Table of Contents
Introduction
Diarrhea while pregnant is a common and temporary discomfort that most women go through.
Your body undergoes significant changes during pregnancy, and digestive issues are one of them. An upset stomach and diarrhea while pregnant can arise for various reasons, including dietary changes, prenatal vitamins, and hormonal shifts.
Managing diarrhea during pregnancy involves simple yet effective ways, like staying hydrated, eating bland foods, and avoiding foods that might irritate the stomach.
Is it normal to experience diarrhea while pregnant?
Although experiencing diarrhea while pregnant is normal, a woman needs to understand that her digestive system doesn’t work the same while carrying a baby.
It is because of the hormonal and physical changes she undergoes each trimester.
Diarrhea during the First Trimester
During the first trimester of pregnancy, a woman’s body starts adjusting to many changes.
Hormonal changes like estrogen and progesterone can cause nausea or trouble digesting food.
Additionally, diarrhea during early pregnancy can be common due to the intake of new prenatal vitamins.
These vitamins can upset your stomach, as your body takes time adjusting to them. Hence, it makes the digestion process more challenging.
Diarrhea during the Second Trimester
Diarrhea while pregnant, especially during your second trimester, is not only influenced by hormonal fluctuations but also by your growing baby.
The uterus starts expanding to accommodate the baby. Thus, it creates more pressure on your intestines, causing changes in bowel movement
Although most women should have recovered from morning sickness by the second trimester, dietary changes and prenatal vitamins will continue to induce food intolerances during this time.
These conditions arise when your digestive system struggles to process specific foods, resulting in issues like diarrhea.
Diarrhea during the Third Trimester
The third trimester is a time of rapid baby growth, which causes the uterus to exert even more pressure on the intestines and other digestive organs.
In this phase, the hormonal fluctuations continue, and the body’s preparation for labor can also affect your bowel movements.
Additionally, some women in the later stages of pregnancy might experience digestive disorders due to the rise in prostaglandin levels. Prostaglandins are lipid compounds produced by the hormone oxytocin.
They help intensify uterine contractions to induce labor in the final phase of pregnancy, but this process can sometimes lead to increased bowel movements along the digestive tract.
Causes of diarrhea while pregnant
Understanding the various causes of pregnancy diarrhoea helps avoid dehydration and other complications.
As mentioned earlier, most causes are related to pregnancy changes. However, some women can face this as a result of underlying non-pregnancy-related issues.
Pregnancy-related Causes of Diarrhea:
Pregnancy-related causes refer to the various changes a woman goes through during pregnancy that can lead to digestive issues like diarrhea. These changes include:
- Prenatal vitamins: These medicines contain vital vitamins and minerals essential for pregnancy health. However, these supplements can sometimes be hard on your digestive system, resulting in gastrointestinal issues like acidity and diarrhea.
- Hormonal changes: Elevated levels of progesterone, estrogen, and prostaglandins alter the function of the digestive system. They influence how the body processes food and absorbs water, which can result in watery stools.
- Food intolerance: Pregnancy can heighten sensitivities to certain foods. Foods that were previously well-tolerated may now cause digestive issues, resulting in symptoms such as diarrhea.
- Dietary changes: Most pregnant women might have increased their intake of fruits and whole grains to meet specific nutritional needs. While these are beneficial, a sudden increase in fiber intake can overwhelm the digestive system, resulting in diarrhea.
- Labor: For some women, diarrhea during the due date can be a sign of labor. The chances are higher when mild abdominal cramps accompany bowel discomfort.
Non-Pregnancy Related Causes of Diarrhea:
Few women are prone to certain underlying medical conditions or social habits that worsen their digestive health. Such non-pregnancy-related causes are:
- Infections: Viral infections (like norovirus or rotavirus) or bacterial infections (caused by E.coli or Salmonella) are usually picked up from contaminated food or water and can upset your stomach quickly.
- Food poisoning: Eating contaminated food can lead to sudden diarrhea in a human being. It happens because harmful bacteria or toxins in the food irritate the digestive system, causing it to expel the contents quickly.
- Gastrointestinal Conditions: Conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) make the digestive system more sensitive and reactive, leading to more frequent bowel movements.
- Lactose intolerance: Some people might be allergic to dairy products. The lactose content in these products is not friendly to the digestive system and can cause indigestion.
Symptoms of diarrhea while pregnant
These are the most common symptoms of an upset stomach and diarrhea during pregnancy,
- Loose and watery stools
- Nausea
- Feeling bloated
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Abdominal cramps
- Dehydration
Home Remedies for Diarrhea while Pregnant
Here are six effective home remedies to help you manage diarrhea during pregnancy:
Stay hydrated:
Water intake is crucial for rehydrating lost fluids and electrolytes during diarrhea. Drinking one cup of water after each watery bowel movement is recommended for a fast recovery.
Electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, and chloride, are lost along with fluids during diarrhea. Consuming electrolyte-rich beverages, such as oral rehydration solutions (ORS) and coconut water, helps restore the body’s balance of essential minerals and maintain hydration.
Consume a bland diet:
Sticking to bland foods during diarrhea helps by providing nourishment without further irritating the digestive system.
Eating bland and steamed foods including idly and bread are highly recommended. They are gentle on your stomach and help firm the stools.
Stay away from caffeine:
Caffeinated beverages, especially coffee, can leverage acid productivity in the stomach. They can also irritate the digestive system and may worsen diarrhea symptoms.
Herbal teas like peppermint tea and chamomile tea, or electrolyte drinks, are good alternatives for caffeine.
Eat smaller meals:
Smaller meals minimize the amount of food present in the stomach at a time. It makes it easier to process food, reducing the likelihood of overwhelming the digestive system.
Instead of the regular three large meals per day, eat small portions every 2 to 3 hours. This strategy promotes better digestive health and comfort during pregnancy.
Dairy-free diet:
Some pregnant women may find it difficult to digest the lactose content in dairy products. It makes the system heavy and irritates the digestive tract.
Hence, it is recommended to avoid dairy products until diarrhea symptoms are reduced.
Take adequate rest:
Rest can help reduce diarrhea during pregnancy in several ways:
- It relieves stress levels that can disrupt the balance of gut bacteria and trigger inflammation in the intestines.
- It lets the body focus on fighting underlying infections. A well-rested immune system is better equipped to clear bacteria that cause diarrhea.
- It allows for the conservation of energy and the preservation of fluids, preventing further dehydration.
When to consult a doctor?
- Acute watery diarrhea –This condition causes bowel discomfort for several hours or days and can be accompanied by cholera.
- Acute bloody diarrhea – It is usually termed dysentery, where there is the presence of blood or mucus in one’s stools.
- Persistent diarrhea – It is a condition that lasts for two weeks or longer.
Simple home remedies can help with diarrhea that lasts for two or three days. But if these symptoms last for a long time, you should see a doctor, especially during pregnancy.
Consider these as red flags to book an appointment with your gynecologist.
- Watery stools that last longer than 48 to 72 hours
- Excessive dehydration, such as dry mouth, little or no urination, or excessive thirst
- Dark-colored urine
- Dizziness
- Bloody or black stools
- High fever (>101 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Persistent vomiting
- Severe abdominal pain
Conclusion
Stomach cramps and diarrhea in early pregnancy or the later stages can be uncomfortable but are often manageable with simple home remedies.
Remember, it’s usually nothing to worry about, but always listen to your body.
If you have any concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to your gynecologist for advice and support.
For consultations and appointments with the best gynecologist in Chennai, Dr. Deepthi Jammi, contact Jammi Scans at 7338771733.
Chennai Women’s Clinic is now Jammi Scans
FAQs
1. Can diarrhea hurt the baby when pregnant?
Although mild diarrhea while pregnant doesn’t harm the baby, severe dehydration from diarrhea can be risky. It can reduce blood flow to the placenta, affecting the baby’s oxygen and nutrient supply.
2. Is loose motion good or bad in pregnancy?
Loose motion during the first trimester or at any time during pregnancy is a common side effect caused by hormonal and physical changes. However, persistent diarrhea results in excessive dehydration and nutritional deficiencies that might hinder fetal growth. So, you are advised to seek medical advice in such conditions.
3. How can I stop diarrhea during pregnancy?
To manage symptoms of diarrhea while pregnant, you can try avoiding spicy and fried foods, reducing your dairy intake, drinking plenty of electrolyte fluids and water, getting adequate rest, and eating smaller portions of meals regularly.
4. Is it normal to have loose stools at 40 weeks pregnant?
Yes, loose stools can occur at 40 weeks as the body prepares for labor. Contraction-stimulating hormones can also increase bowel movements during late pregnancy. However, excessively loose stools require medical advice from your doctor.
5. Is diarrhea a symptom of miscarriage?
Diarrhea while pregnant is usually not a symptom of miscarriage. It is more commonly associated with digestive issues or infections unrelated to pregnancy. But if you see bloody stools, you must call your doctor immediately.
6. Is diarrhea normal at 31 weeks pregnant?
Diarrhea is a common symptom that can happen at any time during pregnancy. Hormonal fluctuations, especially those caused by prostaglandins, may lead to diarrhea at 31 weeks pregnant. These hormones help trigger contractions later in pregnancy and may sometimes increase your bowel movements.
