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Pregnancy refers to the normal physiological states of the female body. But pregnant women are more sensitive to negative environmental factors, which makes them susceptible to many diseases. That is why it is so important to protect expectant mothers from any pathological abnormalities. After all, this is the responsibility for two lives – mother and child. Diarrhea is one of the most common problems a woman may experience during pregnancy.
Diarrhea during pregnancy – this is a violation of the functioning of the intestines in women that occurs in response to the progression of pregnancy or the irritating effect of external factors, and is manifested by an increase in the frequency of stools with changes in the nature of feces. In order to avoid misunderstanding when considering this problem, it is worth clarifying that diarrhea and diarrhea are the same disease.
In any healthy person, regardless of gender and age, the appearance of diarrhea is a pathology. During pregnancy, the situation is a little different, since loosening of the stool can be part of the natural course of pregnancy at certain times. Also, diarrhea can join a second time, being a symptom of certain diseases or pathological processes. This means that pregnant women need to be able to clearly and correctly carry out differential diagnostics between the norm and the disease, which affects the tactics of pregnancy and the elimination of the problem.
Usually pregnancy is characterized by the occurrence of deviations with the stool towards the appearance of constipation. But in some women, due to the peculiarities of the anatomical relative position of the enlarged uterus and intra-abdominal structures, their pressure on each other occurs.
Most of all, this is manifested when the uterus enlarges to the level of the navel, which corresponds to 17-23 weeks of pregnancy. It is during this period that most women notice the appearance of diarrhea. In another part of pregnant women, diarrhea appears at the very beginning of the gestational period and in the prenatal period.
These data indicate that the intra-abdominal nerves of the solar and other plexuses react very strongly to compression or displacement of the intestinal loops by a sharply changed uterus. As a result – increased peristalsis and diarrhea. But the main thing at the same time is that the problem is of a short-term nature, since the body gradually adapts to new conditions, and everything is perceived as the norm.
Among the causes of diarrhea due to pathological effects are:
Errors in the diet;
taking medications: magnesium, vitamin B6, folic acid, multivitamin complexes;
irritable bowel syndrome;
Acute intestinal infections;
gastroenterocolitis;
Gastric and intestinal dyspepsia;
Exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis;
Whatever the origin of diarrhea, it must be dealt with. After all, any deviation from the norm is fraught with danger. The volume of measures depends on the characteristics of diarrhea: duration, intensity and nature.
Is diarrhea dangerous during pregnancy?
But only under certain conditions, they include:
Prolonged course of moderate diarrhea;
Abundant and frequent loose stools;
Associated vomiting;
Poor appetite with refusal to eat and drink liquids;
Complication of pregnancy by severe toxicosis;
Concomitant increase in body temperature;
The presence of pathological impurities in the feces: mucus, bloody contents, greens, particles of undigested food, whitish spots;
The presence of one or more signs indicates the pathological origin and course of diarrhea. Such conditions threaten dehydration, a violation of the electrolyte composition of the blood and biological fluids, which can adversely affect the condition of the fetus and the stability of its bearing. Therefore, as soon as alarming signs are noticed, it is necessary to immediately seek help from a antenatal clinic.
The situation looks completely different with diarrhea during pregnancy, which is not accompanied by dangerous symptoms, or it all comes down to the appearance of diarrhea after eating. With such diarrhea, it is impossible to bring the body to dehydration. The only thing that can be alarming is the long-term preservation of such a state due to the fact that along with a loose stool, part of the beneficial nutrients that are so necessary for the mother and her unborn baby are removed.
Diarrhea in early pregnancy
One of the most frequent periods of pregnancy in which physiological diarrhea occurs is the early stages (first trimester). The culprits of it can be the woman’s own hormones that support pregnancy and the growth of the fetal egg, as well as foreign components of the fetus during its intensive growth and development. In such a way as diarrhea, the body tries to throw out substances that are unusual for a pregnant woman. The natural way of their withdrawal usually becomes the gastrointestinal tract, which begins to work in an enhanced mode.
A feature of diarrhea in early pregnancy is its high frequency with a high risk of dehydration due to the addition of concomitant vomiting.
Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea during pregnancy
During pregnancy, there is a triad of symptoms, the presence of which indicates only one thing – toxicosis. We are talking about nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Even when a woman does not yet suspect that she is pregnant, these three frequent heralds of pregnancy will surely push her to such an idea. The main thing that should be characterized by nausea, diarrhea and vomiting, if they are the result of toxicosis, is inconstancy, periodicity, suddenness and a relatively large duration of time intervals between symptoms. If at the same time the general condition of the pregnant woman is not disturbed, and the problems do not bring much discomfort, you should not worry.
But sometimes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea during pregnancy are not a consequence of toxicosis, but a signal of an unfavorable situation in the digestive system. In such situations, you should not wait for everything to pass by itself. It is better to immediately seek medical help, as dehydration can occur very quickly, with a threat to the life of the child. The appearance of this triad of complaints in the later stages should be regarded in the same way, especially if they are accompanied by edema, increased blood pressure and a sharp deterioration in general well-being. At the same time, there is a high risk of developing severe preeclampsia with transformation into preeclampsia.
What to do if you have diarrhea during pregnancy?
In cases where diarrhea does not violate the general condition of the pregnant woman, is not accompanied by severe pain in the abdomen and a pronounced loss of fluid, no measures can be taken. But if a woman is very annoyed by the need for frequent trips to the toilet, then it is better to try to fix the problem. In such situations, the following may help:
Proper nutrition. Only fresh products without a strong odor, preferably in a mushy or solid form. It is better not to use liquid dishes, such as soups and broths, as they cause an increase in intestinal motility;
The use of rice and rice water;
It is good when there is dried or fresh blueberries. Just a handful of berries a day is effective in reducing diarrhea. Viburnum berries have a similar effect;
Dried and baked pear or a decoction based on it;
Drink. The more profuse diarrhea, the more liquid you need to drink. Suitable alkaline mineral water without gas, compotes and decoctions of dried fruits, teas based on medicinal plants (oak bark);
Sorbents: activated carbon and smecta preparation;
Enzyme preparations: mezim-forte, pangrol, pancreatin; Creon.
In all cases of suspicion of a pathological origin of diarrhea, treatment should be carried out exclusively under the supervision of a physician.