Diarrhea in early pregnancy

During pregnancy, the female body becomes especially sensitive to all sorts of irritating factors, and therefore the risk of getting sick with something during this period increases significantly. That's why it is recommended to protect a pregnant woman from all problems that carry a pathological connection. After all, we are talking not only about her life, but also about the life of the unborn child. And diarrhea in early pregnancy is one of those unpleasant problems that almost all expectant mothers have to face.

Note! With diarrhea, there is also frequent pain, bloating, vomiting, and increased gas production. If the cause of diarrhea is poisoning, then a high temperature is also added. Because of all this, pregnant women suffer terribly, moreover, there is a threat to the fetus.

The main causes of diarrhea

One of the constant companions of a pregnant woman is the so-called physiological diarrhea. It occurs for several reasons, the main of which is hormones. The latter are needed in the female body for the development of the ovum and support for pregnancy. Protective functions, trying to get rid of these elements (i.e. because for the mother's body they are toxins), they work, which accelerates the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, through which these substances pass.

When an upset stomach occurs in the early stages, there is a risk of dehydration due to permanent vomiting. Moreover, the pregnant woman suffers from toxicosis - she does not want to drink or eat, fearing that the symptoms will recur. This phenomenon is characteristic of early toxicosis and is often accompanied by severe diarrhea.

On a note! If the diarrhea persists, the pregnant woman should consult a qualified doctor as soon as possible.

Table. The main causes of diarrhea during pregnancy.

Name, photo	Short description
Improper nutrition	Taste preferences during pregnancy, as you know, are distorted - women begin to eat what they would not have even touched before. And the combination of certain foods can provoke an upset stomach.
Laxative products	Some foods can have a laxative effect, and therefore it is better to refuse to use them.
Hormonal Disorders	In the body of the expectant mother, various changes go through, leaving an imprint on the work of the digestive system.
Helminthic invasions	A pregnant woman should avoid contact with animals, observe hygiene rules, and be sure to use gloves when handling fish / meat. You can eat clean and sufficiently cooked foods.
Nervous Disorders	Diarrhea in pregnant women often appears before a visit to a gynecologist or an ultrasound scan. The reason is simple - excessive excitement. In general, pregnancy is a rather disturbing period, since it is accompanied by permanent experiences and stresses.
Chronic gastrointestinal diseases	They can also lead to diarrhea in early pregnancy.
Substandard products	The food you eat must be carefully monitored, otherwise you can get poisoned (because of this, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and other "pleasant" symptoms occur). If this happens, the woman needs to be hospitalized as early as possible for subsequent treatment.
Infections	Infections of various kinds (such as dysentery) can provoke vomiting and indigestion. During pregnancy, this is especially dangerous, and therefore the expectant mother should urgently consult a doctor.

First aid for diarrhea

Of course, a woman can do nothing at all if the diarrhea is weak and not accompanied by constant / severe pain. But if they do not pass, but only intensify, then the following measures can be taken:

• eat mushy or solid foods that do not have a pungent odor (it is better to refuse soups / broths);
• take sorbents ("Smecta", "Activated carbon", "Polysorb");
• eating rice or drinking rice water;
• drink as much liquid as possible (not only water, but also tea, dried fruit compotes, etc.);
• eat literally a few berries of raspberries or blueberries (they do an excellent job with diarrhea);
• eat baked pears, eat dried or make a decoction of them.

On a note! If possible, you should refuse to take pharmacological drugs altogether!

Get rid of diarrhea quickly. Step-by-step instruction

Step 1. For loose stools, you can follow a diet designed to treat diarrhea in children. The diet should include toast, bananas, fresh apples and rice (brown). All of these foods help to strengthen stools and relieve the symptoms of diarrhea. You need to eat 4-6 servings of these foods per day.

Step 2. Another healthy product is cheddar cheese. It contains foods that help to strengthen the stool in case of diarrhea. Of course, this method is not suitable for those with lactose intolerance.

Step 3. Too sweet and fatty foods must be discarded.

Step 4. Foods that irritate the digestive system should also be avoided. These are, for example, drinks containing caffeine, spicy foods and dairy products.

