There doesn’t exist any other stage in the women’s life more magical, motivating, marvelous, amazing, frightening, and suspicious than the pregnancy stage. There is a huge mix of all the possible sensations and emotions a woman can feel. During this stage, women tend to be more careful with their healthy lifestyle routine and the symptoms they might have.
When a woman gets pregnant, starts to experience some discomforts in her body from the time of conception and in progress. The most common discomforts women have during this period are stomach and digestive issues. One of these digestive symptoms women face during pregnancy is diarrhea.
What is diarrhea and is it normal during pregnancy?
Diarrhea is a sign of digestive difficulties which causes discomfort to those who experience it. It is considered a non-harmful symptom, but however pregnant women should not take this for granted and neglect it at all. In pregnancy, you should pay attention to every sign your body might consider strange or painful.
Diarrhea can happen in any trimester and some pregnant women confuse its symptoms with those of a pregnancy loss, but in fact, there is nothing to worry about. It has nothing to do with any possible risk to your baby, as long as you stay well hydrated and have the proper care for yourself.
Which are its signs?
How can a pregnant woman know she is experiencing diarrhea? The most common signs which indicate diarrhea are:
- Watery stools (more than three times a day)
- Uncontrolled bowel movement
- A feeling of bloating
- Cramping
If you are experiencing these signs for a couple of days, then there is no need to worry because it is normal. Make sure to stay well hydrated these days and everything will be ok.
Talk to your doctor about other symptoms like:
- Blood in your stool
- Stomach pain
- Nausea
- Very dark pee
- headache
- Fever
- Dry mouth
- Lightheadedness
If you have these other symptoms, please do not take medication by yourself because it can be harmful to your baby, but contact your doctor and follow his/her advice. You might have dehydration or a gastrointestinal problem that needs treatment. Anyway, there is nothing to alarm about because everything gets solved with some strict advice and treatment.
What causes diarrhea?
The pregnancy stage causes a lot of changes in a woman’s body, and one of them is diarrhea, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you are having it because of your pregnancy. Some common causes why diarrhea happens are:
- Viral infections
You can experience diarrhea if you get infected by a lot of contagious viral infections only from food, drink, or other people who have been infected with these kinds of viruses. If you think you are infected by a virus, contact your healthcare provider immediately. Try to avoid it by having regular personal hygiene.
- Food poisoning
Food poisoning can happen at any time and it hasn’t to do with pregnancy at all but during pregnancy, women have to care more about their food and what they eat. They have to avoid some kind of food that can lead to food poisonings like undercooked seafood, raw eggs, unpasteurized milk, and cheese. If you notice food poisoning, call your doctor because it can be serious.
- Irritable bowel syndrome
This syndrome causes bowel movements from diarrhea to constipation, cramps, bloating, and gas. It is a condition that you should consult with your doctor to manage it.
- Health issues like Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and hyperthyroidism
People who suffer from these diseases are more likely to experience diarrhea and they should consult their doctor to see how to manage it during pregnancy.
The pregnancy stage is the most fluctuating period of women’s hormones and the changes that happen to them physically and mentally. The most common causes of diarrhea, only related to pregnancy are:
- Hormone changes during pregnancy
Hormonal changes can affect your body by speeding up your digestion system and causing diarrhea.
- Healthy eating
When women get pregnant, most of them make sure to follow a healthy lifestyle routine which is the best thing they do indeed. This change they make in their diet can cause discomfort in the stomach and cause diarrhea.
- Prenatal vitamins
Prenatal vitamins can cause diarrhea because of the effect they might have on your stomach. If your stomach cannot fully accept them, it will respond with diarrhea.
How to treat diarrhea at home?
As something not to worry about, it is normal that diarrhea lasts a couple of days, but if it lasts more than this then contact your gynecologist and follow his advice.
Meanwhile, follow these treatments:
- Stay hydrated
The best thing you can do when you have diarrhea is to stay well hydrated to replace the fluids you have lost. Make sure to avoid sugary and energy drinks that are harmful to your health. Instead, drink fluids containing salt which helps replace lost electrolytes.
- Stick to a healthy diet
Stay out of high-fat, fried, and spicy foods which make diarrhea worse. Stick to the kind of food which is easy to digest and follow the BRAT diet which includes:
- Rice
- Bananas
- Toast
- Applesauce
- Be patient
Diarrhea symptoms take their time, so pregnant women should not panic when they experience it. Just give it time to clear up in a few days.
- Consider adding probiotics to your diet
Adding probiotics is the best thing you can do for your gastrointestinal tract and it really helps diarrhea when it is caused by antibiotics.
- Talk to your doctor
If your diarrhea lasts for more than three days, then it is better to consult with your doctor about your condition.
