Light Spotting And Cramping
Light spotting, also known as implantation bleeding, can occur when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining. This can happen about 10 to 14 days after conception, around the same time that you are supposed to have your period. Light spotting may also be accompanied by cramping, which can feel similar to menstrual cramps.
Travelers Diarrhea And Early Miscarriage
Is diarrhea in early pregnancy a sign of miscarriage? Travelers diarrhea is a common condition among people traveling. It might start weeks after getting to the new environment or even during the journey. The primary cause of travelers diarrhea is contaminated water and food.
Pregnant women should be extra careful since this can always lead to fatal complications such as early miscarriage. Here are the tips to help you stay healthy as you travel around.
- Restrain from traveling to areas with poor sanitation.
- Restrain from buying food from street vendors.
- Do not drink tap water in high-risk regions.
- Avoid buying peeled fruits, or fruits you didnt peel yourself.
Above all, avoid traveling to new environments immediately after conception. Such changes can cause some symptoms and lead to a miscarriage.
Foods To Avoid During Diarrhea
Dealing with diarrhea is hectic. However avoiding these foods will get rid of your symptoms sooner than you think.
- Avoid eating dairy products when suffering diarrhea in early pregnancy. Consuming dairy products only worsens diarrhea. Dairy products contain sugar. Processing sugar will only lead to bloating and gas. Am sure you dont want that already!
- Oily foods: Stay away from French fries and any other deep fried foods. These irritate your gut and can cause increased diarrhea.
- Citrus fruits: Citrus fruits contain fiber that is not suitable for your digestion during diarrhea. Fiber takes a lot of time to digest, and this means a lot more discomfort for you, including constipation.
- Carbonated drinks and caffeine: Caffeine has a diuretic effect meaning that it will cause dehydration which will only lead to serious complications. On the other hand, carbonated drinks add gas causing bloating.
- All foods causing gas: Some foods such as beans and cabbage contain and produce gas. Avoid such foods from the first week of pregnancy until your gut starts to function well.
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When Should I Call My Healthcare Provider About Diarrhea During Pregnancy
Also call if you have diarrhea and any of these symptoms:
- Diarrhea with blood or mucus
- Frequent vomiting
- Dry mouth, dizziness, dark-colored urine, less frequent urination, or lightheadedness
Contact your provider right away if you have diarrhea and also feel your baby moving less often or vigorously than usual or have signs of preterm labor such as:
- Regular or frequent contractions
- Pressure or pain in your pelvis or lower stomach that is persistent or gets worse
Having a bout of diarrhea while you’re pregnant isn’t usually anything to worry about. In fact, many mild illnesses and discomforts may come and go uneventfully during your pregnancy. It’s a good idea to know what symptoms warrant a call to your doctor or even emergency care, though. Our article on pregnancy symptoms you should never ignore can help you identify them.
Learn more:
BabyCenter’s editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you’re seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.
MedlinePlus. 2020. Diarrhea. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
What Causes Diarrhea In Early Pregnancy
Pregnancy hormones, especially progesterone and hCG, tend to alter the digestive systems regular functioning. This is usually why some women might experience diarrhea in early pregnancy.
Its not pleasant, but its not particularly dangerous unless its frequent and youre also dehydrated. In this case, you should see your midwife or doctor for advice.
If youre currently suffering from diarrhea, you might wonder whether this could be an early sign of pregnancy.
Unfortunately, its hard to say. A pregnancy test is really the only way you can know for certain whether or not youre pregnant.
Some women complain of diarrhea during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester, but that doesnt necessarily mean its a pregnancy symptom.
Some people believe these bouts of diarrhea are simply coincidental and have nothing to do with the pregnancy.
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Treating Diarrhea And Preventing Dehydration
To treat diarrhea, your healthcare provider may recommend a safe over-the-counter antidiarrheal medication. Your provider may also recommend other steps, such as getting intravenous fluids to help replenish any fluid loss.
If you have diarrhea, itâs important to drink plenty of fluids and to call your provider right away if you notice these signs of dehydration:
-
Excessive thirst
-
Fatigue, weakness, dizziness, or lightheadedness.
Heightened Sense Of Smell
If your favorite dish suddenly smells like dead fish, you may be experiencing one of the more bizarre early signs of pregnancy. Often associated with morning sickness and all the lovely things that come with it, having a super sniffer isnt exactly a blessing. Most of the time, the strong smells will seem nauseating to the mom-to-be.
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Needing The Loo More Often
If you’re pregnant, the loo may become your new best friend over the next few months. One Taiwanese study found that ‘urinary frequency’ aka needing to pee a lot affects 77% of pregnant women.
At the very beginning of pregnancy, it’s not the pressure of your growing baby on your bladder that’s causing you to wee a lot . Instead, it’s pregnancy increasing the blood flow to your kidneys by 35% to 60% and because it’s the kidneys job to produce urine, that means more urine collecting in your bladder.
