What to do if a pregnant woman has diarrhea and loose stools

We all know that women's bodies will become particularly immune-compromised during pregnancy, and they are often infected with some diseases. Diarrhea is also a relatively common phenomenon. However, diarrhea in pregnant women is always a headache, because you cannot take medicine blindly during pregnancy. After all, the medicine will have a certain impact on the fetus, and if not treated in time, it will affect the health of the body. Let's learn about what to do if pregnant women have diarrhea.

What to do if a pregnant woman has diarrhea and loose stools

Causes of diarrhea in pregnant women

To relieve the symptoms of diarrhea in pregnant women, we must first find out the cause of diarrhea in pregnant women. Generally speaking, diarrhea in pregnant women is mainly due to their own reasons.

Due to hormonal changes in pregnant mothers, gastric emptying time is prolonged and small intestinal motility is weakened, making them more susceptible to external influences and diarrhea. The causes of diarrhea include bacterial infection and changes in eating habits, or pregnancy combined with other chronic diseases, such as colitis.

Some pregnant women experience diarrhea in the early stages of pregnancy. In addition to the influence of eating habits, cold body and early pregnancy reactions, it may also be a sign of miscarriage and requires careful care. If you have diarrhea in the late pregnancy, in addition to gastrointestinal virus infection or food poisoning, it may also be intestinal obstruction. Diarrhea will also be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and bloating. If you have these symptoms, you need to seek medical attention immediately.

What medicine should pregnant women take for diarrhea

If a pregnant woman has diarrhea, if it is not very serious, she can consider drinking more water, actively replenishing the water and electrolytes lost due to diarrhea, and pay attention to rest and a light diet. You can take microecological preparations, such as probiotics, to adjust intestinal flora and reduce the frequency of bowel movements. Pregnant women should try not to take medicine if possible, especially in the first three months of pregnancy. Commonly used antibiotics and antiprotozoal drugs, as well as other drugs such as tetracyclines and sulfonamides, can affect the fetus and should not be used.

When you have frequent bowel movements, you can use intestinal mucosal protectants, which have the dual functions of absorbing pathogenic bacteria and stopping diarrhea and antibacterial effects. However, pregnant women should use medications with caution. Even if these medications are considered harmless to pregnant women, it is best to take them under the guidance of a doctor.

Does diarrhea in pregnant women affect the fetus?

Pregnancy itself does not cause diarrhea, nor does it aggravate existing diarrhea symptoms. However, frequent and severe diarrhea during pregnancy is very likely to induce uterine contractions and lead to miscarriage. It is also not conducive to the pregnant mother's body's absorption of nutrients.

Therefore, once a pregnant woman develops diarrhea, the most important treatment measure should be appropriate fluid replacement to make up for the water and electrolytes lost by the pregnant mother due to diarrhea, especially the supplementation of potassium ions, which can increase the calories in the pregnant mother's body. At the same time, pay attention to observe or feel whether the baby in the belly is normal, and whether there are any signs of premature birth or miscarriage.

What to eat when you have diarrhea

1. Eat fruit

You can eat some fruits as an auxiliary treatment for diarrhea, but not all fruits can be eaten. You can eat apples, pomegranates, etc. if you have diarrhea; you cannot eat pears, watermelons, bananas, etc. if you have diarrhea. Cut the apple into small pieces with the skin and core, boil them in water for 3 to 5 minutes, and eat them after they are warm. It should be noted that when eating cooked apples, it is not advisable to add sucrose for seasoning, because sucrose may aggravate diarrhea.

2. Drink porridge

If you have diarrhea, you can drink some white porridge with salt, but it is recommended not to add meat. Meat porridge will also increase the burden on the stomach and intestines. Although the pain will be relieved after defecation, the stomach and intestines will have varying degrees of edema due to inflammation. If you eat meat dishes, it will aggravate the condition. Therefore, within two to three days after diarrhea, the diet should be light. You may as well drink some white porridge with a little salt.

3. Eat pasta

If you have diarrhea, you need to eat some food that is easier to digest. Pasta is a good choice. Noodles are rich in nutrients and are relatively easy to digest and absorb, so eating noodles is a good choice for people with diarrhea. However, for people with diarrhea, the noodles they eat should not be too greasy, as too greasy noodles will increase the burden on the stomach and intestines.

The above is an introduction to what to do if pregnant women have diarrhea and watery stools. After understanding such symptoms, adjustments must be made in a timely manner. In addition, pregnant women should not use medications blindly, and must consult a doctor in a timely manner. Adjustments can be made through diet. During this period, you must drink more hot water to avoid dehydration. In addition, you should also pay attention to the balance of nutritional diet in daily life.