Can You Get Diarrhea When Pregnant

Tips For Abdominal Pain And Diarrhea During Pregnancy

Once the first symptoms of pregnancy appear, it is important to take into account certain tips :

• In the presence of abdominal pain and diarrhea, increase your fluid intake to avoid dehydration .
• Decrease the amount of foods that are rich in fiber, such as grains, raw fruits and vegetables, as these stimulate the gastrointestinal system to increase the number of bowel movements. On the other hand, foods such as banana, rice, applesauce, yogurt, and proteins such as chicken, beef, and pork should be included .
• The pregnant woman should take into account to take into account the rest time that is necessary during the day, also avoiding high intensity physical efforts .
• Finally, it is important not to take any drug without a prescription and without the prior evaluation of the specialist.

A well-informed person will know which are the ideal methods to take care of their health, pregnancy is a normal condition that comes full of endless hormonal, physical and psychological changes that women must face, abdominal pain and diarrhea are included in this list. It is worth being aware of any unusual changes and visiting the doctor frequently to avoid risks and complications.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

How To Prevent Diarrhea In Pregnancy

Diarrhea during pregnancy is preventable, and by following some simple tips and recommendations, it can be prevented to a large extent:

• Avoid fatty, heavy, and spicy foods because it aggravates diarrhea.
• If your body is lactose intolerant, stop drinking milk and substitute other dairy products.
• Avoid caffeinated beverages.

Upper Stomach Pain During Pregnancy

Many women experience pain in the stomach while pregnant, especially the upper part. It is a normal effect of the fetus growing inside the womb, which pushes the mothers organs around to accommodate the babys increasing size.

There are many reasons for pregnancy constipation pain, stomach cramps and diarrhea during early pregnancy and, realistically, throughout the full 40 weeks. Here are the most common causes of abdominal pain during pregnancy:

You May Like: What’s The Best Thing For Diarrhea

Is Diarrhea A Sign Of Miscarriage

You can rest assured having diarrhea during early pregnancy is hardly ever about your babys wellbeing or a sign of anything going wrong with your pregnancy.

Its usually completely unrelated to you being pregnant. It might be an upset stomach due to a virus or food poisoning. Or it could be a case of your pregnancy hormones just doing their job properly.

If you have diarrhea around the time you miscarry, it doesnt mean diarrhea has made you lose your pregnancy.

When diarrhea happens at the time of a miscarriage its usually because progesterone production has stopped and your uterus and digestive tract are adapting to this change.

When your body is actively miscarrying you might experience diarrhea at the latest stages. If you have diarrhea with no other pregnancy-related symptoms, a miscarriage is highly unlikely.

What Happens If You Get A Stomach Bug While Pregnant

Unfortunately, gastroenteritis is quite common during pregnancy. A study conducted in Sweden suggests that as many as one-third of women will experience the disease during their pregnancy. Gastroenteritis symptoms can be severe, causing dehydration and even preterm labor in cases that are severe and go untreated.

Read Also: Is The Microbiome An Organ

Can You Get Diarrhea In The First Week Of Pregnancy

Can You Get Diarrhea In The First Week Of Pregnancy

Yes, you can get diarrhea in the first week of pregnancy. Pregnancy can cause all sorts of changes in your body, and one of those changes can be an increase in the number of bowel movements you have. This is because the hormones that are released during pregnancy can affect the muscles in your gastrointestinal tract, leading to more frequent bowel movements.

If you are experiencing diarrhea during the first week of pregnancy, there are a few things you can do to help manage it. First, make sure that you are drinking plenty of fluids, especially water. You may also want to try drinking ginger ale or eating ginger candy, as ginger has been shown to be effective in treating diarrhea. If your diarrhea is severe, you may also need to take an over-the-counter medication such as loperamide to help stop the diarrhea.

If you are experiencing diarrhea during the first week of pregnancy, be sure to speak with your doctor. He or she can help you determine what is causing the diarrhea and may be able to recommend some additional measures that you can take to help manage it.

What Is The Best Way To Confirm Pregnancy

The best way to confirm pregnancy is to do a blood test measuring the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone. Women can also take a home pregnancy test. Home pregnancy tests are fairly reliable but may occasionally be a false-positive. This can occur for a number of reasons, including having a chemical or ectopic pregnancy or even taking certain medications. Following a positive home pregnancy test with a doctors visit for a urine or blood test to confirm the pregnancy is the best way to confirm a pregnancy.

You May Like: Is Align Better Than Other Probiotics

Change In Cervical Mucus

Some of our forum mums find their cervical mucus changes and they seem to have more mucus than usual.

In very early pregnancy, your mucus may seem to be thinnish and slippery for longer than usual and it will then thicken due to the increase in progesterone.

For forum mum Blue_Gecko, this thickened mucus was one of the clearest early signs she was pregnant. âThe cervical mucus was creamy and quite heavy,â she recalls. âIt felt quite moist down there.â

Cervical mucus is usually a pale white/yellow colour but dont worry if you see a brownish discharge: this is also common. Its usually harmless, but if youre worried, have a chat with your GP.

