Diarrhea in pregnant women: causes, symptoms, and safe ways to treat it

Diarrhea is prone to happen to anyone, including pregnant women. Apart from of course being able to interfere with the activities of the prospective mother, the complications of diarrhea that are allowed to continue to be feared can adversely affect the baby. Don't panic, Mom! Learn more about the causes, symptoms, and the right way to treat diarrhea during pregnancy in this article.

Causes of diarrhea in pregnant women

The cause of diarrhea itself is mostly a problem in the digestive system.

However, the following are various factors that can increase the risk of diarrhea in pregnant women:

1. Hormonal changes

Hormones are chemical compounds that flow in the blood to support various work of the body.

So during pregnancy, hormone levels will undergo many changes to support the body's work until it is time to give birth.

Some of the hormones whose function is very important during pregnancy are estrogen, progesterone, oxytocin, HCG, and prolactin.

Changes in the levels of these hormones are the cause of diarrhea or frequent bowel movements during pregnancy.

For example, increased levels of prostaglandins, which stimulate uterine muscle contractions, also make bowel movements faster.

As a result, the intestines cannot fully absorb fluids from food so that a lot of it will be wasted together with feces which results in diarrhea.

2. Changes in diet

Diet that changes drastically during pregnancy can also be a cause of diarrhea or frequent bowel movements.

Dietary changes have become one of the classic symptoms experienced by young mothers. Most may tend to eat more fruits and vegetables in order to nourish the content.

Although healthy, eating too much fiber can actually cause diarrhea.

The reason is, when you eat too much fibrous food, bowel movements tend to become faster and heavier.

This then makes the intestine unable to work effectively to absorb fluids to solidify feces. As a result, the feces that come out when defecating are soft or even runny.

On the other hand, symptoms cravings while pregnant may also play a role in the risk of diarrhea for most prospective young mothers.

Cravings can occur when pregnant women who may never eat a food then feel a high urge to eat it.

Well, this surprising change in appetite can cause diarrhea in pregnant women. Generally, diarrhea or frequent bowel movements during pregnancy occurs in the first trimester.

The American Pregnancy Association also states that in the first trimester of pregnancy, a mother is usually more sensitive to the smell or taste of certain foods.

When you eat these foods, your body will react negatively by causing stomach upset and diarrhea.

However, the assumption that diarrhea is a sign of early pregnancy is actually wrong. Pregnant women can experience diarrhea during early pregnancy, but it is not a benchmark for signs of pregnancy.

3. Side effects of prenatal vitamins

For most pregnant women, regular consumption of prenatal vitamins is needed to help meet their nutritional intake.

However, the use of vitamins during pregnancy should still be approved by your obstetrician beforehand.

The reason is, indigestion is one of the most common side effects of prenatal vitamin consumption.

For example, taking iron supplements in doses of more than 30 mg at a time can cause gastrointestinal problems, whether they are constipation or diarrhea.

To avoid this, you can try taking vitamins before bed or along with other foods to make them easier to digest.

4. Bacterial or viral infection

The cause of diarrhea in pregnant women that needs to be watched out for is a viral or bacterial infection.

The reason is, the bacteria that infect the digestive organs spread and are bad for the fetus.

Germs that cause diarrhea during pregnancy can enter the body when pregnant women snack carelessly or don't wash their hands diligently before eating and after going to the toilet.

5. Having certain medical problems

In some cases, the cause of diarrhea in pregnant women is health problems, such as Celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and Crohn's disease.

If you previously had this medical problem, talk to your doctor about a pregnancy plan so you don't get distracted by diarrhea.

Symptoms of diarrhea during pregnancy

Diarrhea (loose stools) is characterized by passing stools more frequently than usual with watery or loose stools.

That is why most people know that the symptoms of diarrhea in pregnant women are just wasting water. In fact, the symptoms are not only that.

Symptoms of diarrhea or frequent bowel movements during pregnancy can vary depending on what the underlying cause is.

