Diarrhoea During Pregnancy: Causes, Symptoms & Remedies

Imagine you're gearing up for the miracle of life, ready to embrace maternity fashion and those special moments of baby kicks. But surprise! You find yourself becoming a connoisseur of public restrooms. Well, right! We're talking about the unpleasant condition of the pregnancy called diarrhoea. 

Let’s explore this unexpected turn, diving into why diarrhoea can overshadow your pregnancy glow and how to manage it.

Diarrhoea During Pregnancy: Causes

Diarrhoea, marked by loose, watery bowel movements, hits about one-third of pregnant women. While it's generally harmless, it's certainly inconvenient and uncomfortable.^{1 2}

The causes of these loose, watery stools include:

• Food Sensitivity:

During pregnancy, your stomach can become more sensitive to foods you tolerated earlier. For instance, spicy dishes and dairy products can more easily trigger digestive problems, causing diarrhoea.^{3, 4}

• Hormonal Shifts:

Hormone modifications at some point while pregnant could gradually slow your digestion, letting meals loaf around for your belly for longer. These modifications may accelerate digestion, necessitating the toilet visit often.  ^{3, 4}

• Weakened Immunity:

Pregnancy naturally lowers the immune system, increasing your vulnerability to bacterial illnesses. These infections may destabilise your gut health, often resulting in persistent diarrhoea.^{3, 4}

• Nutritional Tweaks:

Many expectant moms often adjust their meals in order to nurture their developing baby. However, these quick dietary changes might upset their stomach, commonly leading to diarrhoea. ^{3, 4}

Diarrhoea Symptoms

Symptoms of diarrhoea during pregnancy might vary from woman to woman. However, some common symptoms include: ⁵

• Abdominal cramps
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Pregnancy Diarrhoea & Complications

Diarrhoea during pregnancy can significantly dehydrate you. However, continuous dehydration can lower the amniotic fluid that surrounds and protects the baby, possibly leading to premature labour. ⁶

Additionally, prolonged diarrhoea might increase the risk of delivering a baby that’s small for gestational age by 20%. Such newborns often have more health problems, such as lung and digestive disorders, and they are at a greater risk of mortality than normal ones. ⁷

Let us next explore some practical tips to help manage pregnancy diarrhoea.

Tips To Manage Pregnancy Diarrhoea:

Below are some of the best practices that can help you avoid/treat diarrhoea during pregnancy.³

• Drink eight to ten litres of water daily, and if possible, go for drinks with electrolytes.
• Do not eat fried or spicy food as this can cause stomach upset.
• Opt for simpler foods like toast, applesauce, rice, bananas and porridge which go down easier.
• Consume yoghurt or probiotic supplements to settle the irritation in your stomach.
• Get enough sleep to speed up the healing process.

Note: *This advice is not a substitute or equivalent to a doctor's prescription. Please consult your doctor and follow their guidance before proceeding.

Conclusion

By now, you might be aware of the risks that diarrhoea during pregnancy can pose to both mother and child. And we really hope that the tips provided in this blog prove to be useful to you.

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