Recommended Reading: What Tea Helps With Bloating

Urgent Advice: Get Advice From 111 Now If:

• you’re worried about a baby under 12 months
• your child stops breast or bottle feeding while they’re ill
• a child under 5 years has signs of dehydration such as fewer wet nappies
• you or your child still have signs of dehydration after using oral rehydration sachets
• you or your child keep being sick and cannot keep fluid down
• you or your child have bloody diarrhoea or bleeding from the bottom
• you or your child have diarrhoea for more than 7 days or vomiting for more than 2 days

111 will tell you what to do. They can arrange a phone call from a nurse or doctor if you need one.

Go to 111.nhs.uk or .

Get an urgent GP appointment

A GP may be able to help you.

Ask your GP practice for an urgent appointment.

Check with the GP surgery before going in. A GP may speak to you on the phone.

Recommended Reading: Which Yogurt Has The Best Probiotics

The Sudden Change In Bathroom Routines When You Are Pregnant

Do you know that being pregnant causes abrupt change of hormones? Your body would respond and adapt to the physical transformation in preparation of the baby as well. Hence, your uterus will start to expand and will occupy more space inside, pushing other organs to give way. This process disturbs other internal organs and may interfere with their functions.

Since the bowels are the nearest to the uterus, it is common to experience diarrhea or constipation, and this holds true with frequent urination as well. Along with diarrhea also comes abdominal pains. The good news is none of the said conditions is a threat to both you and the baby. However, you need to deal with the situation and make sure you get better.

Pregnancy Bleeding And Swollen Gums

You may not have expected pregnancy to affect your mouth. But your blood circulation and hormone levels can make your gums tender and swollen, and you may notice they bleed more easily. You may also develop nose bleeds.

Recommendations:

• Get a dental checkup early in your pregnancy to make sure your teeth and mouth are healthy. See your dentist if you notice a particular problem.
• Brush your teeth, floss regularly and rinse daily with an antiseptic mouthwash.

Don’t Miss: How Long Does Bloating Last After Tubal Ligation

What Causes Pregnancy Diarrhea

Pregnancy diarrhea could be triggered by hormonal shifts, new food sensitivities, and changes in diet. Generally, though, its brought on by gastrointestinal bacteria that you either picked up from someone else or contracted by eating spoiled food. Other symptoms of gastrointestinal infections include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fever, and chills. These cases rarely last more than 72 hours, according to Laura Riley, M.D., medical director of labor and delivery at Massachusetts General Hospital, in Boston.

Other non-pregnancy-related causes of diarrhea include stress and medications. If your diarrhea is long-lasting, you may have an underlying bowel disorder like irritable bowel syndrome , celiac disease, or Crohns disease .

Complications Of Food Poisoning When Pregnant

Certain kinds of food poisoning are very dangerous for your unborn .

If you get listeriosis , you may have no symptoms at all. However, you can pass it on to your . That can cause serious health problems like:

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: âNutrition During Pregnancy.â

Antimicrobe.org: âCampylobacter species.â

eMedicine Health: âFood Poisoning.â

FDA: âWhile Youre Pregnant What Is Foodborne Illness?â âFood Safety for Moms-To-Be: While Youre Pregnant Listeria,â âFood Safety for Mom To Be At-a-Glance.â

Foodsafety.gov: âFood Safety for Pregnant Women,â âFood Poisoning,â âPeople at Risk: Pregnant Women.â

Mother to Baby: âE. coli and pregnancy.â

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: âFoodborne Illnesses,â âFood Poisoning.â

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: âFood-borne Illness During Pregnancy Womenâs Health.â

CDC: âNorovirus.â

Also Check: How To Get Probiotics In My Diet

Managing Diarrhoea While Travelling And Pregnant

When we travel overseas we open our bodies up to a number of foreign influences and diarrhoea is a common response to these.

Some countries pose a higher risk of diarrhoea than others, such as developing countries in South America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The main reason people get diarrhoea in these countries is from eating food or drinking water that is contaminated.

If you travel while pregnant, take these simple measures to help avoid getting diarrhoea in high-risk countries:

• Don t drink or brush your teeth with tap water be careful of vegetables that have been washed in tap water as well, and ice as it is commonly made from tap water.
• Avoid eating food from street vendors.
• Avoid fruits that can t be peeled or that you didn t peel yourself.

Last Published* November, 2021

*Please note that the published date may not be the same as the date that the content was created and that information above may have changed since.

How To Treat Diarrhea In Pregnancy

Although it’s a lousy way to spend a day, you’re better off letting diarrhea run its course rather than trying to stop it. It may worry you if the food you eat passes right through your body. However, missing out on nutrition for a couple of days isn’t going to hurt you or your baby. The most important thing is to prevent dehydration by replenishing your fluids with clear liquids such as water, chicken broth, or juices.

If you have a severe or prolonged case of diarrhea, diarrhea accompanied by a fever, or stools that look bloody or contain mucus, contact your healthcare provider, says Dr. Riley.

Your provider may check you for other infections and parasites, especially if you’ve been around people with other serious illnesses or if you’ve traveled someplace where the water isn’t considered safe to drink. If you are very dehydrated, you may be treated with IV fluids, and your doctor may suggest an antidiarrheal medication. Be sure to take it easy and get enough rest, too.

