Diarrhea and pregnancy. During pregnancy, the woman's immune system weakens and this exposes her to a greater chance of contracting more or less serious infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites of various types.
If we add to this the action of hormones, stress, changes in diet and other factors, it is understandable that during pregnancy diarrhea attacks can occur more frequently than normal.
Diarrhea, defined as a evacuation disorder characterized by the emission of large amounts of malformed or even liquid feces, it is a phenomenon that can always happen to anyone, but let's see the most frequent causes of diarrhea in pregnancy and when the situation can be worrisome.
Before getting into the matter, let's remember that dysentery represents a different phenomenon than diarrhea, since it is characterized by the presence of blood in the feces.
Is diarrhea a symptom of pregnancy?
No, diarrhea is not considered a pregnancy symptom. Although in some cases it could mean that the time of delivery is approaching (unfortunately in some cases also in the case of premature labor), especially if it is accompanied by cramps.
Obviously this does not mean that the presence of diarrhea and cramps It is always indicative of labor, but it is always recommended to consult a gynecologist in case of doubt.
Causes of diarrhea in pregnancy
Vegetable and fruit consumption
Among the specific causes that can lead to the appearance of diarrhea in pregnancy, we include the possibility of unexpected dietary changes, for example due to cravings or following the indications of the gynecologist, who may have advised (rightly!) to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables. Eating large amounts of fiber is certainly helpful and can always be shared, but it is even more so during pregnancy, when the risk of constipation problems increases.
However, before a sudden increase in the amount of fruits and vegetables consumed, the body can react with the appearance of diarrhea. In these cases it is enough to reduce consumption, and then increase it again, but more gradually.
Lactose
Rarely it can happen that the pregnancy condition, probably due to hormonal causes, induces a kind of hypersensitivity towards some substances and foods that would otherwise be well tolerated. As a curiosity, we note instead that before a possible intolerance to lactose it tends to improve during pregnancy, although obviously if we eat things with excess lactose it can be the cause of diarrhea.
Multivitamins
A common cause of diarrhea in pregnancy is the possible side effect of multivitamins and medications. During pregnancy it is usually supplemented with iron, which usually causes intestinal problems, in these cases it is usually enough to inform the gynecologist to evaluate a different formulation.
In any case, the most common reasons continue to be gastroenteritis and food poisoning. Nothing strange, it is what happens to us also without being pregnant. It is very common to contract a viral infection (intestinal flu) during the winter that can cause more or less severe diarrhea.
Causes already existing before pregnancy
In some cases, diarrhea can be caused by preconditions pregnancy, for example:
- irritable bowel syndrome,
- Croh's disease and ulcerative colitis,
- Celiac Disease…
dangers of diarrhea
Except for special cases, which we will see below, the greatest risk associated with diarrhea is suffering from dehydration, that is, an excessive loss of fluids and mineral salts that can manifest itself with the following symptoms:
- thirst,
- dry mouth,
- decreased urine output, which becomes very dark,
- soft spot,
- dizziness,
- fatigue.
Other more dangerous causes that can give diarrhea in pregnancy
There are some infectious conditions that can cause serious consequences to the fetus during pregnancy; Fortunately, these are rare infections, but they should prompt pregnant women to be extremely cautious.
Campylobacter
It is one of the most common causes of bacterial gastroenteritis in the world and causes severe diarrhea. In most cases, the mother-fetus couple overcomes the infections without major problems, but sometimes it can be the cause of spontaneous abortions and premature births. The infection is caused by the consumption of contaminated food.
Listeria
This bacterium is transmitted through the consumption of contaminated food. In addition to possible diarrhea, it can cause flu symptoms. It can have very serious consequences on the fetus (death, miscarriage, premature birth...).
Salmonella
It is a food poisoning whose main symptom is severe diarrhea. In general, it can be debilitating, but it tends to resolve without leaving sequelae. In pregnancy, on the other hand, it can cause meningitis and other serious complications, since the fetus can also become infected.
Hepatitis B
Contracting hepatitis B can result in, among other things, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The infection can be passed from mother to child, with a much higher chance of chronic infection and dramatic liver consequences.
As we have seen previously, there are numerous NOT worrisome causes of diarrhea in pregnancy and experience teaches us that fortunately with a little attention it is not so easy to get serious infections, but it is important that we never let our guard down with hygiene and food.
What should we do?
In the case of diarrhea in pregnancy, above all, it is good not to be alarmed, it is a common symptom and in most cases it resolves spontaneously in a few days.
Unless there are reasonable grounds to believe that it is a potentially serious problem (consumption of hazardous food) in the presence of severe symptoms (such as fever), it is generally recommended to:
- Drink plenty, possibly rehydration solutions and not just water, to avoid the risk of dehydration.
- Medications should not be taken unless expressly endorsed by the gynecologist.
- Get in touch with the gynecologist to plan with him if you should take something or not (generally a visit is scheduled in case of non-resolution within 2-3 days).
- Avoid foods at risk of worsening (reduce fiber intake, avoid milk and derivatives, avoid spicy and fatty foods).