Diarrhea during pregnancy
Diarrhea is not one of the typical symptoms that occur during pregnancy. Due to the body’s restructuring processes and hormonal influence, the opposite is more likely to occur, namely constipation. If diarrhoea occurs during pregnancy, it is not always necessary to think of something extraordinary that is triggered by the pregnancy or that indicates a complication of the pregnancy.
In most cases, the conventional causes are also possible, as in the case of non-pregnant women – a gastrointestinal infection, irritable bowel syndrome, food intolerances or similar. Diarrhea during pregnancy can be harmless and can occur in early pregnancy as well as nausea and vomiting. The exact cause is not known here, but stress, diet and changes in hormone status do influence intestinal activity.
In the initial phase of pregnancy, mild diarrhea is often caused by a change in diet, because pregnant women often change their diet to healthy food as a result of the pregnancy. To it the body must adjust itself only, so that in the initial phase partial diarrhea can occur. The beginning light diarrhea is however no indication that the healthy nutrition is not bekömmlich, the intestine is at first simply not yet accustomed to it.
The healthy nutrition can/should therefore be continued. If diarrhea occurs at the beginning of the pregnancy and then frequently alternates with constipation and flatulence, this is nothing unusual and can be seen as a sign of a change in the body during pregnancy. Particularly in late pregnancy, changes in bowel movements often occur due to the altered position of the colon in the abdominal cavity because of displacement by the growing embryo in the uterus.
The primary cause is constipation, which leads to episodes of diarrhea (paradoxical diarrhea). As the uterus presses more and more on the intestine towards the end of the pregnancy, the onset of diarrhoea can also indicate the beginning of birth. If severe diarrhoea occurs during pregnancy, special care should be taken to replenish the lost fluids and salts.
For example, a reduced potassium level can be harmful to mother and child. If the diarrhoea lasts longer than three days, a doctor should be consulted for clarification. This also applies if there is a suspicion of diarrhoea caused by an infection, which is usually accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
In the case of infections, it must always be prevented that they are passed on to the child and, for example, cause premature birth. Therapeutically, it is advisable during pregnancy to use household remedies rather than taking medication. If the symptoms do not improve under it, it should be discussed together with the physician, which medicines can be taken also in the pregnancy.
Diarrhoea in babies or small children is usually caused by an infection with viruses or bacteria. Often gastrointestinal infections in children are also associated with fever, which further increases the need for fluids. As babies in particular are very sensitive to a severe loss of fluid, i.e. they become sleepy and flabby very quickly, it is essential to ensure that they have a sufficient fluid intake.
For this purpose, mixtures of electrolytes (salts) and glucose (sugar) are particularly suitable in the case of diarrhea in infants and children, as they can be purchased in pharmacies, for example. If the children refuse to do this or if fluid intake cannot be guaranteed, it is essential to consult a pediatrician at an early stage. The pediatrician can then decide whether it is advisable to give the child fluid at the clinic by means of infusions.However, diarrhea in children must always be considered as food intolerances or a lack of certain digestive enzymes.
In this case, the stools are rather mushy, greasy and usually malodorous, since the food components are not sufficiently broken down and thus are fermented by the bacteria in the intestine. The affected children also often show failure to thrive due to an insufficient supply of calories and vitamins. The two most common food intolerances are described in more detail below.
Lactose intolerance: Here the enzyme lactase is missing, which is supposed to break down milk sugar (lactose) so that the individual products can be absorbed through the intestinal wall. This enzyme deficiency can be congenital or manifest itself in the course of the child’s development (children usually become symptomatic between the ages of 3 and 13). Since sugar, which remains in the intestinal lumen, binds a lot of water and salts, diarrhea occurs with severe loss of fluids and salt.
In addition, the children are malnourished, as there is not enough calorie intake. The therapy consists of a lactose-free diet and the compensation of fluid and electrolyte loss. Celiac disease: Here there is an intolerance to gluten.
Gluten is a gluten protein, which occurs in many types of grain (including wheat, spelt, rye, oats, barley). In celiac disease, the upper small intestine is particularly affected, which can also lead to deficiency symptoms of iron and folic acid, among other things, due to a change in the mucous membrane of the small intestine. The diagnosis can be confirmed by detecting certain antibodies in the blood (gliadin antibodies) and a tissue sample from the small intestine.
In therapy, a gluten-free diet is the first priority. The following product bases contain no gluten: Often in the context of celiac disease, due to the faster passage of food through the gastrointestinal tract, there is also a lack of vitamins and minerals, which should definitely be compensated by medication. In addition, certain diseases often occur together with celiac disease.
These include diabetes mellitus (diabetes), dermatitis herpetiformis Duhring (a skin disease with blister formation) and IgA deficiency (a disease of the immune system).
- Millet
- Corn
- Rice
- Buckwheat
- Soya
Since the immune system is not yet fully developed in babies, they are more likely to develop infections, such as a gastrointestinal infection. A baby is called diarrhea if the baby has more than five thin stools per day.
Especially with small children and old people, one has to take care that diarrhoea does not lead to dehydration. As already mentioned, the cause of diarrhoea in babies is usually an infection. Mostly viral pathogens play a role.
Rota and noroviruses are leading in this case. Usually these diseases are accompanied by additional vomiting and fever. If the diarrhea smells particularly strong or is at the same time very shiny, this can also indicate a metabolic disease such as coeliac disease (gluten intolerance).
Since babies/children have a high water content in relation to the rest of their body weight, they can potentially lose a lot of water, so there is a particular risk of dehydration. Babies under six months are particularly at risk. When dehydration begins, babies often appear limp and listless.
The fontanel (the area of the skull that is not yet ossified) is sunken in them. In addition, skin folds formed with the fingers remain and do not immediately recede. If these symptoms occur, a doctor should definitely be consulted.
If the child is being breastfed, it should definitely continue to be breastfed, but in small quantities so that the liquid that has been drunk is not lost again immediately. If the child is not being breastfed, tea (e.g. chamomile tea) can be given in portions instead of breast milk – the tea can be mixed with a pinch of salt and a little sugar (approximately per cup). If it is not possible to rehydrate the baby or if the diarrhea lasts longer, a doctor should be consulted.
The causes of diarrhoea in small children are similar to those of adults. However, small children are even more susceptible to infections because their immune system has not yet come into contact with so many pathogens and is therefore not always able to eliminate the pathogen before an infection breaks out. Noro- and rotaviruses are also the main causes of gastrointestinal infections with severe diarrhea in small children.
In addition, food intolerances can also cause diarrhoea.The change from breastfeeding to solid food can also be accompanied by diarrhea in the initial phase, as the gastrointestinal tract is not yet accustomed to this task, the processing of solid food. In contrast to a baby, diarrhea is referred to as diarrhea in a toddler from three thin stools per day (the same applies to adults). Care should be taken to ensure that the child drinks enough.
It is best to feed the liquid in portions with a spoon. Still mineral water and camomile or fennel tea are particularly suitable for this. Vegetable broths are also suitable for replenishing both the fluid and salt balance.