Also Check: Can Ibs Cause Flat Stools

How Is Food Poisoning Treated

Treatment depends on how sick you are. You may not need any treatment, or your provider may treat you with antibiotics to help keep you and your baby safe. If you have food poisoning, drink lots of water to help you stay hydrated . If youre severely dehydrated , you may need to go to the hospital for treatment.

Diarrhea During Early Pregnancy

Food digestion starts in the mouth. As you chew your food, it mixes with saliva, is swallowed, and moves down the esophagus to reach the stomach.

When it reaches the stomach, acids are added and a full metabolic process occurs to ensure nutrients and water can be absorbed when the food moves into the intestine.

Through the intestinal walls, useful nutrients are filtered into the blood while waste products move on down the bowel until theyre finally excreted.

Diarrhea is when you pass loose stools. This is due to the transit of food in the intestinal tract happening much faster than normal.

When you experience diarrhea, it means the digestive tract isnt functioning properly and the food processing cycle is sped up so the absorption of nutrients and water doesnt happen properly.

Diarrhea can be caused by various digestive problems.

If you have underlying conditions, such as Crohns disease, irritable bowel syndrome or celiac disease, you will have baseline knowledge, and you can tell if an episode of diarrhea feels any different from what youve experienced before.

Food poisoning or viral infections such as gastroenteritis can also be the cause of loose bowel movements. Diarrhea with these illnesses tends to be accompanied by cramps and abdominal pain. When you get one of these conditions youre generally quite unwell you have a temperature, and arent able to carry on with life as usual for a couple of days.

Donât Miss: Turmeric Cause Diarrhea

Read Also: Can Anxiety Give You Diarrhea

Is It Normal To Have Diarrhoea In Pregnancy

• Youre not starting to feel better after 48 hours. Diarrhoea usually clears up within a week, but if your symptoms dont start to improve after a couple of days, call your GP or midwife. Theres a chance you could become severely dehydrated.
• You develop a high temperature.

Pregnancy Gas And Bloating

Gas during pregnancy occurs along with other gastrointestinal side effects. It may be caused by hormonal changes, like the production of more progesterone. This hormone relaxes the bodys muscles, including the intestinal ones, which slows digestion and increases flatulence.

If you have gas when pregnant, try some simple lifestyle and diet hacks to ease the pressure in your gut. Take it easy on high-fiber, hard-to-digest foods like beans, avoid fizzy drinks and fatty foods, and get out for a walk to help move things along.

CAUTION If bloating is accompanied by severe pain that lasts more than 30 minutes, or you have constipation for two weeks or more, you should call your doctor.

Read Also: Can Indian Food Cause Ibs

What Is Diarrhea During Pregnancy

Many pregnant women experience digestive problems during their pregnancy, including diarrhea, which makes them very worried and anxious. Some pregnant women experience diarrhea, especially during the first and third trimesters. Although it may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting, this condition does not usually threaten the mother or baby.

However, because these problems can put the mother at risk of dehydration, it can be dangerous and should be treated immediately.

Diarrhea is an entirely normal issue during pregnancy, and it will often resolve itself as pregnancy progresses. However, if it causes an infection or is prolonged, in addition to the risk of dehydration, it threatens the health of the mother’s body and the baby.

Diarrhea refers to a too loose and watery stool . This condition usually occurs in the first trimester and is short-lived. However, sometimes diarrhea can indicate a severe or even fatal illness or disorder. A pregnant mother who defecates watery stools more than three times a day will need to drink plenty of water.

Complications of severe diarrhea, such as abdominal and uterine infections during the second or third trimester, can also be dangerous for the fetus. Dehydration can also be a risk factor for preterm birth.

When Should I See A Doctor For Diarrhea During Pregnancy

If you have diarrhea or experience the warning signs for more than two days, you should see a doctor immediately. Usually, diarrhea alone cannot be a concern until it turns green.

Of course, one of the reasons stools turns green is excessive consumption of chlorophyll-rich foods. For example, consumption of leafy vegetables during pregnancy, medication, and some supplements can change the color and consistency of the stool. Also, do not worry if the stools change color to black and white, which could be due to iron supplementation during pregnancy.

Don’t Miss: Why Does Drinking Water Give Me Heartburn

Can Diarrhea Be A Sign Of Something Serious

It is possible your diarrhea is a result of some other complication, but this is very unlikely.

One underlying issue that sometimes occurs is fecal impaction. This is when hardened stools are blocking the exit of other stools resulting in liquid stool leaking around it as watery diarrhea .

This is typically associated with other symptoms like nausea, abnormal bloating, vomiting, and stomach pain.

Remember that if at any time you are questioning your symptoms, it is always okay to seek the advice of your medical professional.

Increased diarrhea during pregnancy can be related to stress and anxiety. Make sure your mental health is in check because if you brush it off it can eventually lead to depression. Depression during pregnancy can increase the risk of postpartum depression and affect you and your baby.

Editors Note:

Also Check: Is Restylane Safe During Pregnancy