Symptoms of diarrhea in pregnant women due to hormonal changes and diet

The following are symptoms of diarrhea in pregnant women due to hormonal changes and diet:

Pooping more frequently than usual
Liquid stool
Sometimes the stomach feels heartburn

Symptoms of diarrhea during pregnancy due to infection

The following are symptoms of diarrhea or frequent bowel movements during pregnancy due to infection:

Urinate more frequently with runny or slimy stools
Stool can bleed
Nausea and vomiting
Experiencing fever chills
Feel dizzy

Symptoms of diarrhea in pregnant women due to certain medical problems

The following are symptoms of diarrhea or frequent bowel movements during pregnancy due to certain medical problems:

Dispose of water continuously with liquid feces
Stomach cramps or cramps
The stomach feels bloated, nauseous, and vomiting
Losing weight and feeling tired
Skin and joint problems

The symptoms of diarrhea felt by pregnant women are not always the same. Some may experience symptoms not listed above.

We recommend that you do a doctor's examination to find out the initial cause.

Is there a danger of diarrhea in pregnant women?

Diarrhea is usually not a dangerous disease because it can get better soon with the right treatment.

Diarrhea in pregnant women caused by changes in hormones and diet generally will get better by itself in a few days.

However, you shouldn't take it lightly if diarrhea is caused by infections and other health problems.

This is because the recovery from diarrhea caused by infections and other health problems usually lasts longer.

Therefore, do not hesitate to consult a doctor immediately if diarrhea or frequent bowel movements do not go away during pregnancy.

The doctor will help deal with symptoms and prevent the danger of diarrhea in pregnant women, such as dehydration.

Dehydration in pregnant women is one of the dangers of diarrhea because it can trigger premature contractions that make the uterus tighten within a minute or two.

However, the contractions that pregnant women experience are not signs of childbirth.

Dehydration caused by diarrhea during pregnancy can also cause other signs and symptoms, such as:

Feeling thirsty constantly
Dry lips, skin, and mucous membranes
Pregnant women become irritable and have difficulty concentrating
The urine that comes out is a little dark or doesn't even come out at all
Sunken eyes
Heart rate and breathing become faster
Low blood pressure

Leaving diarrhea without proper care in pregnant women can pose serious dangers.

The danger of diarrhea that occurs continuously in pregnant women can make the volume of amniotic fluid decrease due to discharge when the mother frequently defecates.

This condition can cause fetal development to be disturbed, even at risk of miscarriage.

Not only that, the danger of diarrhea in pregnant women is also at risk of causing the baby's body size to be small at birth (small for gestational age).

This is evidenced by a study published in Open Forum Infectious Disease.

Safe ways to deal with diarrhea in pregnant women

Treatment of diarrhea during pregnancy can be done in several ways, such as:

1. Take diarrhea medicine for pregnant women

Overcoming diarrhea or frequent bowel movements during pregnancy should not be carelessly using drugs purchased at pharmacies.

Some common diarrhea medications such as Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) and drugs containing Lomotil.

Lomotil is considered to be harmful to the fetus in the second and third trimester of pregnancy.

Meanwhile, Pepto-Bismol is known to contain salicylates which may increase bleeding and affect fetal heart health.

Therefore, you can only take diarrhea medicine specifically for pregnant women that your doctor prescribes.

In addition to relying on medicine from a doctor, you also have to continue to apply home care so that diarrhea will heal quickly.

2. Home care

This treatment includes the use of natural diarrhea medicine (with the doctor's permission), drinking lots of water and drinking ORS, fruit juices or eating food when diarrhea.

Also know the various dietary restrictions during diarrhea that should be avoided.

You can eat foods for pregnant women with clear soup, for example soup, to make the stomach more comfortable.

This aims to replace lost body fluids due to dehydration during diarrhea so that pregnant women nutrition is still fulfilled.

Water can help replenish fluids lost during diarrhea, while drinking fruit juice can help increase potassium intake which is important for pregnant women.

Broth is useful for replenishing the required sodium intake.

In order for diarrhea during pregnancy to recover quickly, you also need to get adequate rest and avoid foods that can worsen symptoms, such as spicy, oily, and strongly seasoned foods.

If dehydration due to diarrhea during pregnancy is severe enough, the mother needs to be taken to the nearest hospital for emergency medical treatment.

Treatment is generally carried out by doctors by giving fluids through an IV. In addition, the doctor will look for the cause of your diarrhea.

If it is caused by an infection, your doctor may give you a safe antibiotic to treat your diarrhea