Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDiarrhea in PregnancyWhen to Be ConcernedManaging at Home
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Diarrhea in Pregnancy
When to Be Concerned
Managing at Home
When you havediarrheaduring pregnancy, does pregnancy itself cause it? It depends. Certain physical and hormonalchanges during pregnancythat affect the digestive system could sometimes be to blame. Diarrhea can also happen due to an infection, diet, or another health condition.
This article provides an overview of what to expect if you experience diarrhea during pregnancy, its potential causes, and how to treat it.
Diarrhea During Early, Middle, or Late Pregnancy: What’s Normal?
Some pregnant people may find that early-pregnancyhormonal changes or digestive discomfortmight come with an occasional bout of diarrhea. Late-pregnancy diarrhea could potentially be a sign that labor is getting close, though that’s not always the case.
Other causes, like contracting a viral infection or experiencing a gastrointestinal (digestive system) condition, can result in diarrhea, whether pregnant or not.
Common Causes
Some of the most common reasons you might be experiencing diarrhea during pregnancy include:
In addition, pregnant people can also experience diarrhea from non-pregnancy-related causes, including:
Other Symptoms
When Is Pregnancy Diarrhea Concerning?
Stomach issues during pregnancy, like diarrhea, morning sickness, and heartburn, can be bothersome—but they’re not always a cause for concern.
A short-term case of diarrhea usually means the cause is an infection, food poisoning, or another temporary factor. Contact a healthcare provider if diarrhea lasts longer than two days.
Diarrhea can lead to dehydration (loss of body water). Pregnant people should take extra precautions and check with a healthcare provider for diarrhea symptoms that extend past a few days. Dehydration has the potential to impact pregnancy andfetal development.
Diarrhea that lasts longer than a couple of weeks can point to another health condition or a side effect of a medication.
When Is Diarrhea Considered Severe?
A healthcare provider will be able to tell whether your diarrhea is a more urgent issue. During pregnancy, diarrhea may be considered severe if it:
Hospitalization
A severe or long-lasting bout of diarrhea may require hospitalization.
They’ll also check for signs like a fever, bloody stool, fast heart rate, abdominal pain, or drop in blood pressure to help decide whether hospitalization is needed.If that’s the case, you’ll be givenintravenous (IV) fluidsto rehydrate, and you may need to rest at the hospital until your diarrhea and any accompanying symptoms are under control.
How to Manage Diarrhea During Pregnancy at Home
Treating diarrheaat home focuses on replacing lost fluids andelectrolytes(charged minerals in the blood) to prevent dehydration, which could become serious during pregnancy.
Fortunately, many common diarrhea causes are short-term and manageable at home with some careful monitoring. Experts generally recommend the following strategies:
If your diarrhea is mild with no additional symptoms (like pain, fever, or cramping) but still isn’t clearing up with home remedies after a couple of days,check with a healthcare provider. Some cases of diarrhea may be linked to other medical conditions.
Summary
Diarrhea can happen during pregnancy due to factors like infections, hormone changes, or underlying health conditions. While it’s usually not a cause for alarm, it’s important to stay hydrated to replace lost fluids. Pregnant people should consult with a healthcare provider before taking any antidiarrheal medication, and seek medical attention if symptoms haven’t cleared up after two days.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.FAQs: problems of the digestive system.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Lower gastrointestinal tract disorders.University of Rochester Medical Center.Pregnancy: how your digestion changes.Edwards SM, Cunningham SA, Dunlop AL, Corwin EJ.The maternal gut microbiome during pregnancy.MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs. 2017;42(6):310‐317. doi:10.1097/NMC.0000000000000372Body C, Christie JA.Gastrointestinal diseases in pregnancy: nausea, vomiting, hyperemesis gravidarum, gastroesophageal reflux disease, constipation, and diarrhea.Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2016;45(2):267-83. doi:10.1016/j.gtc.2016.02.005Bae SH.Diets for constipation.Pediatr Gastroenterol Hepatol Nutr. 2014;17(4):203-8. doi:10.5223/pghn.2014.17.4.203MedlinePlus.Drug-induced diarrhea.MedlinePlus.Am I in labor?.MedlinePlus.Diarrhea.Corinaldesi R, Stanghellini V, Barbara G, Tomassetti P, De Giorgio R.Clinical approach to diarrhea.Intern Emerg Med. 2012;7 Suppl 3:255‐262. doi:10.1007/s11739-012-0827-4Gregory DS, Wu V, Tuladhar P.The pregnant patient: managing common acute medical problems.Am Fam Physician.2018;98(9):595-602.Mulyani EY, Hardinsyah, Briawan D, Santoso BI, Jus’at I.Effect of dehydration during pregnancy on birth weight and length in West Jakarta.J Nutr Sci. 2021;10:e70. doi:10.1017/jns.2021.59Dekate P, Jayashree M, Singhi SC.Management of acute diarrhea in emergency room.Indian J Pediatr. 