Tummy Troubles During Pregnancy

When you're expecting, it's easy to worry that when you aren't feeling great it may affect your pregnancy or your unborn child. Will a nasty cold make the baby sick too? What about bronchitis, or ear infection?

Some women become concerned about diarrhea and constipation, fearing that either might cause a miscarriage. This isn't a far-fetched fear. The cramping associated with diarrhea can feel a lot like the cramping that occurs during a miscarriage. If you have to strain to have a bowel movement, could you push out the baby as well? If you’ve had a baby before, you may remember that pushing at the end of labor uses a lot of the same abdominal muscles.

Not only that, the uterus and bowels are both in the same general area of the body. However, the bodily systems that each belong to are completely separate. The reproductive organs function independently from the digestive organs.

Pregnancy can bring about all sorts of changes in your bowels, thanks to changes in your hormones as well as physical shifts that take place as your uterus grows, crowding your internal organs and interfering with how they function; the motility of your bowels; and the way your body uses fluids.

So although it's common to become constipated or to develop diarrhea during pregnancy, neither will be a threat to your baby. Even so, you may have to cope with the consequences.

There are many common causes of diarrhea during pregnancy and it's rarely something to worry about. Usually, diarrhea will subside on its own within a day or two. If it doesn't and you have other symptoms, however, diarrhea can be a sign of infection. Although it doesn’t cause miscarriage, diarrhea can affect a pregnancy. An occasional loose stool can be normal, but if you have any of the following, call your doctor:

• Diarrhea for more than 3 days
• Fever of 100.4 F or higher
• Severe pain in your abdomen or rectum
• Blood in your stool
• Black, tarry stool
• Signs of dehydration, including dark or decreased amounts of urine (or no urine at all); dizziness; dry mouth; a headache; nausea and vomiting; and weakness. 

If you do have diarrhea, staying hydrated is vital. Get plenty of fluids, but stick to water or sports drinks; some fruit juices and milk can make diarrhea worse. Don’t take any over-the-counter medications for diarrhea without asking your obstetrician or midwife if it's OK.

Early during pregnancy, most women become constipated at least occasionally. Constipation is rarely dangerous, but it can be very uncomfortable. The best treatment for constipation is prevention.

If you are having difficulty with bowel movements or passing hard, dry stools, you should benefit from the following at-home treatments:

• Drink plenty of fluids
• Get more fiber, especially from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
• Be more active. Simply walking can help keep your digestive system moving along

As with diarrhea medications, don't take anything for constipation without checking with your caregiver. Constipation that's prolonged and severe often can be relieved with a stool softener or gentle laxative.