What to do if pregnant women have severe diarrhea

During pregnancy, pregnant women can be said to suffer a lot. Due to changes in hormone levels in the body, they are easily affected by external factors and cause diarrhea. So what should pregnant women do if they have severe diarrhea?

Once a pregnant woman develops diarrhea, the main treatment measure is appropriate fluid replacement to replenish the water and electrolytes lost due to diarrhea, especially potassium ions, and replenish the calories lost due to diarrhea. At the same time, the fetus should be closely observed to see if it is in good condition and whether there are any signs of premature birth or miscarriage.

Unlike ordinary people, pregnant women should be particularly careful when using antibiotics. Many commonly used antibiotics and antiprotozoal drugs, in addition to adverse reactions, have potential teratogenic effects. For example, the commonly used metronidazole is teratogenic in experimental animals, so it is contraindicated during pregnancy, especially in the first three months of pregnancy.

Other antibiotics, such as sulfonamides, tetracyclines, quinolones, etc., have adverse effects on the mother and/or fetus and should also be banned. Some milder anti-diarrhea agents, such as kaolin and pectin, can be used. These drugs can absorb water and reduce intestinal motility; activated charcoal tablets may also be worth a try.