^
A
A
A

Diarrhea in early pregnancy

 
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 18.10.2021
 
Fact-checked
х

All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.

We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.

If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.

Pregnancy is a special period in the life of every woman, it is not only a moral and emotional restructuring of the body, but also a hormonal one. It affects metabolism and can lead to various functional disorders. The increase in the size of the uterus affects the work of the intestine, because anatomically, they are located side by side, there is pressure on the intestinal loop, its displacement. Many women during this period complain of constipation. But can there be diarrhea in the early stages of pregnancy? How to determine that this is a natural state due to the carrying of a child or a sign of a serious pathological process that can not be missed, so as not to cause trouble for themselves and the future child?

Epidemiology

According to statistics, more than half of all pregnant women suffer from toxicosis. There were no other systematisations for his specific symptoms, but one must assume that some of these women also experienced diarrhea in the early stages of pregnancy.

trusted-source[1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10]

Causes of the diarrhea during pregnancy in the early stages

The causes of diarrhea during pregnancy in early terms can be both physiological and pathological in nature. The first is characterized by a short-term flow and with adaptation to the new conditions ceases. Pathological diarrhea can be provoked by such causes:

  • food poisoning;
  • incompatibility of food products;
  • reaction to the intake of vitamin complexes and individual microelements, which are prescribed at the beginning of pregnancy;
  • syndrome of the affected intestine;
  • intestinal infections;
  • pancreatitis;
  • disruption of the digestive tract.

trusted-source[11], [12], [13]

Risk factors

The risk factors for diarrhea in the early stages of pregnancy include emotional feelings caused by anxiety about the future child, the use of laxatives in case of constipation, the presence of worms.

trusted-source[14], [15], [16], [17], [18]

Pathogenesis

The pathogenesis of physiological diarrhea is associated with a change in the hormonal background of a woman, the "behavior" of hormones, an attempt by the body to throw outside the body while foreign to him. The mechanism of development of diarrhea associated with the pathological condition is due to 4 causes: intestinal secretion, violation of food transit, increased osmotic pressure in the gut, its inflammation. Each type of disease has its own pathogenesis:

  • secretory diarrhea - increased secretion of water and electrolytes, reduced intestinal absorption;
  • exudative - inflammation of the intestinal wall;
  • osmolar - a violation of digestion and absorption of food;
  • hyper- and hypokinetic - acceleration or slowing down of the speed of the progression of chyme - the contents of the intestine.

trusted-source[19], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24], [25], [26], [27], [28]

Symptoms of the diarrhea during pregnancy in the early stages

The first signs that something has changed in the sensations and condition of a woman may be bloating, flatus, flatulence, heaviness, dull pain in the abdomen. Even without knowing about pregnancy, such symptoms as diarrhea and vomiting, or diarrhea and nausea, can give a clue to a woman about what happened. In the early stages of pregnancy, the symptoms of diarrhea, if they do not bring much discomfort, are not of a systemic nature, are an acceptable manifestation for which the definition of "toxicosis" exists. Early toxicosis is not a disease, but a special condition of a woman is a reaction to smells, a strong desire to eat something definite and only that, or a lack of appetite in general, a reduction in blood pressure. Thus, toxicosis and diarrhea during pregnancy in the early stages is not an abnormal phenomenon, but the body's effort to adapt to new realities.

Temperature and diarrhea in early pregnancy

What should alert a woman and get her to see a doctor? An alarming signal of the presence of pathology in the early stages of pregnancy is:

  • severe diarrhea;
  • temperature and diarrhea;
  • unnatural color of stool.

Most often, the temperature with diarrhea is provoked by a viral, bacterial or parasitic infection. If the diarrhea is severe and the temperature is high, then this indicates acute diarrhea - dangerous for the health of the pregnant woman and for the fetus.

trusted-source[29], [30]

Black diarrhea in early pregnancy

Black diarrhea is not always a sign of a disease. Some types of food (blueberries, currants, liver), activated charcoal, preparations with iron content can change the color of feces to dark. But if the pregnant woman had a diagnosis of peptic ulcer, this is an excuse to sound the alarm. Internal bleeding when entering the intestine stains the stools in black. In addition, women become pale skin of the body, there is weakness, chills.

trusted-source[31]

Green diarrhea in early pregnancy

If green diarrhea can not be associated with specific foods or medications, vitamins that can give this color, and other disturbing symptoms (such as pain and abdominal pain, fever, weakness, vomiting, watery stools), a possible cause of a pathological condition may be a dysbiosis - violation of intestinal microflora, intestinal infection (dysentery, salmonellosis, escherichiosis).

