Although diarrhea or loose stools are not a very common problem during pregnancy, pregnant women can also experience this problem. And ten people have diarrhea for the same reasons, pregnant women can also have diarrhea.

Moreover, during pregnancy, certain factors can contribute to diarrhea. However, generally, consuming an adequate amount of water to keep the body hydrated does not typically lead to severe diarrhea issues.

Diarrhea refers to frequent—three times a day or more—poor stools. The stool may be slightly softer than normal stool or may be completely liquid. You may also experience bloating nausea and abdominal pain. The stomach may feel queasy. There may be frequent urges to go to the bathroom.

What Causes of diarrhea in pregnancy

All of the same causes of loose stools during pregnancy can also cause diarrhea during pregnancy. For example –

1. Food poisoning
2. Any other disease of the digestive system caused by a virus or bacteria
3. Side effects of medication. For example: Antibiotics can cause diarrhea
4. Traveller's Diarrhea can be caused by long journeys and irregular eating habits.
5. 'Lactose intolerant,' which means those who have trouble digesting dairy products can experience diarrhea when consuming milk or dairy-based foods.
6. Caffeine, such as in tea or coffee consumption, can lead to diarrhea for many individuals or worsen diarrhea-related issues.
7. Various other medical conditions can be responsible for diarrhea. Such as: Crohn's disease, Celiac disease, IBS, Hyper-thyroidism.

However, in the case of experiencing frequent loose stools during pregnancy, there may be additional specific factors at play that are directly related to pregnancy itself. For example –

1. Physical Changes: During pregnancy, your body undergoes various changes. At this time, your growing uterus exerts pressure on your abdomen. During pregnancy, the normal movement of food through the digestive tract can be obstructed, resulting in various problems. Such as: Heartburn, Nausea and vomiting, Stomach discomfort, Constipation or Diarhea.

2. Changes in Dietary Habits: After becoming pregnant, it is important to be mindful of what mothers are eating or not eating. Some may suddenly switch from an unhealthy diet to a nutritious, balanced one. Adapting to such sudden changes can be challenging for your digestive system and may lead to diarrhea or gastrointestinal discomfort.

3. Vitamin and Mineral Tablets During Pregnancy: Various tablets are given to you to ensure that you get all the nutrients your body needs in the right amount during pregnancy. For example: folic acid, iron, zinc. These tablets are very important for your child's development. But they can create some side effects in the body.

Taking prenatal vitamin tablets during pregnancy can sometimes result in nausea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal discomfort being the most commonly observed side effects.But in some cases, diarrhea can also occur along with this.

How To Home Remedies for Diarrhea During Pregnancy

Sometimes mild diarrhea clears up on its own after a day or two. But like nausea or heartburn during pregnancy, loose stools can be just an uncomfortable symptom.Home remedies for diarrhea during pregnancy that you can follow:

1. Consuming enough water and liquid food

When diarrhea occurs a significant amount of water is expelled from the body along with stools. Water is very important for the normal functioning of the body's processes.. So drink more water to replenish the lost water.

Various liquids (such as soup or juice) can also be consumed with water. But try to avoid tea, coffee or milk and milk products. They can excite diarrhea.

2. Eat easily digestible foods

Foods that are easily digested won't exert extra pressure on your digestive system when consumed. These foods include—

1. Kachankala
2. white rice
3. Toast Biscuits
4. boiled potatoes

Chicken or vegetable soups—these are available in packet form in the market and can be easily prepared with just hot water.

If the stomach is upset, many people keep only white rice or barley rice in the food list. Instead, you can mix boiled or cooked raw vegetables with rice. Research has shown that, bananas play an effective role in reducing diarrhea and vomiting.

Diarrhea or vomiting causes the body to lose potassium along with water and other salts. Ripe bananas contain a lot of potassium, which is also easy to digest. Therefore, you can eat ripe bananas to fill the lack of potassium.

At the same time certain foods should be carefully avoided. For example –

1. Milk and dairy products
2. Extra salty food
3. oily food
4. Fried food

3. Food is saline

It is generally advised to take one packet of Ursaline diluted in half a liter of water after every bowel movement. Even if you don't have a packet of food saline at home, you can prepare food saline at home.

Apart from this, chira water, rice starch or canned water can also be consumed. You can add a little salt to the rice flour. If you feel nauseous, try taking small sips of saline.

4. Maintain cleanliness

If you have loose stools, germs from your digestive tract can easily pass into your urinary tract and cause an infection. So it is very important to ensure cleanliness if you have a slimy toilet. Wash thoroughly from front to back with water after every toilet. Wash your hands with soap or handwash before leaving the bathroom.

Medicines for diarrhea in pregnancy

No medication is usually used for diarrhea during pregnancy. Treatment is to prevent dehydration with food saline, water and liquid food.

In very severe cases a drug called 'Loperamide' can be used, but in very little amounts.

 The safety of this medication during pregnancy doesn't yet know in researched Therefore, it is better not to use the medicine during pregnancy without doctor's advice.

When to consult a doctor

Diarhea is usually mild and resolves on its own within a short period of time. However, if the following symptoms appear you should go to the hospital or consult a doctor

1. If diarrhea lasts more than two days
2. 6 or more bowel movements in 24 hours
3. Abdominal pull feels like the pull of labor
4. Movement of the fetus decreases
5. If the temperature is 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
6. Symptoms of dehydration occur
7. Frequent vomiting
8. If there is red blood in stool or black sticky stool like tar
9. Pus with stool
10. If there is severe pain in the lower abdomen or toilet
11. Instead of getting better, the diarrhea worsened

Signs of dehydration

In some cases, diarrhea can be severe, resulting in the loss of large amounts of water from the body with the stool. This dehydration is the worst complication of diarrhea.

Dehydration can cause various abnormalities in the body, especially blood salt levels, which are dangerous for you. Therefore, it is very important to replenish the lack of water in the body by consuming more water and liquid food in case of diarrhea.

Symptoms that may occur when dehydration develops—

1. Frequent thirst
2. dry mouth
3. Passing less urine than usual
4. Dark colored urine
5. tiredness
6. turn head

If the skin is pinched and released after a while, it does not return immediately or takes longer than usual
Dizziness or feeling that the eyelids have entered
Contact your doctor immediately if these symptoms occur.

Some common misconceptions about diarrhea in pregnancy

Diarrhea is a symptom of pregnancy

Hormonal changes in the body during early pregnancy can cause some stomach problems including loose stools. But diarrhea is never a definite sign of pregnancy.

When you're pregnant one of the first signs you may notice is the absence of your period. Apart from this you may also observe some symptoms like breast tenderness, dizziness, nausea, and so on. Subsequently, pregnancy can be confirmed through a pregnancy test.

Diarrhea increases the chances of miscarriage

Pregnant women often worry that diarrhea have a negative effect on the unborn child or cause miscarriage. Abdominal pain accompanied by loose stools may feel like labor pains.

However, your reproductive system and digestive tract are two completely different body systems. Diarrhea during pregnancy usually does not have any negative effects on the pregnancy if the dehydration and infection are properly treated.

Diarrhea in late pregnancy is a sign of labor

Prostaglandin is an important chemical in our body that also aids in childbirth. Its levels increase in the body towards the end of pregnancy. This can result in loose stools. This usually occurs two days before delivery but may not occur in all cases.

Therefore, diarrhea towards the end of pregnancy can be considered as the time of delivery is approaching. However, there are some stronger signs of labor that will help you prepare for labor more precisely. For example: Abdominal tension or labor pains, water breaking, blood-tinged discharge.