Managing Diarrhea in Pregnancy: What Every Mom-to-Be Should Know

If you go for three or more loose stools in a day, you may have diarrhea. Diarrhea is common during pregnancy. However, every bout of diarrhea does not necessarily mean that it is caused by pregnancy. Apart from pregnancy, diarrhea is also caused by the following reasons:

• Virus
• Bacteria
• Stomach pain
• Intestinal parasites
• Food poisoning
• Medications

Diarrhea is also common in some other conditions. These include irritable bowel syndrome (Irregular bowel movement), Crohn’s disease, Celiac disease, and Ulcerative colitis (Inflammation of the intestine). The following are the main pregnancy-related causes of diarrhea:

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• Dietary changes: Many women change their eating habits during pregnancy. This sudden change in eating habits leads to diarrhea.
• Sensitivity to new foods: After becoming pregnant, many foods that never caused any problem before can cause gas, diarrhea etc.
• Prenatal vitamins: Prenatal vitamins are important and good for your health as well as your growing baby. However, these vitamins can upset your stomach and cause diarrhea.
• Hormonal changes: Hormones can slow down your digestive system, which can lead to constipation in pregnancy. Hormones can also speed up the digestive system, which can lead to diarrhea.

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Diarrhea during pregnancy is not common. Pregnant women are more likely to have constipation then loose stools, but some women may have diarrhea just before they go into labor. If you are not yet 37 weeks pregnant, diarrhea can be a sign of preterm labor (premature labor).

If you are experiencing diarrhea during your third trimester, it does not mean that your baby will be born right away, so you do not have to be alert for labor. This is just one way to tell that your body is getting ready for labor which can start anytime now.

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Most cases of diarrhea go away on their own within a few days. It is especially important to stay hydrated when you have diarrhea. So drink lots of water, juice and broth. Water will help replenish fluids in your body and juice will help replenish potassium levels in your body and broth will help replenish your sodium.

If the diarrhea does not go away on its own, you may need to consult a doctor. If diarrhea is caused by bacteria or parasites during pregnancy, you will need antibiotics, if it is caused by a virus, antibiotics will not help. So contact a doctor to find out the exact cause.

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If you have a stomach virus or food poisoning, drink lots of water to stay hydrated. Avoid dairy foods and eat easily digestible foods like bananas, rice, soup or toast. Avoid fatty foods until you feel relief from diarrhea. If you follow all these tips, you will feel better in 24 hours or less.

Tell the doctor about your symptoms and ask which medicine would be safe to take in such a situation. Take the medicine accordingly.

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Diarrhea during pregnancy is not uncommon and can be caused by many reasons, such as hormonal changes, changes in diet, or sensitivity to certain foods. The most important thing when you have diarrhea in pregnancy is to maintain hydration. Drink more water, coconut water or electrolytes to avoid dehydration. Eat light and easily digestible food, such as rice, banana and toast. Avoid fried or spicy foods. If diarrhea persists for a long time or blood is seen in it, consult a doctor immediately, as it may be a sign of an infection or other health problem.