As mum-to-be lunar eclipse says on our forum, it can get a bit much, especially at night. “I’m 5 weeks and peeing at least 3 to 4 times every night. Ive not got a decent sleep for about a week now. It surely can’t get worse I’ll be sleeping on the toilet!”
How To Feel Better If You Have Diarrhea During Pregnancy
While you may simply reach for antidiarrheal medication when youre not pregnant, most of them arent recommended when youre pregnant or breastfeeding.
Thats why Dr. Greves recommends making some lifestyle tweaks first to see if they help. That can include eating bland foods, following the BRAT diet , and drinking lots of fluids to help you avoid getting dehydrated.
Again, if its been two days and youre not getting better or youve noticed new symptoms like blood in your poop and/or a fever, its important to contact your doctor. Theyll likely want to test you to see whats going on andmost importantlyto help you feel better ASAP.
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Can Pregnancy Cause Cfs
There is no one definitive answer to this question. Some experts believe that there is a link between the two, while others maintain that there is no evidence to support such a connection.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disorder characterized by extreme tiredness that lasts for six months or more. It can make it difficult to do everyday activities, such as working, driving, or even bathing. Pregnancy is a time of great physical and emotional change, and its not uncommon for women to experience fatigue during this time. So, it can be difficult to determine whether the fatigue is due to CFS or to pregnancy.
There are a few things to consider when trying to determine whether pregnancy is the cause of your fatigue. First, are your symptoms worse during pregnancy than they have been in the past Second, do your symptoms improve after your baby is born Third, do you have any other symptoms of CFS, such as muscle pain, joint pain, or headaches If you answer yes to any of these questions, its possible that you have CFS and not just normal pregnancy fatigue.
What Other Poop Changes Can Happen During Pregnancy
Youre likely to have constipation at any point of your pregnancy due to the hormonal changes going on. The elevated progesterone levels in pregnancy lead to smooth muscle relaxation in the uterus but can also lead to the relaxation of the smooth muscle in the colon, leading to reduced bowel activity and constipation, says Dr. Zore.
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The other unpleasant symptom you may experience during pregnancy is hemorrhoids, which can affect 30 to 40 percent of people during pregnancy and the postpartum stage, according to Dr. Zore. They can make constipation worse, first of all, but can also cause pain and even bleeding. This makes your hydration and high-fiber diet even more of a priority, Dr. Zore says.
If youre experiencing persistent bleeding or bloody stools, that is a red flag of a potentially more serious condition.
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Why It Happens What You Can Do And When It’s Dangerous
Meredith Shur, MD, FACOG, is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as a certified medical examiner.
Stomach and digestive issues are common during pregnancy. You may hear plenty about morning sickness and constipation, but less about diarrhea. Although it may not get as much attention, diarrhea is another gastrointestinal issue that many pregnant people can face. However, diarrhea is not usually linked to morning sickness and isn’t typically considered an early sign of pregnancy. In fact, diarrhea can happen in any trimester.
That said, some people consider diarrhea an early sign of pregnancy. It’s true that hormone changes around the time of conception and in the first weeks of pregnancy can cause stomach issues and even lead to diarrhea. However, breast tenderness, fatigue, and nausea are much more common symptoms of early pregnancy.
Additionally, some pregnant people worry that diarrhea may be harmful to the baby or increase the likelihood of miscarriage. However, while the accompanying abdominal cramping may feel similar to the symptoms of impending pregnancy loss, the gastrointestinal tract is an entirely different system than the reproductive organs. It’s unlikely for a typical case of diarrhea to put your baby at risk, as long as proper care is taken to stay hydrated and treat any infection you may have if needed.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Shortness Of Breath During Pregnancy
Shortness of breath can happen due to increased upward pressure from the uterus and changes in physiologic lung function.
Recommendations:
- When walking, slow down and rest a few moments.
- Raise your arms over your head .
- Avoid lying flat on your back, and try sleeping with your head elevated.
- If prolonged shortness of breathing continues or you experience sharp pain when inhaling, contact your health care provider. You could have a pulmonary embolism .
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Common Pregnancy Symptoms By Trimester
A normal pregnancy term is 40 weeks, but it can range from 37 to 42 weeks. This period is divided into trimesters which reflect specific developmental milestones for the foetus. The first trimester goes from week 1 to 13, the second from week 14 to 26, and the third from week 27 to 40.
Pregnancy puts a lot of pressure on the digestive system. On the one hand, it must extract enough nutrients to nourish your body and that of a growing baby. On the other, your abdomen is put under physical pressure as the baby grows and takes up more room inside of you.
| 1st trimester |
|---|
| Hemorrhoids |
| Liver problems |
Each trimester is associated with a number of changes in the body, many of which can influence the gastrointestinal system such as heartburn, nausea, diarrhea in early pregnancy, or constipation.
TIPDiscover how your genes influence your bodys levels of female sex hormones that are essential for fertility and pregnancy with the Atlas DNA test.
About Our Fertility Expert Dr Amin Gorgy
Dr Gorgy co-founded The Fertility & Gynaecology Academy in 2004 and is now its co-director. Previously, he was the deputy director of the Assisted Reproduction and Gynaecology Centre. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and a member of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.
