Experiencing gallstones during pregnancy, how to deal with them?

Abdominal pain in the upper right can be a symptom of gallstones. This condition is more likely to be experienced by women, especially during pregnancy. So, what causes the appearance of gallstones during pregnancy, and is there an impact on the baby in the womb? More importantly, how to treat it? Check out the following explanation.

What causes gallstones to appear during pregnancy?

Gallstones occur when there is a build-up of fat in the body as a result of eating too much fatty food and high cholesterol. Bile is an organ that is located under the liver and is responsible for storing bile which is used to digest fat in the body. The accumulation of fat makes the bile work harder to digest these fats, so they actually clot and form gallstones that block the bile ducts.

In pregnant women, gallstones usually occur due to changes in the body's hormones that occur during pregnancy. The increase in the hormone estrogen can increase fat levels in the body and slow the movement of bile in digesting fat. This then makes women who are pregnant at high risk for gallstones.

What are the symptoms of gallstones during pregnancy?

In some cases, gallstones do not cause any symptoms, especially if the stones formed are not too large. In fact, these health problems can occur and then disappear when you give birth later.

However, in some cases, the symptoms are quite disturbing, such as:

Abdominal pain in the upper right, constantly, especially after eating fatty foods
Pain in the back
Abdominal pain for approximately 5 hours
Feeling nauseous and vomiting constantly
Have a fever to chills
Skin tends to turn yellow

If you experience these things, you should consult a doctor immediately.

What are the risks of gallstones in pregnant women?

Gallstones that are too large and difficult to pass will block the bile ducts. If this happens, then there are several health risks that may occur, such as premature birth, difficulty breathing, and stillbirth. Therefore, this should be handled immediately so as not to cause interference with pregnancy.

How to deal with gallstones during pregnancy?

Most gallstones that appear during pregnancy will be treated with surgery. Experts say that gallstone surgery is a type of surgery that occurs quite often during pregnancy. However, this depends on the respective conditions of the mother and fetus at that time. Surgery is not recommended and there is a big risk if it is performed during the first trimester. If done, this can lead to miscarriage and birth defects in the fetus.

Therefore, if it is not too urgent, the doctor will wait until the pregnancy enters the second trimester or until birth occurs. However, once again, this depends on the condition of each mother and fetus. It's best to discuss this with your doctor.

In order not to get worse, you should also take care and choose your food during pregnancy. Avoid foods that contain high fat and fried foods, because this will only increase the workload of bile which is being disturbed.

How to prevent gallstones during pregnancy?

Even though you have a higher risk of developing gallstones during pregnancy, that doesn't mean you will definitely experience them. Of course, this can still be prevented from happening to you. Here are things you can do to prevent gallstones during pregnancy:

Have the ideal body weight according to gestational age. During pregnancy, it is only natural that you gain weight. However, don't let this make you obese during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor and nutritionist about the ideal weight according to gestational age and a good diet for you to eat during pregnancy.
Eat lots of fibrous foods. Before pregnancy, you should get used to eating more fiber. Fiber is able to bind fats in the body, thereby relieving the workload of your liver and bile.
Avoid foods that are high in fat. Try not to eat more than 25 percent of your total calories as fat. to find out the distribution of the menu, better consult your nutritionist.
Stay active. Even though you are pregnant, that doesn't mean you can just stay quiet all day at home. You need to stay active and do safe exercise while pregnant.