Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea during early pregnancy
Content:
- Is diarrhea dangerous during pregnancy?
- Diarrhea in early pregnancy
- Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea during pregnancy
- What to do if diarrhea starts during pregnancy?
Pregnancy refers to the normal physiological state of the female body. But pregnant women are more sensitive to negative environmental factors, which makes them susceptible to many diseases. That is why it is so important to protect expectant mothers from any pathological deviations. After all, this is where the responsibility for two lives - a mother and a child - ends. Diarrhea is one of the most common problems that a woman can face during pregnancy.
Diarrhea during pregnancy is a violation of the functioning of the intestines in women, which occurs in response to the progression of pregnancy or the irritating effect of external factors, and is manifested by an increase in stool frequency with changes in the nature of feces. In order to avoid misunderstanding when considering this problem, it is worth clarifying that diarrhea and diarrhea are one and the same disease.
In any healthy person, regardless of gender and age, the appearance of diarrhea is a pathology. In pregnancy, the situation is a little different, since loosening of the stool can be part of the natural course of pregnancy at certain times. Also, diarrhea can join secondarily, being a symptom of certain diseases or pathological processes. This means that pregnant women need to be able to clearly and correctly carry out differential diagnostics between the norm and the disease, which affects the tactics of pregnancy management and the elimination of the problem.
Usually, pregnancy is characterized by the occurrence of deviations with stools in the direction of constipation. But in some women, due to the peculiarities of the anatomical interposition of the enlarged uterus and intra-abdominal structures, their pressure on each other occurs.
This is most evident when the uterus is enlarged to the level of the navel, which corresponds to 17-23 weeks of pregnancy. It is during this period that most women notice the appearance of diarrhea. In another part of pregnant women, diarrhea appears at the very beginning of the gestational period and in the prenatal period.
The data presented indicate that the intra-abdominal nerves of the solar and other plexuses react very strongly to compression or movement of the intestinal loops by a sharply altered uterus. As a result, increased peristalsis and diarrhea. But the most important thing is that the problem is of a short-term nature, since the body is gradually adapting to new conditions, and everything is perceived as normal.
Among the causes of diarrhea due to pathological effects are:
- Diet inaccuracies;
- taking medications: magnesium, vitamin B6, folic acid, multivitamin complexes;
- Irritable bowel syndrome;
- Acute intestinal infections;
- Gastroenterocolitis;
- Gastric and intestinal dyspepsia;
- Exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis;
Whatever the origin of diarrhea turns out to be, it is imperative to fight it. After all, any deviation from the norm is fraught with danger. The scope of activities depends on the characteristics of the diarrhea: duration, intensity and nature.
Is diarrhea dangerous during pregnancy?
Regardless of what caused the diarrhea - physiological or pathological abnormalities, in itself it can pose a threat to the health of the mother and child.
But only under certain conditions, they include:
- Long course of moderate diarrhea;
- Profuse and frequent loose stools;
- Concomitant vomiting;
- Poor appetite with refusal to eat and drink fluids;
- Complication of pregnancy with severe toxicosis;
- Concomitant increase in body temperature;
- The presence of pathological impurities in the feces: mucus, bloody contents, greens, particles of undigested food, whitish spots;
The presence of one or more signs indicates the pathological origin and course of diarrhea. Such conditions threaten with dehydration, a violation of the electrolyte composition of blood and biological fluids, which can adversely affect the condition of the fetus and the stability of its bearing. Therefore, as soon as the warning signs are noticed, you must immediately seek help from the antenatal clinic.
The situation looks quite different with diarrhea during pregnancy, which is not accompanied by dangerous symptoms, or it all comes down to the appearance of diarrhea after eating. With such diarrhea, it is impossible to bring the body to dehydration. The only thing that can be alarming is the long-term preservation of such a state due to the fact that, along with the weakened stool, part of the beneficial nutrients that are so necessary for the mother and her future baby are excreted.
Diarrhea in early pregnancy
One of the most frequent periods of pregnancy, in which physiological diarrhea occurs, is the early period (first trimester). The culprit may be the woman's own hormones, which support pregnancy and the growth of the ovum, as well as foreign components of the fetus during its intensive growth and development. In this way, like diarrhea, the body tries to throw out substances that are unusual for a pregnant woman. The natural way of their withdrawal usually becomes the gastrointestinal tract, which begins to work in an enhanced mode.
A feature of diarrhea in early pregnancy is its high frequency with a high risk of dehydration due to the addition of concomitant vomiting. Against the background of toxicosis, appetite decreases sharply, any desire to eat or drink disappears, so as not to provoke the resumption of unpleasant symptoms. This is a typical scenario of complications of early toxicosis accompanied by diarrhea. Therefore, if diarrhea persists, it is important to consult a specialist in a timely manner.
How to cope with toxicosis during pregnancy at home?
Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea during pregnancy
During pregnancy, there is a triad of symptoms, the presence of which indicates only one thing - toxicosis. We are talking about nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Even when a woman does not yet suspect that she is pregnant, these three frequent messengers of pregnancy will definitely push her to such an idea. The main thing that should be characterized by nausea, diarrhea and vomiting, if they are a consequence of toxicosis - inconsistency, periodicity, suddenness and relatively long duration of time intervals between symptoms. If at the same time the general condition of the pregnant woman is not disturbed, and the problems do not bring much discomfort, you should not worry.
But sometimes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea during pregnancy are not a consequence of toxicosis, but a signal of an unfavorable situation in the digestive system. In such situations, you should not expect everything to pass by itself. It is better to seek medical help immediately, as dehydration can occur very quickly and the life of the child can be threatened. Likewise, the appearance of this triad of complaints in the late stages should be considered, especially if they are accompanied by edema, increased blood pressure and a sharp deterioration in general well-being. At the same time, there is a great threat of the development of severe gestosis with transformation into preeclampsia.
What to do if diarrhea starts during pregnancy?
No willful use of medication during pregnancy! Only extreme cases can justify their use.
In cases where diarrhea does not violate the general condition of the pregnant woman, is not accompanied by severe abdominal pain and severe loss of fluid, you can not take any measures. But if a woman is greatly annoyed by the need to frequent the toilet, then it is better to try to fix the problem. In such situations, you can help:
- Proper nutrition. Only fresh products without a pungent odor, preferably in a mushy or solid form. It is better not to use liquid dishes, such as soups and broths, as they increase intestinal motility;
- Eating rice and rice water;
- It's good to have dried or fresh blueberries. Just a handful of berries a day will effectively reduce diarrhea. Viburnum berries have a similar effect;
- Dried and baked pear or a decoction based on it;
- Drink. The more profuse the diarrhea, the more fluid you need to consume. Alkaline mineral water without gas, compotes and decoctions of dried fruits, teas based on medicinal plants (oak bark) are suitable;
- Sorbents: activated carbon and smectite preparation;
- Enzyme preparations: mezim-forte, pangrol, pancreatin; creon.
List of the best foods for diarrhea
In all cases of suspicion of a pathological origin of diarrhea, treatment should be carried out exclusively under the supervision of a physician.
The author of the article: Volkov Dmitry Sergeevich | c. m. n. surgeon, phlebologist
Education: Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry (1996). In 2003 he received a diploma from the Educational and Scientific Medical Center of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation.
