Diarrhea During Pregnancy

Experiencing watery bowel movements during pregnancy, can give nightmares to many women. The woman is already going through a lot of hormonal and bodily changes, and if she gets a bout of diarrhea in between, it can prove to be very annoying and discomforting to her. Here are some of the causes of diarrhea, followed by its treatment.

Causes

Food Poisoning
Diarrhea during pregnancy could be a result of food poisoning. If the onset of diarrhea was very sudden and it went away on its own within a day or two, then, in such a case, the reason could be food poisoning. During pregnancy, stomach related disorders and bowel problems are very common among women.

Hormonal Changes
During pregnancy, a woman experiences a number of hormonal changes in the body. Diarrhea could be a reaction to these changes. Many women are known to develop diarrhea which changes into watery diarrhea in a day or two. This is the body system's way of adjusting to the various changes that they are experiencing.

Sensitivity to Certain Foods
Pregnant women develop sensitivity to certain foods which they would otherwise consume without any side effects. For example some women may develop lactose intolerance and hence consumption of any milk products can cause stomach pain and diarrhea.

Preparation for Delivery
Some women experience diarrhea just before they go into labor. The body makes room for delivery by inducing diarrhea in the pregnant woman. Thus, diarrhea during late pregnancy is quite common, though there have been a simultaneous occurring of it in early pregnancy too.

Change in Lifestyle
During pregnancy, most women adapt to a healthier lifestyle to make their maternity special. This is quite good as a healthy woman only, can bear a healthy child. However, sometimes in their enthusiasm, women may overeat some foods or they may drink extra water. Some women who have never exercised before may suddenly begin a exercise routine. All these sudden changes in the body can lead to chronic diarrhea.

Treatment

Increase Fluid intake
Diarrhea can cause dehydration in pregnant women. Dehydration is known to induce premature labor in some women. So in order to save yourself from this risk, increase your water intake to 2-3 liters per day. Also include some sports drinks such as Gatorade in your diet. Refrain from soft drinks and fruit juices such as apple juice or orange juice as they are not easily digestible and hence can make the condition worse.

Bring Dietary Changes
Include foods such as banana applesauce, toast and rice in the diet. But remember not to overeat as it might cause constipation, which is another problem encountered by women during pregnancy. Refrain from eating foods that are high in fat content or are extra spicy.

You may add certain starchy foods such as potatoes to your diet. Vegetables such as carrots, lean meats, yogurt are some other food items that you should consider including in your diet. All these foods will provide the body with the requisite amount of minerals and vitamins that the body needs during pregnancy. In addition, such foods are not very heavy on the stomach and can be easily digestible.

Infections of the stomach mainly lead to diarrhea, and pregnancy is the time when such stomach disorders are pretty common. Though it does not last longer and often gets resolved in a day or two, however, if it refuses to recover and is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, it could lead to severe dehydration, which can be pretty risky. In such a scenario, a proper treatment under a gynecologist is recommended.