The functioning of the digestive system during pregnancy changes; this can happen not only due to a change in the location of organs inside the abdominal cavity. The hormonal background and the state of the immune system also affect the functioning of the digestive tract. Often during pregnancy, constipation occurs. However, sometimes the body does not respond quite normally.
What is diarrhea?
Diarrhea during pregnancy is expressed by frequent and loose stools. Food moves through the intestines due to its peristalsis, in other words - a uniform reduction in the smooth muscles of the intestinal walls. When such contractions do not happen very actively, constipation appears, and when the process accelerates - diarrhea. Constipation is not a pathology per se, but diarrhea is the body’s response to intoxication.
The thing is that the products that are in the intestine are gradually absorbed into the blood. When toxins appear in the intestines, it is best to stop their absorption. And this means that you need to release the body from these products as soon as possible. With the accelerated movement of food through the intestines, the liquid does not have time to absorb. For this reason, stools are liquid.
Early diarrhea
In the first trimester, the uterus is not greatly enlarged, it is not inclined to change the location of the organs inside, and for this reason it will seem that everything should function as before. However, early pregnancy diarrhea is caused by changes in the immune system.
If a woman is in a position, then the mother's body must accept a genetically completely different person and not tear him away. Naturally, the baby is separated from the mother by the placenta, bladder, a large number of barriers. However, the woman’s immune system is slightly reduced. This is necessary so that there is no negative reaction of the body to the fetus.
In the state when the immune system is depressed, diseases such as dysbiosis appear. Infections of a chronic type also make themselves felt.
Diarrhea and dysbiosis in the early stages. What to do?
Dysbacteriosis very often causes diarrhea during pregnancy in the early stages. What to do in such situations? Everything will depend on the severity of the situation. When diarrhea during pregnancy manifests itself 2-3 times a day, it is necessary to consult a specialist in a planned manner. Before the consultation, you need to start taking more fluids, eat only dietary food.
When diarrhea during pregnancy manifests itself no more than 10 times a day, the doctor should be consulted as soon as possible. Since in a different situation, dehydration may occur.
If intense diarrhea has begun during pregnancy with vomiting, then you need to call an ambulance doctor. It is worth noting that in such a situation, self-replenishment of the liquid does not work.
When the situation is critical, the main task is to stabilize the pregnant woman. And after this, it is necessary to pass an analysis for dysbiosis, culture for infection and coprogram.
Absolutely each of the tests will make it possible to understand what is the cause of diarrhea during pregnancy and what treatment should be. There is no way to do without research data.
Late diarrhea
The last trimester of pregnancy will be marked by the systematic preparation of the female body for the birth process - there is a restructuring of the hormone system, as well as the adjustment of certain processes. Some of them can be very natural, while others are undesirable or unacceptable.
Clinical picture
From the point of view of physiology, diarrhea during pregnancy in the third trimester is a method of the body to clean the intestines from all kinds of toxins before the process of giving birth to a child. As a rule, relief during bowel movements will be only temporary. This lasts no more than a few days and passes even before the fights. However, when diarrhea in late pregnancy lasts more than four days, specific changes in color and consistency of the masses, bloody discharge, as well as mucus appear, this indicates a violation of natural functions. Also in this case, a woman may experience sharp abdominal pain.
It is worth saying that you can not self-medicate. A doctor with the appropriate qualifications must determine and prescribe treatment, since unreasonable actions can harm the health of the mother and child.
Causes of Diarrhea
Diarrhea during pregnancy in the third trimester is manifested by frequent bowel movements, and feces contain a large amount of water. In certain situations, while carrying a baby, there may be diarrhea completely consisting of water.
It also happens that with diarrhea, the urge to defecate is frequent, there is no way to directly control the process itself, spasms and, of course, abdominal pain, nausea and other symptoms are often added.
A large number of women during pregnancy very carefully select products, and also make adjustments to the menu to avoid diarrhea and other disorders.
In addition to physiological reasons, diarrhea during pregnancy can occur as a result of other events:
- For up to 12 weeks, diarrhea appears as a sign of toxicosis. At this time, the pregnant woman has a change in the digestive system, a change in taste preferences, women begin to try to get rid of the consumption of harmful products. It is likely that the craving for salty or sour foods will increase and the menu will be supplemented by a huge number of plant foods. The factors presented can cause stool relaxation. If diarrhea during pregnancy does not cause much discomfort, additional symptoms do not occur, then treatment can not be carried out, but just make the correction of the daily diet.
