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Digestive issues like diarrhea, constipation, and indigestion are prevalent during pregnancy, with an increase in late-term diarrhea for some expectant mothers. Dealing with late-pregnancy diarrhea poses challenges, affecting daily life and raising concerns about its impact on the baby. To ensure the safety of both mother and baby, understanding the causes of late-term diarrhea is essential. This knowledge empowers mothers to apply safe and suitable home remedies or seek medical advice when needed.
Why do pregnant women experience late-term diarrhea?
Exploring the causes will help you know how to treat it appropriately. Late-term diarrhea in pregnant women can be caused by the following reasons:
Causes of late pregnancy diarrhea in expectant mothers
- Pregnant women consume inappropriate foods. Unhygienic food: food stored in the refrigerator is not reheated thoroughly or left for a long time. Mothers eat some raw dishes that can lead to bacterial infections, parasites, etc. Or pregnant women accidentally consume some foods they are allergic to: Seafood, milk, etc.
- Pregnant women use antibiotics to treat some diseases that disturb the balance of intestinal bacteria, causing diarrhea.
- Diarrhea may be a side effect when pregnant women take certain types of medication: antacids, blood pressure medications, etc.
- Pregnant women supplement vitamins improperly. The last months are a period when the fetus needs to be supplemented with nutrients to complete its development in preparation for birth. Mothers want to provide their babies with the most complete and excess nutrients, leading to constipation.
Pregnant women with diarrhea in the last month, does it affect labor
In late pregnancy, the level of prostaglandin in the mother's body begins to rise, contributing to the dilation of the cervix. At the same time, the increase in prostaglandin concentration will stimulate hormonal changes. This, in turn, increases the activity of the intestines to cleanse them in preparation for activity. That is why pregnant women experience diarrhea in the last month.
Diarrhea in late pregnancy can be a sign of impending labor
So, is diarrhea in late pregnancy a sign of impending labor? The answer is yes! In the last weeks of pregnancy, or a few days, a few weeks before giving birth, expectant mothers often experience quite severe diarrhea. The time from when the mother starts experiencing diarrhea symptoms to actual childbirth is 1-2 weeks, depending on each person's physique. The highest likelihood is that diarrhea occurs at 38 or 39 weeks of pregnancy. Therefore, mothers should seek medical attention for diarrhea in the last weeks of pregnancy to identify genuine signs of labor and prepare for the most favorable delivery.
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Home remedies for diarrhea that are safe for pregnant women
For mild cases of late pregnancy diarrhea, expectant mothers can self-treat at home with the following measures:
Supplementing probiotics for pregnant women experiencing late pregnancy diarrhea
When pregnant women face diarrhea, the digestive system is susceptible, harmful bacteria rapidly multiply, causing an imbalance in the intestinal microbiota. To promptly treat diarrhea, it is crucial to restore the balance of the intestinal microbiota. The safest and most effective approach is to supplement probiotics for pregnant women experiencing late pregnancy diarrhea.
Beneficial bacteria in probiotics will proliferate upon entering the digestive system, adhering to the intestinal lining to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria that cause diseases. They compete for space with harmful bacteria and push them out of the intestinal mucosa. Consequently, harmful bacteria cannot thrive, are eliminated, and expelled. When the microbiota is balanced, diarrhea symptoms will quickly diminish and disappear entirely.
Supplementing probiotics for pregnant women with diarrhea
Supplementing Probiotics - probiotics for pregnant women is a very safe treatment method often combined with rehydration. Properly using both methods helps quickly control diarrhea, shortening the treatment duration. Additionally, proper probiotic supplementation enhances the immune system of the digestive system. Therefore, pregnant women reduce constipation and prevent digestive diseases such as indigestion, intestinal infections, etc.
Rehydrating for pregnant women with diarrhea
Doctors say that regardless of the cause of late pregnancy diarrhea in pregnant women, the most typical consequence is dehydration.
When a pregnant woman loses water in her body, it strongly affects the health of the mother and the development of the baby. Pregnant women with dehydration will feel lacking energy, fatigue, and the baby may experience delayed mental and physical development. In severe cases, excessive dehydration can lead to death.
Therefore, the crucial thing pregnant women need to pay attention to when experiencing late pregnancy diarrhea is to replenish water for the body. Mothers can recognize whether their bodies are dehydrated or not through the following signs:
- Dry lips.
- Constant thirst.
- Headaches, dizziness.
At this point, mothers need to increase water intake for their bodies. Moms can supplement with Oresol, drink boiled and cooled water, ginger tea, honey tea... Remember not to consume it all at once; you should divide it into multiple supplements. Each time you drink, take it slowly, sip by sip.
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Adjusting the diet to limit diarrhea
Adjusting the diet during diarrhea also helps shorten the duration of diarrhea:
Diet to manage diarrhea for pregnant women
- Adopt a bland diet such as: bread, rice, apples, bananas,...
- Choose iron-rich, easily digestible foods such as lean meat, cooked vegetables,...
- Limit foods high in fats that are hard to digest, avoid coffee or alcoholic and carbonated beverages.
- Ensure food safety and hygiene: Pregnant women should pay attention to the quality of food, consume fully cooked items. During pregnancy, avoid eating food that has been stored in the refrigerator for too long, such as salads, raw fish, pickled items. These may harbor harmful bacteria, parasites,... causing diarrhea.
An extremely important note for pregnant women with late pregnancy diarrhea is not to self-administer diarrhea treatment medication. During pregnancy, any medication you take directly affects the health and development of the fetus, not to mention the potential side effects. Each cause of diarrhea must be treated with different medications, and self-purchasing diarrhea medication increases the risk of severe diarrhea due to inappropriate use. Therefore, only use diarrhea medication under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
When pregnant women with late pregnancy diarrhea need to see a doctor
Diarrhea will quickly recover if mothers apply appropriate measures. However, if diarrhea persists for many days without timely control, it will adversely affect the health of both the mother and the fetus. Pregnant women with late pregnancy diarrhea should go to the hospital immediately if diarrhea is accompanied by the following symptoms:
Pregnant women with diarrhea for more than 2 days should see a doctor
- Diarrhea with a dense and prolonged frequency for more than 2 days despite applying home remedies.
- Diarrhea accompanied by severe abdominal pain.
- Diarrhea, high fever above 38 degrees, and severe vomiting despite not eating anything.
- Stool with blood, mucus, or entirely liquid.
- Severe headaches, blurred vision, and serious dizziness.
Whether late pregnancy diarrhea in pregnant women is severe or not depends on accompanying symptoms. If it's just diarrhea, you can apply the safe diarrhea control measures above. Alternatively, for safety, you can consult a doctor. Always maintain a healthy diet for yourself and ensure a healthy baby, mom!
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