Step 5. You need to drink as much fluid as possible in order to prevent dehydration (with diarrhea, fluid is excreted from the body). On average, you should drink about 1 liter in an hour or two.

Step 6. You can eat small amounts of salty crackers to replenish sodium losses. They should be eaten in small portions, but often (every few hours).

Step 7. Oral rehydration solution and sports drinks (eg, Gatorade, Powerade) prevent electrolyte loss. About 0.5-1 liters per day.

Step 8. If loose stools occur more than three times a day, it is advisable to see a doctor. The possibility of dehydration - especially in early pregnancy - cannot be ignored. Also, you need to consult a doctor if you observe:

• fainting;
• black / bloody stools;
• turbidity, weakness;
• high temperature (more than 37.5 degrees);
• prolonged (more than 12 hours) absence of urination;
• dry eyes, mouth;
• dizziness.

Alternative methods of treating diarrhea in pregnant women

When using folk remedies, it is very important to observe a doctor, since some herbs can provoke a miscarriage. Below are the safest recipes for both the expectant mother and the fetus.

# 1. Cranberry jelly

For cooking, take:

• clean water (4 glasses);
• starch (0.3 cups);
• cranberries (1 glass);
• sugar (0.75 cups).

Squeeze the juice out of the berries. Then dissolve the starch in water, mix the resulting liquid with juice. Add sugar, then simmer over low heat. Ready!

# 2. Pomegranate tea

Rinse the pomegranate skins thoroughly, then use a coffee grinder to grind. Brew in the correct proportions (1 tsp. spoon for 200 ml of boiling water). It is important to infuse the tea for 5 minutes.

On a note! Do not drink this tea at the same time as laxatives!

# 3. Viburnum decoction

To prepare this broth, do the following:

• pour 200 ml of boiling water with the same amount of berries;
• bring to a boil, then simmer for about 12 minutes;
• strain and then add 1 tsp. a spoonful of honey.

Take the resulting product three times a day, 1/3 cup. It copes well with diarrhea, which is caused by all sorts of nervous disorders.

# 4. Oatmeal decoction

You will need:

• flakes (50 g);
• cold water (0.5 l).

Mix the ingredients and leave for three to four hours, then cook until the mixture thickens. Take 6 times a day for 2 tbsp. spoons.

# 5. Barley broth

To prepare this slimy decoction:

• pour a glass of water 40 g of barley;
• insist for 5 hours;
• cook for another 12 minutes, then strain.

Take 6 times a day for 1 tbsp. spoon.

What about medications?

Of all the existing drugs for diarrhea in early pregnancy, you can take:

• Enterosgel;
• "Activated carbon";
• "Smecta";
• Pancreotin;
• "Mezim".

Important! All these drugs are good because they are not made from chemicals, but from natural ingredients. But to take them - with the exception of "Smekta" - can only be prescribed by a doctor.

The Dangers of Diarrhea During Pregnancy

Diarrhea is very dangerous during pregnancy. The fact is that with frequent diarrhea, the body becomes dehydrated, deprived of nutrients, which is why the future baby is also starving. Because of all this, in the future, the baby may develop serious defects. Besides, the tone of the uterus increases, which in turn increases the risk of miscarriage. In short, diarrhea is a good enough reason to visit a doctor's office.

To avoid diarrhea, try to follow these recommendations:

• minimize the use of dairy products, which we talked about earlier;
• give up everything fried and salty for at least a few days;
• eat more rice porridge, because it is very useful for the digestive tract; you can also enrich your diet with eggs, a well-known fortifying product;
• if you have diarrhea, do not eat grapes at all;
• finally, crackers with strong tea will also be useful.

Let's make a reservation right away: this does not mean that various favorite foods (for example, pickles, a favorite delicacy of all pregnant women) should be abandoned altogether. All this is only a temporary exception, at least for five days, until the stool returns to normal. Also remember to drink plenty of fluids. By the way, whether you drink enough liquid can be recognized by the color of urine - the darker it is, the less of it (liquid) in the body.

And remember, diarrhea is easier to prevent than to cure. Practice good hygiene and eat well to avoid serious consequences!

Video - Causes of an upset stomach during pregnancy

Video - Common mistakes of early pregnancy