Diarrhea at 38 weeks gestation

Diarrhea at 38 weeks of gestation is a negative symptom that worries a pregnant woman, but accompanied by relief - it becomes easier to breathe and heartburn disappears, often at this time pregnancy.

The reason is the "lowering of the abdomen" - the movement of the uterus from the abdominal region to the pelvic region.

Some unpleasant phenomena are eliminated, because the pressure on the stomach and diaphragm stops, others appear - diarrhea, lack of appetite, a feeling of pressure on the bladder and rectum.

Frequent urge to urinate and diarrhea are a consequence of the changes that have occurred, along with false contractions and discharge of the mucous plug. Such symptoms at this stage of pregnancy are usually called precursors of childbirth.

There is nothing particularly alarming in such a change from constipation to frequent diarrhea, especially for those who are aware of certain stages of their condition and are ready to meet them with the same patience.

At the 38th week, a woman is waiting for childbirth and tends to worry about anything that seems disturbing to her.

Diarrhea or its absence is not an obligatory symptom, which must certainly appear in every expectant mother at this stage of pregnancy.

This is a symptom of the average rate deduced from clinical observations, and bearing a fetus can take place with individual characteristics.

Third trimester and its characteristic manifestations

Diarrhea at 38 weeks of gestation is optional, and not the only feature of the last months of bearing a child.

The periodic liquid nature of feces at 38 weeks may be the result of a descended uterus, but if it is permanent and is accompanied by features of a painful condition, like ordinary diarrhea (cuts in the stomach, intoxication, stench and unusual color of feces), should be immediately see a doctor.

Characterized by signs of physiological diarrhea in primiparous women at 38-39 weeks, with subsequent gestation, they may appear earlier.

Frequent urge to urinate and previously unnoticed liquefied stools are a natural consequence of the pressure of the head on the sacrum.

During this period, a woman suffers from a lack of appetite, sometimes completely changes her eating habits. Diarrhea may alternate with constipation, and this is normal.

The body cleanses the intestines before a close birth, an enlarged uterus, a consequence of pregnancy, presses on the internal organs and blocks the natural routes of excretion of processed food.

Within a couple of days, diarrhea can be accompanied by gas and spasms, which tones the uterus and causes false contractions.

But this is a short-term phenomenon, and in a late pregnancy, a woman should be ready. Physiologically, this is a bowel cleansing to facilitate the labor process, and labor begins fairly soon.

Pathological process or norm

The expectant mother can also differentiate the manifestations of prenatal preparation of the body and pathological processes, which are signaled by the liquid nature of natural discharges.

Clear criteria developed by medical practice, and during pregnancy, make it possible to suspect that something was wrong even at this time.

You can distinguish between normal prenatal bowel cleansing and diarrhea by the following signs:

• liquid consistency and abnormally frequent departure of natural needs;
• frequent stools heterogeneous, interspersed with undigested food, watery, frothy;
• the color of the feces is uncharacteristic, the secreted liquid substance is burgundy, white, cherry, black or greenish;
• the presence of mucus is noted in the feces;
• diarrhea takes on a fetid or sour odor that differs from usual;
• intoxication, nausea, vomiting, fever, epigastric pain appears.

When a fever appears, there is no longer any doubt. There is a pathological process, and its presence requires immediate diagnosis and elimination during pregnancy.

Seeing a doctor, with a slight and short liquefaction of the stool of natural origin, does not require diarrhea at 38 weeks of gestation.

But, if its character differs from the expected and carries all the symptoms of pathology, without the help of a specialist, diarrhea not only will not go away, but can also prevent normal childbirth.

Probable causes of the appearance of pathology

The woman is engaged in cooking and trying foods that have not been cooked.

Diarrhea in men, in a% ratio, is observed less often than in the female half, and, perhaps, this is the point, but female diarrhea also accompanies physiological processes (bearing a child, the menstrual cycle, menopause).

The expressed emotionality, from which diarrhea manifests itself in stressful situations and psychological shocks, also seems likely. Frequent stool disorder is associated with chronic diseases.