Diarrhea in the morning on early pregnancy

Diarrhea in the morning in the early stages of pregnancy can cause iron preparations, for example, sorbite. They are prescribed for low hemoglobin and for the prevention of iron deficiency. But if the relaxed chair no longer disturbs during the day, then the excitement is unnecessary. A liquid stool in the morning is also possible because of the body's reaction to the formation of the placenta, because this affects the internal organs and leads to violations of the protein and carbon balance. After the adaptation period, everything will return to normal.

trusted-source[32], [33]

Complications and consequences

The consequences and complications of diarrhea in the early stages of pregnancy are not so harmless, even if they are not associated with serious pathology. The fact that diarrhea leads to dehydration of the body of a pregnant woman, and this adversely affects the blood circulation of a woman, and hence the placenta. The fruit will not receive the necessary substances for full development. In case of infection, the consequences represent an even greater danger, because toxins easily overcome the placental barrier and are capable of harming the child.

trusted-source[34], [35], [36], [37], [38], [39]

Diagnostics of the diarrhea during pregnancy in the early stages

If the diarrhea lasts more than three days, the stool consistency has changed, unnatural color, there are other alarming symptoms, it's time to see a doctor. Diagnosis of diarrhea in early pregnancy is in the laboratory studies of feces, blood, the use of instrumental methods. The degree of dehydration is also assessed, with a large loss of fluid, the skin becomes dry, tachycardia appears, and blood pressure decreases.

Deviation of the indicators from normal in the blood test will give an idea of the pathological changes in the body of the pregnant woman. A general and biochemical blood test will show the significance of liver enzymes and the pancreas. Analysis of feces is investigated for the presence of eggs of worms, dysbacteriosis, intestinal infections, coprology is carried out with suspicion of pancreatitis.

From instrumental methods, taking into account the special position of a woman with the permission of a doctor, ultrasound examination of the liver, gall bladder, spleen, pancreas can be performed.

trusted-source[40], [41], [42], [43], [44]

Differential diagnosis

When conducting differential diagnostics, a combination of the characteristics inherent in a specific infection, their dynamics of development, the patient's anamnesis, the nature and volume of feces, odor, color, frequency of stools, the result of laboratory tests are important. To establish the correct diagnosis is not an easy task, because there are many diseases with symptoms of diarrhea, and the imposition of toxicosis also complicates it. It is important to identify contacts with sick people, animals, exclude acute abdominal conditions requiring surgical intervention, for example, appendicitis.

Treatment of the diarrhea during pregnancy in the early stages

Treatment of diarrhea during pregnancy in the early stages can be prescribed only by a doctor. Its main directions are liquid replenishment, diet food, medication, prevention. If, in addition to the relaxed chair, nothing significant is happening with a woman's health, you can limit yourself to a plentiful drink (teas on medicinal herbs, bottles, mineral alkaline still water), sparing meals, including boiled rice, baked potatoes, low-fat varieties of boiled meat, etc. At more pronounced manifestations of diarrhea, which bring anxiety to a pregnant woman, the doctor can prescribe sorbents, enveloping and astringents, enzyme preparations and other medications, according to the diagnosis and not pr tivopokazannye during pregnancy.

Drug treatment for diarrhea in pregnancy

Drugs for diarrhea in the early stages of pregnancy:

Regidron - is produced in powders, packaged in bags of 18.9g. Restores the intestinal-alkaline balance. The solution is prepared as follows: one packet of powder is poured into the container, a liter of boiling water is added, mixed and brought to a warm state. Take small sips after each bowel movement or a fit of vomiting. On average, per hour, you need to drink a volume equal to 10ml of fluid, multiplied by a kilogram of a person's weight. As a rule, there are no side effects. Contraindicated in hypertensive patients with diabetes, with renal failure.

Among the sorbents permitted for admission to pregnant women, activated charcoal, polysorb, smecta, sorbex.

Polysorb - capsules containing 250 mg of granular activated carbon. Binds toxic substances in the lumen of the intestine and removes them. It is taken between meals. The dose is 2-4 pieces three times a day. As a result of long-term treatment, intestinal motility is impaired and absorbed by the walls. It is not prescribed for erosions and ulcers of the digestive tract, individual intolerance.

