Anouk
van der Velden
obstetric - team pink - specialisations - ultrasound technician
Causes of diarrhea
Many pregnancy ailments you may experience during pregnancy are caused by pregnancy hormones. However, this is not the case with diarrhea. Diarrhea is caused by inflammation in the lining of the intestinal wall. This causes your intestinal wall to not absorb enough moisture from food, causing thin stools. Usually, this is due to a virus or bacteria. However, diarrhea can also be due to food poisoning, or bacteria and viruses that are on the food you have consumed. Within 24 hours, you will experience diarrhea, which may include vomiting. Diarrhea can also occur during pregnancy due to pressure on the intestines, because of the growth of the uterus and your baby.
Our tips & advice
- Drink at least two to three liters of water in a day.
- Rice pudding is an old remedy.
- Eat grated apple or slightly unripe bananas.
- Use ORS (available at pharmacies/drugstores)
If you are in doubt about your symptoms, always contact your doctor or one of our midwives.
Prevent dehydration
If you have severe diarrhea or if it lasts too long, it can cause you to become dehydrated. It is important to drink at least 2 to 3 liters of fluids a day. If you notice that you are getting sick, getting a headache, experiencing dark urine or feeling dizzy or drowsy, these could be signs of dehydration. In that case, it is definitely advisable to contact your doctor. You will then need to be given extra fluids. Fortunately, this will have no immediate impact on your baby and your baby is still safe in your belly. Do you have further questions about diarrhea during pregnancy or other discomforts? Feel free to ask one of our midwives. She will be happy to tell you more.