Diarrhea during pregnancy
Diarrhea during
pregnancy is one of the annoying inconveniences that can occur. Diarrhea
literally means " flowing through " and is defined as three or more loose
or watery stools in a 24 hour period. If you're experiencing three loose,
watery stools a day, the main concern is staying hydrated. You can lose a
significant amount of fluid if you have diarrhea during pregnancy. Dehydration
can be severe, even fatal. You will definitely need to rehydrate. Diarrhea is
rarely life-threatening, but should not be taken too lightly, especially during
pregnancy.
What causes diarrhea during pregnancy?
Don't be surprised if
you suffer from diarrhea during pregnancy. There are several associations
between pregnancy and diarrhea. When you first find out you're pregnant, you
can drastically change your diet to ensure your baby gets all the nutrients he
needs. Changing the foods you eat can sometimes cause indigestion or diarrhea.
Pregnant woman with abdominal pain from diarrhea
Another cause of
diarrhea is that some pregnant women become sensitive to certain foods. These
may be foods that you have often eaten before, but eating them during pregnancy
can cause indigestion or diarrhea. Hormonal changes are another cause of diarrhea
during pregnancy.
Sometimes hormones
can slow down the digestion process, and sometimes it can lead to diarrhea.
Every pregnant woman experiences these hormonal changes, but some have diarrhea
in early pregnancy because of these changes. If you have diarrhea, it may also
be due to a bacterial or viral infection.
Diarrhea during the third trimester of pregnancy
Diarrhea in the third
trimester is not uncommon and is more likely to occur closer to the due date.
This can be a sign that labor is close, and it can happen just before labor or
a few weeks before labor. If there are several weeks left before the birth, you
should not expect premature birth.
If you have diarrhea
in the third trimester, it does not mean that your baby will be born right now,
so you have nothing to worry about. For some women, this is simply a way to
prepare for the labor that will one day begin. You may also be aware of other
labor signs.
Treatment of diarrhea during pregnancy
In most cases,
diarrhea goes away on its own within a few days. The main problem with diarrhea
is staying dehydrated. Be sure to drink plenty of water, juice, and broth to
rehydrate and replace the body's lost electrolytes. Water will help replenish
lost fluids, juice will help replenish potassium levels, and broth will help
replenish sodium.
The broth is known to help resolve diarrhea
If the diarrhea does
not go away on its own, you may need to see a doctor. If diarrhea during
pregnancy is caused by bacteria or parasites, you may need antibiotics. If the
diarrhea is caused by a virus, antibiotics will not help. To determine the
cause, you need to talk to your doctor.
Traveler's diarrhea and pregnancy
Traveler's diarrhea
is a common disease that affects travelers every year. Traveler's diarrhea
usually starts within a week of travel, but can start at any time during
travel. It is important to know the area of your destination. High-risk areas
are found in the developing countries of South America, Africa, Asia and the
Middle East. The main source of traveler's diarrhea is the ingestion of food or
water contaminated with faeces.
If you are traveling
while pregnant, you should avoid traveler's diarrhea. Here are ways to avoid
diarrhea during pregnancy while traveling:
- Avoid tap water in high-risk areas – Don’t drink it, brush your teeth with it or use ice cubes made from it.
- Stay away from street vendors.
- Avoid fruits that can’t be peeled or that you didn’t peel yourself.
- Avoid areas with inadequate sanitation.
If you have diarrhea during pregnancy, be sure to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.