous act on the part offuture mother.

The selection of the necessary drugs should be done only by the attending physician, who takes into account the duration of pregnancy and other factors. This is mainly due to the fact that a large number of drugs that help with many diseases (including complications such as diarrhea during pregnancy in the second period of pregnancy) should not be taken by expectant mothers.

The exception is mild diarrhea in the absence of unpleasant symptoms. A woman should go on a light diet and drink as much liquid as possible. This will allow the body to rest and rejuvenate.

Therapeutic diet

If diarrhea lasts no more than 7 days, then it does not pose a threat to mother or child. At this time, the female body adapts to the ongoing changes in connection with the new situation. You can restore the work of the digestive tract with the help of a special diet that excludes all dairy products, s alty, sour, fried, spicy.

Drink more fluids on the first day of diarrhea. It can be drinking water, rice water, weak black tea, some kind of fruit drink, herbal decoctions. This will keep you hydrated and help flush out toxins from your body. Also, during pregnancy diarrhea in the third semester, you can eat white bread crackers.

On the second day, you can cook yourself oatmeal or rice porridge, only on water and without s alt and sugar. For a snack, diet biscuits are suitable. Most dairy products are still too early to appear on the menu, but at the same time, natural yogurt is notcontraindicated. With it, you can put in order the microflora of the intestines and stomach.

On the third day, you can dilute the diet with soups and mashed vegetables. Steamed cutlets will also come in handy. To avoid irritation of the mucous membrane of the digestive organs, you should eat food at room temperature.

During the diet it is useful to drink teas from chamomile, mint, lemon balm - a woman will remain cheerful and in a good mood. As for the nature of the meal - at least 6 times a day. And in small portions.

After 8-9 days of such a diet, you can no longer be afraid of diarrhea during pregnancy in the second trimester and smoothly switch to the previous diet: the usual portions and three meals a day.

Medicated course

Treatment with medication is usually prescribed when the problem with the gastrointestinal tract is caused by some disease. The following drugs are allowed for pregnant women:

• Sorbents - Enterosgel, Enterodez, Polysorb, activated carbon. Due to their adsorbing action, it is necessary to observe a certain interval between their doses.
• Anspasmodics - "Papaverine", "No-shpa". These drugs help relieve spasms of the peritoneal organs.
• With the help of "Loperamide" and "Imodium" you can quickly stop loose stools and normalize the general condition of a woman. Only they should be used only during the third trimester.
• Probiotics - "Bifidumbacterin", "Hilak Forte", "Bactistatin","Lineks" have proven themselves in the elimination of diarrhea during pregnancy, contributing to the normalization of the intestinal microflora.
• Enzymes - "Mezim" and "Pancreatin" improve digestion.

Only if the case is severe, the doctor may prescribe a course of antibiotics, as antibiotics are associated with certain risks.

Features of diarrhea in later pregnancy

Intestinal upset, as already noted, can take you by surprise even at the 30th week. But not in all cases, this indicates the presence of pathogenic microorganisms. It was at this time that some women begin late toxicosis, one of the characteristic signs of which is diarrhea during pregnancy. There is also weakness, bouts of nausea, dizziness. In addition, this period is variable and you should notify your doctor of any changes that occur.

Natural urges cause the uterus to contract, which can result in preterm labor. And children born at this time are very weak. In addition, due to dehydration of the female body, there is a risk of thrombosis.

On the eve of childbirth

If diarrhea is observed in the interval from the 35th to the 40th week, then this can be considered a harbinger of childbirth. Only from the 35th to the 37th week, diarrhea is highly undesirable, since the child is often born weak and premature. How can a woman protect herself?

First of all, you should think about it in advance, even at the planning stage. And to have diarrheapregnancy in the third trimester did not bother, you should pay close attention to your diet and the quality of the food you eat. Moreover, you should eat exclusively at home, avoiding any public places where the risk of catching any infection is much higher.

In some cases, the baby itself in the womb can provoke diarrhea. In the later stages, he has already grown noticeably and with his weight puts pressure on the internal organs of the mother. As a result, this leads to a deterioration in gastrointestinal motility.

A woman may face the problem of dehydration during the entire third trimester. At this time, the baby is already fully formed and mostly little things remain. He needs more vitamins and other useful minerals than before. And with dehydration, the female body cannot provide it with the necessary supplies, and then the child begins to experience hunger.

But a clear signal for childbirth can be diarrhea during pregnancy in the third trimester (38-40th week), accompanied by cramping pain. In this case, diarrhea no longer poses any threat to the mother and her child. Often it is associated with the cleansing of the body, which is preparing for the birth of a baby or baby.

At the same time, if the complication is due to severe toxicosis, then the woman is prescribed a medical course of treatment using light drugs. This will avoid the penetration of toxins to the fetus through the placenta.

In closing

Any woman who is in a "special position" should be aware that she is now entrusted withgreat responsibility. A new life is developing in her womb, which is priceless! Therefore, during pregnancy, you need to carefully monitor your he alth. And above all, carefully consider what the expectant mother eats. The child needs "building material", and this is possible by using only he althy products, mostly of natural origin.

This will help to avoid many complications, and now the question of whether there can be diarrhea during pregnancy should not arise. It is important to understand that any discomfort must be eliminated in a timely manner. Otherwise, there may be complications.