Liquid feces can occur when:

• bowel motility disorder (irritable bowel syndrome);
• ulcerative colitis (when the mucous membrane becomes covered with ulceration);
• hyperthyroidism (excess production of pancreatic hormones);
• violation of food digestion;
• diarrhea happens with dysbiosis;
• the presence of parasites in the body;
• intestinal infections;
• acute viral and bacterial infections;
• vitamin deficiency (during pregnancy);
• chronic and congenital pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract;
• absolute enzyme deficiency;
• some acute surgical conditions (diarrhea with intestinal polyps or appendicitis).

All this requires careful attention to the accompanying pathological signs during pregnancy, if they are not even fully noted.

Do not forget about the emotional component of a woman's upset stomach.

During pregnancy, it can be the result of a stressful situation, a nervous shock or the usual nervousness that the upcoming birth causes.

In this period, the expectant mother more than ever needs a careful and attentive attitude, peace of mind.

During pregnancy, the hormonal background changes, this leads to emotional instability that can provoke functional disorders.

At 38 weeks, this can be especially pronounced. With accompanying abnormal signs, it is necessary to consult a doctor when they become noticeable.

Diagnostics and treatment

The multiple etiological reasons for the appearance of a stool disorder indicate that a specialist should treat diarrhea, which differs from the normal one for such a gestation period.

If the attending doctor found that diarrhea was not provoked by the upcoming birth, but by an external or internal pathogenic agent, diagnostic measures are carried out, the purpose of which during pregnancy is to establish what exactly served reason.

Laboratory and clinical analyzes are carried out. The doctor collects an anamnesis of the disease (when the pathology manifested itself, what are the symptoms, is there a temperature, are there any similar cases surrounded by the patient, how liquid the stool is and what color it is, conducts an external examination, and makes a preliminary diagnosis).

Depending on the data, the patient's stool, urine and blood are sent for analysis. The tactics of treatment are determined not only by the revealed pathology, but also by the restriction in taking medications during pregnancy.

The focus is on a strict diet, avoiding foods that could trigger diarrhea and natural remedies for removing intoxication, natural intestinal disinfection, food components that can suspend loose stools.

Stool dilution and other precursors of childbirth

The expectant mother takes the probable term of the upcoming birth, and this is understandable at 38 weeks.

Natural fatigue from the difficult physiological process of carrying a baby accumulates, anticipation of the event grows, and the last week is not always accurately determined.

At this time, there are several signs of the imminent birth of a baby and not everyone has diarrhea.

A woman who is not carrying her first child usually determines that labor will begin soon by other obvious signs:

• moving the baby downward (lowering the abdomen) leads to difficulties at 37 and 38 weeks and in the process of walking, and when sitting, and in finding a comfortable sleeping position;
• the urge to urinate becomes more frequent, and so it is not uncommon during pregnancy;
• decreased appetite and increased selectivity in the choice of products, even more strict than with heartburn and toxicosis, this week the choice of food is limited to what is felt subconsciously necessary;
• a decrease in appetite naturally causes a decrease in weight, 38 weeks usually leads to a loss of body weight by one or two kg, which is understandable by preparing him for the end of pregnancy;
• the psychoemotional state also changes, along with the depth in oneself, nervousness appears, caused by the upcoming birth;
• loose stools (optional) helps cleanse the intestines and remove excess components from the body;
• contractions of the uterus are irregular, the week is marked by the unusual activity of the baby;
• there are pains in the lower back and lower abdomen, explained this week by the preparation of the sacrum and stretching of the connective tissue, a change in the localization of the fetus and the discrepancy of the bones.

During pregnancy, this is an excellent state, despite all the unpleasant sensations.

In the last week before childbirth, a woman is in a special mood when all the body's ability to analyze internal factors and stool for her is just one of many signs.

This is well known to those who give birth not for the first time, with each new pregnancy, which will soon come to a successful physiological resolution.

A slight diarrhea that appears at 38 weeks is normal in most cases.

There are usually no reasons for particular concern, especially if during this pregnancy the woman knows about the peculiarities of her condition, she received the necessary medical knowledge, about how each a week.

This is important when carrying a baby for the first time, it helps to avoid unnecessary worries that are so frequent during pregnancy.

Observance of the necessary precautions, a mandatory visit to a doctor and a healthy lifestyle are the factors that will help you calmly overcome all difficulties and give birth to a beautiful baby.

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