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Treating Diarrhea During Pregnancy
Most cases of diarrhea will clear up on its own within a couple of days. The main concern of diarrhea is staying hydrated. Make sure you drink plenty of water, juice, and broth to rehydrate yourself and replace the electrolytes your body has lost. The water will help replenish your lost fluids, the juice will help replenish your potassium levels and the broth will help replenish your sodium.
If your diarrhea doesnt clear up on its own you may need to consult your health-care provider. If diarrhea during your pregnancy is caused by bacteria or parasites, you may need antibiotics. If a virus is causing your diarrhea, antibiotics will not help. To determine the cause, you will need to speak with your health care provider.
How To Tell If Your Diarrhea Is Pregnancy Or Your Period
For many women, diarrhea often accompanies their periods. For others, its not a common occurrence with their periods, but it will happen from time to time. Thats just one more reason that you cant assume diarrhea means youre pregnant.
According to Healthline, menstruation-related diarrhea likely happens because of the increase in prostaglandins associated with most womens periods .
So how do you know if your diarrhea is pregnancy-related or period-related? Well, if your diarrhea comes along with other common PMS symptoms like abdominal cramping, bloating, insomnia, or unexpected depression or sadness, its probably period-related.
If your diarrhea comes with sore breasts, nipple discoloration, or morning sickness, its probably pregnancy-related.
Unfortunately, thats not even a surefire way to tell because many of the symptoms of PMS mimic the signs of pregnancy. So until you start your period or get a positive pregnancy test result, you cant really know for sure.
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The Microbiome Gut Bacteria And Pregnancy
Your body undergoes a lot of changes during pregnancy, and this can affect the ecosystem of bacteria in your gut. These trillions of microbial cells do important jobs for overall health, like producing vitamins and short-chain fatty acids that keep your gut happy.
Its important to nourish the good microbes in your colon so they can continue to support your digestion and keep everything running smoothly, because bacteria can also influence gas, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation.
The key to a happy gut microbiome is whole foods because fruit, veg, whole grains, nuts, and seeds contain special molecules called prebiotics that good bacteria feed on. They even help protect you from nasty bugs that can cause gastroenteritis during pregnancy.
With an Atlas Microbiome Test, you will discover which bacteria you have, which you lack and how to cultivate the ones you need. Based on these results, we’ll calculate your risk score for five inflammatory diseases including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s.
When you purchase an Atlas Microbiome Test, you will also receive a 1-1 consultation with one of our expert nutritionists. Drawing on their wealth of experience, they can help you encourage diversity, cultivate beneficial bacteria and harness the power of a healthy microbiome.
TIP See how your gut bacteria adapt to each trimester of your pregnancy with the Atlas Microbiome Test.
Not Sure If Hungry Or Sick
Oh dear, our appetite really can be a bit of a rollercoaster in early pregnancy. It can be a confusing time when you’re not sure if you’re feeling sick because you need to eat or you’re feeling sick because you’ve got morning sickness and eating will make it worse.
Forum mum-to-be katie4matthew sums it all up when she says,“I cant tell the difference between feeling sick and hungry at the moment. I’m so confused!”
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Causes Of Gastrointestinal Issues During Pregnancy
Pregnancy can intensify underlying conditions, even if you werent aware of them before your egg got fertilised. There are a number of lifestyle and medical reasons behind gastrointestinal problems during pregnancy:
- Changes in hormones
- Thyroid disorders
If you have chronic GI problems, like IBS , acid reflux, or GERD , their symptoms will most likely intensify during pregnancy. So if you are planning a pregnancy, consult your doctor for advice.
Is Diarrhea Really A Sign Of Early Pregnancy
If youve just googled is diarrhea a sign of early pregnancy and landed on this article, youre far from alone. All of us experience some degree of diarrhea in life, unfortunately. Its also relatively common, among people with uteruses, to wonder whether random health symptoms that pop up from time to time might mean youre pregnant.
Well, we consulted the poop and pregnancy pros to find out if diarrhea is in fact an early pregnancy symptom. Heres what they said.
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Is Diarrhea A Sign Of Pregnancy
Is diarrhea an earlysign of pregnancy before a missed period? Hormonal changes in your body canproduce a lot of unusual symptoms after conception. Not many women willexperience constipation and diarrhea in the first week of pregnancy. Note thatdiarrhea is also listed as a symptom of early miscarriage.
When To Expect The Hershey Squirts
Each pregnancy is unique: Some women experience diarrhea, and some dont.
It may happen early in your pregnancy, while your body is adjusting to all the hormonal changes. But its more common closer to the finish line in your third trimester . This is probably because your bod is getting ready for the big day.
Believe it or not, its not unusual to get the runs right before going into labor. But no need to fret. If your bod kicks diarrhea up a few notches around this time, it doesnt mean your baby is coming any sooner.
OK, its not the cutest color palette to think about, but these colors can clue you in to whats going on in your gut.
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