Diarrhea is a common illness in summer, and expectant mothers are also prone to it. So, do you know the impact of diarrhea during pregnancy on the baby? What are the causes of diarrhea during pregnancy? What should expectant mothers do if they have diarrhea during pregnancy? What are the precautions for pregnant women with diarrhea? Today, I will discuss with you the impact of diarrhea during pregnancy on the baby, the causes of diarrhea during pregnancy, what expectant mothers should do if they have diarrhea during pregnancy, and the precautions for pregnant women with diarrhea. I hope the information I provide will be helpful to you.
Effect of Diarrhea on the Baby
First of all, when a pregnant woman has diarrhea, if it is too frequent, it will cause a large amount of water and electrolytes, especially potassium ions, to be lost from the body, resulting in dehydration. This will directly affect the absorption of nutrients by the fetus, leading to fetal malnutrition.
Secondly, diarrhea in pregnant women can accelerate intestinal peristalsis, and can also cause intestinal spasms, bloating, and stimulate uterine contractions, which can easily lead to miscarriage. Therefore, if a pregnant woman experiences diarrhea, she must pay attention to the fetal movements, observe whether there are signs of miscarriage or premature birth, and seek medical attention in a timely manner.
The most common cause of diarrhea in pregnant women is intestinal infection. Pathogenic microorganisms include Salmonella, Shigella, viruses, and parasites. In the summer, food poisoning should also be considered as a possible cause of diarrhea. Obviously, diarrhea in pregnant women is not normal, and it may cause miscarriage or premature birth.
Different from ordinary people, pregnant women should be especially cautious when using antibiotics. Many commonly used antibiotics and antiprotozoal drugs have potential teratogenic effects, such as metronidazole, which has teratogenic effects on experimental animals, so antibiotics should be used with caution during pregnancy, especially in the first three months of pregnancy.
Commonly used antibiotics and antiprotozoal drugs such as aminoglycosides, sulfonamides, quinolones, tetracyclines, metronidazole, and antiviral drugs are effective for infectious diarrhea, but they have potential teratogenic effects or potential harm, so they should not be used. For example, metronidazole, which is commonly used, has teratogenic effects on experimental animals and should not be used during pregnancy, especially in the first three months of pregnancy. Other antibiotics, such as sulfonamides, tetracyclines, quinolones, etc., have adverse effects on both the mother and the fetus and should also be avoided.
Mild antidiarrheal agents such as kaolin and pectin can be used. These drugs can absorb water and reduce intestinal peristalsis. Activated charcoal tablets can also be tried. Smecta, a type of diosmectite, has a large adsorption surface, is not absorbed by the body, and not only has the above characteristics, but also can adsorb some pathogenic bacteria, making it safe and effective.
Generally speaking, erythromycin and ampicillin are safe for both mother and baby. Avoid using opiate drugs to stop diarrhea, as these drugs may cause bacterial overgrowth and repeated infections, which will only increase the frequency and severity of diarrhea in pregnant women.
Classification of Diarrhea
Diarrhea caused by non-infectious factors:
① Timely rehydration and electrolyte supplementation: If diarrhea is caused by non-infectious factors, expectant mothers should mainly improve their condition through lifestyle adjustments. It is best for pregnant women to stop eating and replenish the lost water and electrolytes through fluid replacement. Pregnant women can consume liquids such as gruel, and add a small amount of salt and sugar to the gruel.
② Seek medical attention if the symptoms are severe: If diarrhea is severe, pregnant women need to seek medical attention and immediately stop eating. Under the guidance of a doctor, medications can be used to protect the gastric mucosa or adjust the microenvironment of the intestines. It is important to monitor the fetal movements in the abdomen at all times to ensure the safety and health of the fetus and prevent miscarriage and premature birth.
Diarrhea caused by infectious factors:
① Use medication with caution and consult a professional doctor: If diarrhea is caused by infectious factors, it may be necessary for pregnant women to use antibiotics. However, pregnant women should not self-medicate and must follow the guidance of a doctor. Many antibiotics may have teratogenic side effects. Pregnant women should be cautious about using antibiotics during pregnancy, especially in the first three months of pregnancy, to avoid the possibility of fetal malformation.
② Use mild medications: Diarrhea is mainly caused by abnormal acceleration of intestinal peristalsis, and some milder antidiarrheal drugs can be used to absorb water in the intestines and reduce intestinal movement. Avoid using opiate drugs to stop diarrhea, as these drugs can only temporarily relieve the pain of diarrhea, and the bacteria in the intestines are likely to regenerate and infect each other, resulting in increased frequency and severity of diarrhea in pregnant women.
③ Seek medical attention if the symptoms are severe: Pregnant women can also use certain medications to adjust the intestinal flora and maintain the balance of the intestinal microecology. After the intestines return to normal, the symptoms of diarrhea in pregnant women will disappear. Generally, pregnant women can recover normal bowel movements within 4 days. If the symptoms of diarrhea in pregnant women do not improve, it is necessary to go to the hospital for colonoscopy and other tests.
