What should I do if I get gastroenteritis during pregnancy?

Pregnant women have weakened immunity and are more susceptible to illness. Especially gastrointestinal diseases, because pregnant women are very sensitive to some foods, so they must pay special attention to their diet. So what should you do if you get gastroenteritis during pregnancy? Will taking medicine affect the fetus? Don’t worry, the editor has compiled some information on how to treat gastroenteritis during pregnancy. Let’s learn together.

1. Fasting

You can try fasting for one or two meals to give your stomach and intestines a rest and expel the unclean things you have eaten previously (which may be food, medicine, bacteria or viruses) as soon as possible through diarrhea. Generally, the vomiting will subside first, and you may also feel a little nausea and upper abdominal discomfort.

2. Eat small amounts

Afterwards, you can eat a small amount of non-greasy food or fruit such as porridge, white toast, etc. to avoid cold sweats and fainting due to low blood sugar.

3. Stay hydrated

If severe diarrhea causes a large loss of water and electrolytes, causing you to feel dizzy and weak, supplementing with sports drinks will improve the discomfort. The amount to supplement depends on the severity of the diarrhea.

4. Do not take IV drips or medications at will.

If severe acute gastroenteritis occurs, you can take appropriate medications according to the doctor's instructions to relieve symptoms. If you have a fever, bloody diarrhea and suspect infectious enteritis, please do not take antidiarrheal drugs on your own to avoid worsening of the condition.

It is not recommended for pregnant women to go to the hospital for intravenous drips unless they are infected with cholera or in shock, are unconscious, have severe vomiting and are unable to eat.

5. Do not take antibiotics

Oral antibiotics are only used in a few cases of severe infectious enteritis and diarrhea during travel, because acute gastroenteritis, even if it is a bacterial infection, will mostly heal and there is no need to take such drugs.

If you master these tips, you can effectively prevent and treat gastroenteritis during pregnancy. Everyone must pay attention to it, because when pregnant women get sick, it is not only them who suffer, but it will also affect the fetus in the womb. Therefore, for the health of mother and baby, correct treatment must be obtained. If you are not sure, try to go to the hospital for treatment, so as to prevent it before it happens.