- During the bearing of the baby, a woman needs to receive a huge amount of nutrients and vitamins. Because of this, before the onset of pregnancy, you need to take a course of vitamins. Such drugs will have any side effects in the form of diarrhea and nausea. If diarrhea appeared after taking the vitamin, then there is a need to change the medicine.
- Diarrhea during pregnancy often appears due to changes in hormonal levels. During pregnancy, in the later stages , a very intensive production of prostaglandins appears, which allows the body to prepare itself for childbirth. It follows that the intestines are cleansed entirely due to systematic diarrhea. This happens only in the later stages, but in the early stages with pain and cramping, you must be extremely careful, as a miscarriage or early birth can occur.
- With an increase in the abdomen during pregnancy, pressure on the digestive tract begins to increase. The uterus very soon grows in size, presses on the internal organs. Then there is diarrhea, nausea, pain and a wide variety of ailments. In this condition, you need to look at the feces and its color. When diarrhea is caused by some disease, the mass will be white or yellow. Also in feces you can see foods that are not digested. When there were chronic diseases of the digestive system before pregnancy, in the process they often go into the acute phase.
Bacterial infection during pregnancy
Diarrhea during pregnancy appears as a result of infection with various bacteria and microbes. Diarrhea in this case is strong, it is extremely difficult. In women during pregnancy, the temperature rises, abdominal pain and sometimes vomiting occur, against which dehydration occurs. This condition is very dangerous not only for the future mother, but also for the child. Therefore, a pregnant woman needs immediate medical attention.
Symptom specificity
Diarrhea may be accompanied by the same symptoms as non-pregnant, but it has certain characteristics:
- Cramping, as well as abdominal pain, can lead to miscarriage and premature birth.
- High fever, vomiting, as well as chills will talk about intoxication and danger to mom and baby.
- Penetration of various viruses and bacteria into the body threatens early on with the occurrence of pathologies, hypoxia, developmental abnormalities, but in later ones, fetal death.
Is dehydration dangerous for a woman and a child? Together with feces, all vitamins are washed out of the body, which will affect the development of the child and the condition of the mother. Diarrhea in pregnant women should be stopped as soon as possible in order to avoid any complications.
Treatment
Doctors say that it is necessary to observe an active lifestyle, to walk on foot even in the last days of pregnancy, when childbirth can begin any minute. Training courses for mothers, as well as gymnastics for pregnant women, reduce the possibility of diarrhea.
It is very important to know that it is possible to do without medical help only in one situation, when diarrhea proceeded without any symptoms and stopped going as soon as the pregnant woman excluded the product that caused her from her own diet.
So that the liquid ceases to be lost, it is necessary to drink water, juices and nectars very often and a lot. With the permission of the doctor, you can drink mineral water, special diet and protein cocktails. As a treatment for diarrhea during pregnancy, you should exclude milk and dairy products from your own diet, especially kefir, yogurt and sour cream. It must be remembered that to constantly maintain intestinal motility, you need to move more and carry out daily walks. But still, with diarrhea, rest and rest should be observed.
Antibiotics and other medicines should never be taken without medical advice. No matter what recommendations a pharmacist would give in any pharmacy, only a competent gynecologist of the appropriate qualification can choose the right and effective treatment, since many antibiotics and antiviral drugs should not be taken before 30 weeks of pregnancy.
Food
How to treat diarrhea during pregnancy? It should be noted immediately that in the last trimester you should be especially careful when choosing food products. This can prevent diarrhea in advance.
It is recommended to refuse such products that can cause irritation of the intestinal mucous membranes:
- Fried and smoked, as well as spicy dishes.
- Salt, pepper and spices.
- Coffee and tea
- Carbonated, coffee drinks.
It is necessary to make a diet in such a way as to completely eliminate overeating or long periods of time between meals. The best option would be to eat fractional portions at a specific time. It is very important to follow a diet. The last trimester is very difficult, for this reason, nutrition should be light, but very rich in vitamins and minerals.
It is worth noting that all kinds of jelly from berries can make the chair normal and strengthen it. Also, adherence to a three-day rice-banana diet will help in this matter.
Conclusion
Now you know why diarrhea may appear during pregnancy. There can be many reasons. The main thing a woman needs to do in a position is to consult a doctor on time.