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Is diarrhea dangerous during pregnancy and what to do
Pregnant women, against the background of an increasing load on the body, have problems with the gastrointestinal tract, manifested by stool disorders. This gives rise to anxiety about the health of the unborn baby, so it is worth figuring out whether diarrhea is dangerous during pregnancy, why it appears and what to do with frequent diarrhea.
Diarrhea in pregnant women: norm and pathology
Frequent loose stools in women in position is rarely a pathology. Diarrhea in the first trimester of pregnancy is usually a consequence of hormonal changes in the body. Diarrhea at 4-5 months is provoked by the uterus, which, increasing in size, crowds the intra-abdominal structures. In any case, physiological diarrhea is a short-term phenomenon.
Diarrhea during pregnancy with abdominal pain requires urgent medical attention
Diarrhea during pregnancy is considered a pathological condition if:
- lasts more than 4 days;
- accompanied by profuse loose stools;
- frequent bowel movements are observed – more than 6 times a day;
- there is mucus and / or blood in the stool;
- vomiting, weakness are present;
- I have a stomachache;
- increased body temperature;
- the feces have black color.
For any of these symptoms, you should immediately seek medical attention.
Prolonged diarrhea leads to fluid loss and changes in water-salt balance. As a result of dehydration, the work of all organs of a woman is disrupted, the volume of amniotic fluid decreases, and their composition changes. Against the background of dehydration, a pregnant woman may develop intoxication, which, in turn, leads to fetal malformations.
Excessive activity of the intestines, which provokes contractions of the uterus, is also a threat to the child’s life.
What to do with diarrhea during pregnancy?
If diarrhea is not accompanied by a deterioration in the general condition, nutritional correction can be dispensed with. Temporarily, soups and broths should be excluded from the diet. It is better to eat foods with a solid and mushy consistency.
What to do with diarrhea during pregnancy? The main thing is to drink as much as possible, thereby preventing dehydration.
Fortifying foods will help stop diarrhea: rice broth, fresh and dried blueberries, viburnum, baked pears. A prerequisite for diarrhea is to drink as much non-carbonated mineral water as possible, dried fruit compote.
It happens that pregnancy and diarrhea are not related. Loose stools can result from:
- inflammation in the digestive tract;
- hypovitaminosis;
- dysbacteriosis;
- neuroses;
- food or chemical poisoning;
- food allergies;
- taking medications;
- rotavirus infection;
- salmonellosis and amebiasis;
- irritable bowel syndrome.
With prolonged and intense diarrhea, treatment should be carried out exclusively under the supervision of a physician. To establish a diagnosis, it is necessary to pass tests of feces, urine and blood. In case of poisoning, sorbents that cleanse the body are prescribed. Enzyme preparations help to improve digestion.
So, in the first and second trimester, a pregnant woman may be disturbed by diarrhea caused by physiological reasons. Prolonged diarrhea, aggravated by other symptoms, requires urgent medical treatment.