We may look for every single change that may take place in our body to see if that may be a sign of pregnancy. Diarrhea is one amongst those changes that may take place in your body during early pregnancy. There has been a number of links that have been associated between diarrhea and pregnancy. But is diarrhea an early sign of pregnancy? Or does it mean that you are going to conceive? Of course, there is a lot of curiosity between all of this. So, in this article, we will find out the answers to all your possible questions related to diarrhea and pregnancy.

Diarrhea in Early Pregnancy: Things You Need to Know

What causes diarrhea during pregnancy?

There is nothing surprising if you experience diarrhea during pregnancy. In fact, it is pretty common. But what causes diarrhea in the early pregnancy at first place? On finding out that you are pregnant, you may try to suddenly make changes to your diet to ensure that you and your baby gets all the essential nutrients. Now, this sudden change in the diet can lead to an upset stomach or diarrhea.

In addition to this, another reason is the sensitivity to some particular foods. Even if you ate some food items very often before your pregnancy, eating them during pregnancy can still make your stomach upset.

And sometimes, hormonal changes also become the reason for an upset stomach or diarrhea. Of course, every pregnant woman goes through these changes but some can experience diarrhea early in their pregnancy as a result of these changes.

Last but not the least, bacterial or viral infection could also be the reason for an upset stomach or diarrhea during pregnancy.

Diarrhea during third trimester

Diarrhea during third trimester is very common during pregnancy. It may occur right before your labor or a few weeks before labor. Diarrhea may be a sign that the labor is near. However, you should not expect premature birth if you experience diarrhea a few weeks before the due date.

But experiencing diarrhea during the third trimester does not mean that your baby is coming at that very moment. There is no need to be alarmed as you must also be aware of other labor signs. May be, this is just a way your body is preparing for the labor that may start at some point.

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How to treat diarrhea during pregnancy?

Generally, diarrhea may not require any medical attention and may get cured on its own. When one is suffering from diarrhea, it is important to make sure that they stay hydrated. You must drink plenty of juice, water and broth to enable your body to replace the lost electrolytes. Drinking juice will help to replenish the potassium levels and broth, for replenishing the sodium.

However, if you still suffer from the same and you do not notice any improvements, you must consult a doctor. This is because, in case the diarrhea has been caused due to the parasites or bacteria, there will be a need for you to take antibiotics. But if some virus is responsible for causing diarrhea during pregnancy, antibiotics will not be of any help. You must talk to your doctor in order to find out the exact cause of your diarrhea and thus, the best suited treatment to cure the same.

What is traveler’s diarrhea?

This is one of the most common illness that affect travellers every year. Consuming food or water contaminated with fecal matter is the main source of traveller’s diarrhea. Thus, it is important for you to know the area of your destination and if it is at a higher risk of diarrhea.  South America, Asia, Africa and Middle East are some of the countries that are at a higher risk of diarrhea. Pregnant women should be careful about what they consume while traveling.

Precautions: Diarrhea during early pregnancy

If you would be travelling to an area that is at a higher risk of diarrhea, you must follow certain precautions in order to avoid traveller’s diarrhea. Listed below are a few ways that can help you avoid diarrhea during pregnancy while travelling:

• Do not eat fruits that can’t be peeled.
• Stay away from street vendors.
• Avoid tap water at all costs, which mean that you do not have to drink it, brush your teeth with it or even use ice cubes made from it.
• Say no to areas with inadequate sanitation.

Conclusion

Diarrhea cannot be considered as a reliable sign of pregnancy. There are other signs and symptoms that you must look for if you are trying to conceive, for instance, positive pregnancy test or a missed period. These would probably be the best and much more reliable indicators. Moreover, if you are suffering from diarrhea, focus more on increasing your liquid intake as that may help to improve your condition.