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Diarrhea While Pregnant
Every now and then, we have loose bowel movement. It can be considered as diarrhea if there is an increase in the frequency of bowel movements or a decrease in the form. Although changes in frequency of bowel movements and looseness of stools can vary independently of each other, changes often occur in both.
It is said that there is absolute diarrhea if you are having more bowel movements than normal. Thus, since among healthy individuals the maximum number of daily bowel movements is approximately three, diarrhea can be defined as any number of stools greater than three. Relative diarrhea is having more bowel movements than usual. Thus, if an individual who usually has one bowel movement each day begins to have two bowel movements each day, then diarrhea is present-even though there are not more than three bowel movements a day, that is, there is not absolute diarrhea.
A pregnant woman may also have diarrhea bouts every now and then. This is a result of the changing hormone levels, predominantly increased levels of progesterone. Parasitic diseases are rare causes but should be treated if found out.
No matter what the cause, you should have diarrhea investigated by a doctor. Diarrhea can also be a consequence of a fatal condition, termed as HELLP. HELLP can be a cause of morbidity and mortality. The other symptoms associated with this condition are weakness and fatigue, nausea and vomiting, right upper quadrant and/or epigastric pain headache, changes in vision, increased tendency to bleed from minor trauma, jaundice, diarrhea, and shoulder or neck pain. This is a medical emergency. This would most likely occur in the second and third trimesters and might be associated with elevated blood pressure, swelling and protein in the urine.
Whatever the cause, we need to treat diarrhea because it can cause weakness, dehydration and incomplete absorption of nutrients. If you have diarrhea, here are some treatment tips for you.
Diarrhea Treatment
You should hydrate and drink lots of water. Diarrhea causes dehydration and weakness and may pose harm to the baby. You should also avoid consuming foods such as dried fruits, fatty or spicy foods and milk, especially if you are lactose intolerant. The so-called BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast) has been recommended for years but the newest thinking expands on those options to include important vitamins and minerals (especially zinc) that are not provided by the BRAT diet. You should also consume other starchy foods like potatoes, unsweetened cereals, crackers, and toast. You should eat a lot of vegetables such as cooked carrots, and non-milk-based soups with noodles, rice, and/or vegetables. Lean meat is also good. You can consume yogurt, especially with live, active cultures of lactobacillus acidophilus.
You should avoid "simple" high-sugar drinks, such as apple and grape juice, gelatin, regular colas, and other soft drinks, which can draw water into your tummy, making diarrhea last even longer. Sports drinks and water are much better options. And, as always, avoid fatty and fried foods.
During Pregnancy