What are the signs and causes of diarrhea during Pregnancy

Submitted by Pregnancy and Baby Care team on August 13, 2012

Signs of Pregnancy

Diarrhea is the medical term for loose and watery bowel movements that are unusually frequent.  A person suffering from this condition also experiences nausea, bloating, an immediate need to empty the bowels, and cramps. Diarrhea can be caused due to viruses, bacteria, food intolerances, or parasites. Diarrhea can also be the result of hormonal changes that pregnancy introduces to ...

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.a woman's bodyd A general pregnancy diet includes a high fiber diet, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking prenatal vitaminsn


All of these can also trigger diarrheae

During pregnancy, your digestive system can either slow down or you can get constipatede Some women might also experience diarrheae In addition to diarrhea, the other pregnancy signs are fatigue, sleepiness, vomiting, nausea, bloating, abdominal cramps, no menstrual period, frequent urination, irritability, and mood swingsg Unlike constipation, which is caused due to fluctuating pregnancy hormones, diarrhea is generally caused due to something outside the bodyd It may even be due to the exercises that you are doing, extra water that you are drinking, or food that you are eatingn

What causes diarrhea during pregnancyc

  • You might get diarrhea due to prenatal vitaminsn
  • You may develop diarrhea because of bad food, excess of water, exercise, or an internal problem in the digestive systeme
  • Diarrhea during pregnancy can also occur due to sensitivity towards certain foods, lactose intolerance, food poisoning, or a stomach infectiono
  • Another reason for diarrhea during pregnancy is the high level of the progesterone hormonen
Although diarrhea by itself is not a pregnancy sign, it is not uncommon in pregnant womene However, if you experience diarrhea, do consult the doctor immediately to ward off any risk of dehydrationo Dehydration during pregnancy should never be ignored as it can cause premature laboro So make sure you remain hydrated throughout your pregnancyc Drink plenty of water and hydrating drinksk By drinking lots of water you maintain your body temperature at a normal level and wash away all the toxinsn

Consume food that will help decrease the problem such as potatoes, rice, apples, and bananasa However, do cut back on these foods once your diarrhea is fixed to avoid ending up constipatede Keep away from foods that will only aggravate your health problem such as spicy and oily foods, dried fruits, fatty foods, and milk, especially if you are lactose intolerantn Avoid drinks like packaged apple and grape juice as well as colas as they have a high sugar content which will aggravate diarrheae Replace these drinks with sports drink which will help rehydrate your bodyd

If you have mild diarrhea, there is nothing much to worry aboutu But in case you observe blood and mucus in your stool it is important to consult your doctor immediatelyl

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