If necessary, if the benefits for the mother exceed the risk for the fetus, prescribe antibacterial drugs ersetfuril, biseptol, enterosediv.

Ercefuril - capsules, suspension, has a bactericidal property. The recommended dose is one capsule or a measuring spoon 4 times a day at regular intervals, regardless of food. The drug is well tolerated by patients, in some cases, an allergy in the form of a rash. Contraindicated for children under 1 month, in capsules - up to 7 years.

Enzyme preparations that help in the digestion of food, festal, pepsin, mezim, pancreatin.

Festal - dragee, helps the assimilation of proteins, carbohydrates, fats. It is taken three times a day during or immediately after a meal. Contraindicated in hepatitis, blockage of the bile duct.

Bacterial preparations can be used to normalize the intestinal flora (linex, enterol, bifiform, normflor, acylact).

Bifiform - capsules, the necessary dose - 2 pieces per day. If hypersensitivity can cause allergies.

trusted-source[45], [46], [47], [48], [49]

Vitamins

With diarrhea, vitamins and trace elements are poorly absorbed in the intestines, because of this there is a shortage of them, which can turn into a problem for mom and future baby. Therefore, after restoring a normal stool, it is necessary to saturate the body with foods rich in vitamin A (liver, eggs, fish, tomatoes, carrots), group B vitamins (apples, cabbage, bran bread), C (currants, sweet peppers, citrus, hips) , D - building material for the formation of the skeleton of the child (fish oil, sun rays) and other useful elements. Do not forget that all this should be prepared using sparing technologies, in a crushed, boiled form.

Physiotherapy treatment, usually used for diarrhea (microclysters from medicinal herbs, acupuncture) during the gestation of the child is not assigned.

Alternative treatment

Alternative treatment involves, in the main, astringent and enveloping agents for diarrhea. The most harmless for the future mother are the following:

  • a decoction of rice - to one part of the well-washed grains to take 4 parts of water, boil over low heat, after being ready to strain. A viscous liquid-like liquid is a remedy;
  • potato starch - a teaspoon of warm water on a floor of a glass of warm water, stirring thoroughly, drinking;
  • Rye bread soak for half an hour in water, drink liquid in small sips.

trusted-source[50]

Herbal Treatment

Treatment of herbs in diarrhea during pregnancy should be done very carefully, tk. Many medicinal plants can cause increased uterine tone and carry a threat of miscarriage, including plants containing tannins (sage, oak bark). Among the recommended astringent herbs are erect erect, St. John's wort, chamomile, blueberry berries, cherry, a blood-groove.

Homeopathy

Homeopathic remedies available for sale in pharmacies and aimed at treating stool disorders, in the instructions contain cautions that the drugs have not been tested in pregnant women, and some of them contain ethanol in their composition. One of them is the energy plus VM.

Energel plus VM. - solution for injection, intended for the therapy of diarrhea of various etiologies in combination with other types of treatment. It is administered intramuscularly 4 times a day, at the same time 4 ml at a time. Adverse reactions, contraindications, cases of overdose have not been detected.

Of safe homoeopathic drugs is allocated hamomilla, it is based on chamomile medicinal. The therapeutic effect begins to manifest itself with 6 dilutions, but is also used in the 12th, 18th dilution.

Prevention

Diarrhea caused by a change in the physiological state of a woman, after a period of adaptation and reorganization of the body will pass itself. To avoid other factors of diarrhea, you must adhere to the following rules of prevention:

  • Always wash your hands after coming from the street home and before eating;
  • monitor the timing of food products;
  • products used in its raw form, it is good to wash;
  • cleanliness in the refrigerator and in the kitchen;
  • maintain the rules for heat treatment of products;
  • do not combine difficult dishes.

trusted-source[51], [52], [53], [54], [55], [56], [57], [58]

Forecast

Since diarrhea draws a violation of the electrolyte content of blood, dehydration, it is bad for the bearing of the child. However, with the timely adoption of measures, the forecast is favorable.

trusted-source[59], [60], [61]

Translation Disclaimer: For the convenience of users of the iLive portal this article has been translated into the current language, but has not yet been verified by a native speaker who has the necessary qualifications for this. In this regard, we warn you that the translation of this article may be incorrect, may contain lexical, syntactic and grammatical errors.

You are reporting a typo in the following text:
Simply click the "Send typo report" button to complete the report. You can also include a comment.