The digestive system changes during pregnancy. The reasons for the changes are not only changes in the location of internal organs in the abdominal cavity, but also another hormonal background, a different state of the immune system. Most often, during pregnancy there is constipation, but in some cases the body reacts unusually.
What is diarrhea?
Diarrhea is a frequent and loose stool. Food moves through the intestines due to its peristalsis, that is, uniform contractions of the smooth muscles of the intestinal walls. If these contractions are not active enough, constipation occurs, and if they accelerate, diarrhea. Constipation is, for the most part, a pathology, and diarrhea is an adequate response of the body to intoxication. The fact is that products that are in the intestine are gradually absorbed into the blood. If toxins are present in the intestines, it is better to stop absorption, which means that it is necessary to free the body from these products as soon as possible. With the accelerated movement of food through the intestine, the liquid does not have time to absorb, so the stool in this case will be liquid.
Causes of Diarrhea
Diarrhea occurs in all cases when intestinal motility increases . And this reaction can cause various factors.
First of all, it is an infection. If the virus is an infectious agent, diarrhea is accompanied by a number of symptoms: nausea, fever, and often catarrhal symptoms in the nose and throat. But a viral lesion does not last long. All symptoms disappear, usually within a few days.
Bacterial diseases are usually more serious. Diarrhea in this case is accompanied by high fever and severe intoxication of the body. Such a disease will not pass, like a viral one, in a week. Specialized treatment is needed.
The reaction of the intestines to the infection is understandable and natural. But sometimes increased peristalsis occurs as if erroneously. For example, diarrhea in early pregnancy often coincides with other manifestations of toxicosis.
Sometimes, with increased peristalsis, the intestine does not respond to infection, but to parasites or dysbiosis.
Diarrhea can be a symptom of an infectious disease or a manifestation of the pregnancy itself. With early pregnancy, diarrhea is more often a sign of trouble, while diarrhea at the very end of the term often portends an early birth.
Diarrhea in early pregnancy
In the first trimester, the uterus is still slightly enlarged, it does not change the position of the internal organs, so it seems that they should work, as before. But in early pregnancy, diarrhea is due to changes in the immune system.
When a woman is in a position, the mother's body must accept a genetically completely different person and not tear him away. Of course, the mother and the baby are separated by the placenta, bladder, numerous barriers, but still the woman’s immune system is somewhat depressed so that there is no reaction to the fetus.
In a state where the immune system is depressed, diseases such as dysbiosis develop, and chronic infections make themselves felt.
Dysbacteriosis may well cause diarrhea during pregnancy. What to do in this case?
It all depends on the severity of the situation: if loose stools are two to three times a day, you need to visit a doctor in a planned manner. Before the consultation, it is recommended to increase the amount of fluid consumed, to eat dietary food.
If loose stools are not more than ten times a day, a doctor should be consulted urgently, otherwise dehydration may occur.
If intense diarrhea has begun during pregnancy, what should I do, especially if it is accompanied by vomiting? This is a situation when it is necessary to call an ambulance doctor. Because it is not possible to adequately replenish the liquid in this case.
If the situation is acute, then the most important task is to stabilize the pregnant woman. And after this, it is necessary to pass an analysis for dysbiosis, culture for infection, a coprogram.
All these tests will help to determine the cause of the problem and prescribe treatment.
Infectious diarrhea. Viruses
A common virus can cause diarrhea during pregnancy. What to do in this case?
No matter how hard the woman suffers such an infection, the disease is rarely long-lasting. The first thing to do is to stabilize the general condition. At home, this can be done with rehydration solutions, for example, the drug "Rehydron" is indicated. If the condition is serious, it is better to hospitalize the patient, because in this case, droppers with ionic solutions are often used.
You can diagnose a viral infection using an electron microscope, a PCR reaction, or the serological method. But usually the diagnosis is made purely clinically, that is, treatment begins, and the diagnosis is confirmed later.
If rotavirus caused diarrhea during pregnancy, what to do and how to eat? Diet is a necessary condition for recovery from viral diarrhea. It is necessary to exclude the use of fresh milk, fatty foods, some vegetables that enhance fermentation.
The following drugs are used to reduce the duration of diarrhea: Smecta, Enterosgel, Polyphepan. All of them act only locally, are not absorbed by the intestines and do not affect the course of pregnancy.
Bacteria
If some bacterial infection has become the cause of diarrhea, diarrhea will be accompanied by fever and intoxication: fever, headache, nausea. Most often, the situation does not improve within a few days. All these symptoms require immediate medical attention. Diagnoses in this case are made by seeding, but treatment usually begins earlier. Unfortunately, bacteria cannot be managed without antibiotics. The main thing in this case is not to get rid of loose stools, but to eliminate the infection. Therefore, the most modern antibacterial drugs should be used for treatment. The preparations "Regidron", "Enterosgel" or "Smecta" in this case are only auxiliary means.
Poisoning
Sometimes diarrhea is just a reaction to getting toxins inside. The intestine accelerates peristalsis, trying to get rid of them. In this case, you should not take any medications to normalize the stool immediately. But if he did not normalize within a day, measures should be taken.
How to treat diarrhea during pregnancy?
There are drugs that inhibit intestinal motility. They are effective, but are strictly contraindicated during pregnancy, so you have to be content with conventional home remedies.
Boiled rice along with a decoction is an excellent remedy for diarrhea during pregnancy. If there is no appetite, it is better to drink only a decoction. Another safe and harmless remedy is a decoction of blueberries.
You can use thick jelly, dried fruit compote. But dried fruits themselves are better not to eat.
Diarrhea before childbirth
Diarrhea is not always a pathology and an alarming sign. Diarrhea at 38 weeks of gestation may be a sign of an approaching birth. The uterus prepares for active work, and the intestines are freed from toxins. If diarrhea is not accompanied by symptoms of intoxication, fever or loss of appetite, there is no reason to worry.
But in some cases there is a reverse reaction. Diarrhea at 38 weeks of pregnancy due to poisoning or a viral infection can stimulate uterine contractions and accelerate the onset of labor.
In this case, you need to act in the same way as always: replenishing the volume of fluid, home remedies to normalize peristalsis. Fever and intoxication should prompt you to see a doctor.
Diarrhea is a symptom that you need to pay attention to, even if it does not happen often and does not reduce the quality of life. It is necessary to find out its cause and conduct treatment.