2013;80(3):235‐246. doi:10.1007/s12098-012-0909-3American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.FAQs: morning sickness: nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.FAQs: problems of the digestive system.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Lower gastrointestinal tract disorders.University of Rochester Medical Center.Pregnancy: how your digestion changes.Edwards SM, Cunningham SA, Dunlop AL, Corwin EJ.The maternal gut microbiome during pregnancy.MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs. 2017;42(6):310‐317. doi:10.1097/NMC.0000000000000372Body C, Christie JA.Gastrointestinal diseases in pregnancy: nausea, vomiting, hyperemesis gravidarum, gastroesophageal reflux disease, constipation, and diarrhea.Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2016;45(2):267-83. doi:10.1016/j.gtc.2016.02.005Bae SH.Diets for constipation.Pediatr Gastroenterol Hepatol Nutr. 2014;17(4):203-8. doi:10.5223/pghn.2014.17.4.203MedlinePlus.Drug-induced diarrhea.MedlinePlus.Am I in labor?.MedlinePlus.Diarrhea.Corinaldesi R, Stanghellini V, Barbara G, Tomassetti P, De Giorgio R.Clinical approach to diarrhea.Intern Emerg Med. 2012;7 Suppl 3:255‐262. doi:10.1007/s11739-012-0827-4Gregory DS, Wu V, Tuladhar P.The pregnant patient: managing common acute medical problems.Am Fam Physician.2018;98(9):595-602.Mulyani EY, Hardinsyah, Briawan D, Santoso BI, Jus’at I.Effect of dehydration during pregnancy on birth weight and length in West Jakarta.J Nutr Sci. 2021;10:e70. doi:10.1017/jns.2021.59Dekate P, Jayashree M, Singhi SC.Management of acute diarrhea in emergency room.Indian J Pediatr. 2013;80(3):235‐246. doi:10.1007/s12098-012-0909-3American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.FAQs: morning sickness: nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.FAQs: problems of the digestive system.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Lower gastrointestinal tract disorders.University of Rochester Medical Center.Pregnancy: how your digestion changes.Edwards SM, Cunningham SA, Dunlop AL, Corwin EJ.The maternal gut microbiome during pregnancy.MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs. 2017;42(6):310‐317. doi:10.1097/NMC.0000000000000372Body C, Christie JA.Gastrointestinal diseases in pregnancy: nausea, vomiting, hyperemesis gravidarum, gastroesophageal reflux disease, constipation, and diarrhea.Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2016;45(2):267-83. doi:10.1016/j.gtc.2016.02.005Bae SH.Diets for constipation.Pediatr Gastroenterol Hepatol Nutr. 2014;17(4):203-8. doi:10.5223/pghn.2014.17.4.203MedlinePlus.Drug-induced diarrhea.MedlinePlus.Am I in labor?.MedlinePlus.Diarrhea.Corinaldesi R, Stanghellini V, Barbara G, Tomassetti P, De Giorgio R.Clinical approach to diarrhea.Intern Emerg Med. 2012;7 Suppl 3:255‐262. doi:10.1007/s11739-012-0827-4Gregory DS, Wu V, Tuladhar P.The pregnant patient: managing common acute medical problems.Am Fam Physician.2018;98(9):595-602.Mulyani EY, Hardinsyah, Briawan D, Santoso BI, Jus’at I.Effect of dehydration during pregnancy on birth weight and length in West Jakarta.J Nutr Sci. 2021;10:e70. doi:10.1017/jns.2021.59Dekate P, Jayashree M, Singhi SC.Management of acute diarrhea in emergency room.Indian J Pediatr. 2013;80(3):235‐246. doi:10.1007/s12098-012-0909-3American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.FAQs: morning sickness: nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.FAQs: problems of the digestive system.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Lower gastrointestinal tract disorders.
University of Rochester Medical Center.Pregnancy: how your digestion changes.
Edwards SM, Cunningham SA, Dunlop AL, Corwin EJ.The maternal gut microbiome during pregnancy.MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs. 2017;42(6):310‐317. doi:10.1097/NMC.0000000000000372
Body C, Christie JA.Gastrointestinal diseases in pregnancy: nausea, vomiting, hyperemesis gravidarum, gastroesophageal reflux disease, constipation, and diarrhea.Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2016;45(2):267-83. doi:10.1016/j.gtc.2016.02.005
Bae SH.Diets for constipation.Pediatr Gastroenterol Hepatol Nutr. 2014;17(4):203-8. doi:10.5223/pghn.2014.17.4.203
MedlinePlus.Drug-induced diarrhea.
MedlinePlus.Am I in labor?.
MedlinePlus.Diarrhea.
Corinaldesi R, Stanghellini V, Barbara G, Tomassetti P, De Giorgio R.Clinical approach to diarrhea.Intern Emerg Med. 2012;7 Suppl 3:255‐262. doi:10.1007/s11739-012-0827-4
Gregory DS, Wu V, Tuladhar P.The pregnant patient: managing common acute medical problems.Am Fam Physician.2018;98(9):595-602.
Mulyani EY, Hardinsyah, Briawan D, Santoso BI, Jus’at I.Effect of dehydration during pregnancy on birth weight and length in West Jakarta.J Nutr Sci. 2021;10:e70. doi:10.1017/jns.2021.59
Dekate P, Jayashree M, Singhi SC.Management of acute diarrhea in emergency room.Indian J Pediatr. 2013;80(3):235‐246. doi:10.1007/s12098-012-0909-3
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.FAQs: morning sickness: nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.
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