Diarrhea during Pregnancy: How to detect and treat

Diarrhea during pregnancy can be a concern. Diarrhea is not a disease, but rather, diarrhea are stools that are loose and watery and that occur more than 3 times in a 24 hour period. Diarrhea has many causes, including viral, bacterial, parasitic infections. The most common causes of diarrhea during pregnancy include stress, food poisoning, stomach flu ( known medically as viral gastroenteritis), food allergy and lactose intolerance. Most cases of diarrhea will go away on their own. However, diarrhea can lead to dehydration which is a serious problem. Pregnant women can become dehydrated in a short period of time. Using oral rehydration solutions like pedialyte can help prevent dehydration.

Call your doctor right away if:

1. Diarrhea persists for 2 days or longer.

2. Pregnant woman has fever and vomitting.

3. Diarrhea stools containing blood.

4. You experience severe abdominal pain when you are pregnant.

5. No urine in more than 5 hours.

Diarrhea symptoms:

Some women experience diarrhea in late pregnancy. Depending on the cause of diarrhea, other symptoms may or may not occur with it. Other symptoms that may accompany diarrhea include:

• Nausea and vomitting
• Dehydration
• Fever
• Chills
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Pregnant women feel tired during diarrhea
• Abdominal cramping or stomach ache
• Abdominal pain or stomach pain

Diarrhea in pregnant women can last from 1 to 10 days depending on the cause. It can range from mild to severe type of diarrhea. Generally, pregnant women are more likely to experience constipation than diarrhea because of their prenatal vitamins, which contains high levels of iron that is often binding. Diarrhea during pregnancy should not last very long. If it lasts for longer than 2 days, call your doctor right away. Sometimes, diarrhea can be a indication of premature labor.

Possible causes of diarrhea in pregnant women

1. Bacterial infections: Several types of bacteria consumed through contaminated food and water can cause diarrhea during pregnancy

2. Viruses like Rotavirus, Cyptomegalovirus can cause diarrhea.

3. Parasites: Parasites can enter the boby through foods and water and settle in the digestive system. Some of the parasites that cause diarrhea in pregnant women include Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium and Entamoeba histolytica.

4. Medicines like blood pressure medications, Antacids containing magnesium and antibiotics can cause diarrhea during pregnancy.

5. Irritable bowel syndrome and intestinal diseases like Crohn's disease can cause diarrhea.

6. Diarrhea during pregnancy can be caused by an increase in the intake of water. It can be due to foods that are high in water content, such as fruits (watermelon), vegetables and large amount of water intake.

7. Other causes include lactose intolerance, stomach flu and food poisoning.

How to Treat Diarrhea during Pregnancy

The best way to get rid of diarrhea is to drink plenty of water and fluids to prevent dehydration. You can take oral dehydration solution like pedialyte to replace your body fluids that is lost during diarrhea. Follow the following diet plan for diarrhea during pregnancy.

1. Strict oral rehydration solution like pedialyte for 4-5 hours.

2. The best type of drink to get rid of diarrhea is a mixture of salt and sugar in water. Avoid unhealthy drinks like sodas and soft drinks.

3. You can take foods such as toast, crackers, apple sauce, rice, mashed potatoes (no additives), pretzels, noodles (no additives), bananas, cooked carrots, cooked squash, rice krispies, cheerios and oatmeal.

4. Yogurt is the one dairy product you can eat to help getting rid of diarrhea. Yogurt is good for you when you have diarrhea, because it contains some of the good digestive bacteria.

5. No milk products, except yogurt with active cultures(no fruit)

6. No oils or butter

7. No spicy foods, dried fruits and sauces until the diarrhea subsides.

Tip: Remember the BRAT diet during diarrhea.

B: Banana

R: Rice

A: Apple sauce

T: Toast.

To avoid dehydration, drink plenty of fluids. You may drink Pedialyte instead of water to give you more strength.

I had diarrhea problems, when I was pregnant. My doctor suggested me to take imodium. After taking Imodium, diarrhea stopped completely. Always ask your health care provider before taking it.