What to Do If Pregnant Women Have Diarrhea
1. Ensure that your daily diet provides you with sufficient vitamins and minerals. You can also ask your doctor to prescribe a list of prenatal vitamins that you should take daily and adhere to during pregnancy.
2. Eat at least one food rich in vitamin C every day, including citrus fruits, grapes, strawberries, cauliflower, honey, green peppers, tomatoes, and mustard greens, etc.
3. Eat at least one food rich in folate every day, including dark green vegetables, lean beef, and beans. Pregnant women need 400 micrograms of folate per day to prevent congenital defects in newborns, such as spina bifida.
4. Consume foods rich in vitamin A every other day, including carrots, pumpkins, spinach, cabbage, beets, almonds, and cantaloupes, etc. Four fruits that can help stop diarrhea are guava, pomegranate, banana, and apple. Guava is rich in vitamin C, fructose, and glutamic acid. More importantly, tannic acid in guava can protect the intestinal mucosa and assist in the recovery from diarrhea.
Guava is effective in treating diseases such as dysentery and prolapse. Bananas have high nutritional value and contain various trace elements and vitamins. Vitamin A in bananas can enhance the body's resistance to diseases. Potassium and magnesium can prevent electrolyte imbalances caused by diarrhea. Bananas also contain a large amount of pectin, which can absorb intestinal water and reduce the frequency of bowel movements. Eating steamed bananas with the peel or cutting them into pieces can help stop diarrhea. Apples can help mild diarrhea recover.
Take one apple, cut it into small pieces with the peel and core, boil it in water for 3 to 5 minutes, let it cool, and consume it after the temperature becomes warm. Take it 2 to 3 times a day, with about 30 grams each time. It is worth noting that when eating cooked apples, it is not advisable to add sugar to taste, as sugar may worsen diarrhea.
Peaches have a high content of pectin, which can absorb excess water in the intestines and effectively treat diarrhea.
Dietary Adjustment for Diarrhea in Pregnant Women
1. When diarrhea occurs during pregnancy, drink plenty of water, eat more millet rice, and avoid spicy and greasy foods.
2. Eat at least one food rich in vitamin C every day, including citrus fruits, grapes, strawberries, cauliflower, honey, green peppers, tomatoes, and mustard greens, etc.
3. Eat at least one food rich in folate every day, including dark green vegetables, lean beef, and beans. Pregnant women need 400 micrograms of folate per day to prevent congenital defects in newborns, such as spina bifida.
4. Consume foods rich in vitamin A every other day, including carrots, pumpkins, spinach, cabbage, beets, almonds, and cantaloupes, etc.
5. Pregnant women with diarrhea should eat or drink at least four servings of dairy products and high-calcium foods every day to help obtain calcium. In addition, eat at least three servings of iron-rich foods every day to ensure sufficient iron intake in the diet.
Precautions for Diarrhea in Pregnant Women
Diarrhea in pregnant women can be harmful to the fetus, so if a pregnant woman has diarrhea, she must pay special attention to it.
1. If the condition of the fetus is abnormal, you should immediately go to the hospital for medical treatment and not be careless, in order to avoid delaying the condition and causing miscarriage or premature birth. If the possibility of miscarriage or premature birth is ruled out, medications can be cautiously used based on the severity of diarrhea in pregnant women.
2. Dealing with diarrhea in pregnant women also depends on the stage of pregnancy. If a pregnant woman who is about to give birth has diarrhea, bed-side isolation should be carried out for intestinal infectious diseases to ensure the safety of the baby and other pregnant women.
3. The diet should be light, and vegetables and fruits should be eaten cleanly. Food residues with pesticide residues can easily cause mild food poisoning. Soak the purchased fruits and vegetables in water for an hour before consumption. Also, do not drink too many cold drinks, as excessive consumption of cold drinks can dilute gastric juice and stimulate intestinal peristalsis, which is not conducive to the absorption of nutrients by pregnant women.
4. If infected with gastroenteritis viruses or mild food poisoning, symptoms should improve within 24 hours. At this time, it is important to drink plenty of water. Eating light foods can also be helpful, such as bananas, rice, and toast. If diarrhea persists for more than a day, it is necessary to see a doctor.
5. If abdominal pain or fever accompanies diarrhea, or if there is "jet-like" diarrhea, blood or mucus in the stool, dehydration, etc., it is necessary to seek medical attention in a timely manner.
Now you know the impact of diarrhea during pregnancy on the baby, the causes of diarrhea during pregnancy, what to do if expectant mothers have diarrhea during pregnancy, and the precautions for pregnant women with diarrhea. Have these questions been answered? I wish every expectant mother a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
