Diarrhea Treatment During Pregnancy
Treating diarrhea during pregnancy can be quite tricky, as the use of most medication is strongly discouraged. Therefore, the question that is foremost in the minds of most pregnant women is “How to treat diarrhea during pregnancy?” Moreover, dealing with diet cravings and the problem of diarrhea at the same time can be quite difficult. Fortunately, there are a couple of home remedies that you can use, to treat diarrhea during pregnancy and to stabilize your digestive system:
• The BRAT diet: BRAT stands for Bananas, Rice, Apples and Toast. These foods work wonders in controlling diarrhea. The rice included in the BRAT diet should be brown rice and the toast should be made using whole wheat bread. Instead of spreading butter or jam on the toast, applesauce should be used. The fiber present in these cereals bulk up the stools, like the psyllium fiber supplement, which is known as Metamucil.
• Fiber: During diarrhea, it is advisable to stay away from processed foods and switch over to a diet that his high in fiber, to prevent diarrhea in the future. Fiber can easily be found in most fresh fruits, vegetables and grains. There is no fiber present in red meat, which should be avoided if you suffer from diarrhea during pregnancy.
• Cheese: Eating cheddar cheese can help solidify the stool, enabling it to pass properly. However, processed cheese, like cheese spreads or American cheese should be avoided.
Many medications for diarrhea during pregnancy are quite potent and can have the opposite effect wherein the pregnant woman then suffers from constipation. This sometimes leads to a vicious cycle in which each dose of medicine has immediate and drastic effects and this can cause severe digestive distress. In addition to diarrhea, you may experience bloating and acidity. Digestive problems during pregnancy are often caused by the fluctuations in hormonal levels and so mediation will only provide temporary results. You can however, use home remedies such as psyllium husk mixed in water or milk to prevent and treat diarrhea during pregnancy. Psyllium husk is made up of fiber and so it helps to regulate the digestive system. This natural remedy for diarrhea during pregnancy is especially beneficial as it helps to promote bowel movements.
In case you suffer from diarrhea during pregnancy, do make sure that you remain well-hydrated. Drink a lot of water and fluids to ensure that the diarrhea does not lead to dehydration. In case the diarrhea persists after a couple of days, please get in touch with your gynecologist.
Submitted by P T on July 22, 2010 at 12:31