Loose motion during pregnancy are discomforting. Frequent bowel movements or loose and watery stools are the early indicators that you are having active diarrhea.
If you are having more than 3 times loose bowel movement in a day, then you are having diarrhea.
Loose motion during pregnancy neither has any relation with hormonal imbalance nor does it indicate anything. They are normally caused due to external factors such as stomach infection or improper diet.
Too much diarrhea is troublesome as it can lead to prolonged dehydration during pregnancy. This further can have the widespread negative impact on both the mother and the developing fetus.
In this article, the causes behind loose motion during pregnancy and the ways to cure them are discussed in depth.
Table of Contents
Home Remedies For Loose Motion During Pregnancy
Home remedies can be helpful when you are suffering from frequent loose motions. Some of the common methods are listed below-
1.Mustard Seeds
Dissolve the ¼ teaspoon of mustard seeds in a tablespoon of water and leave it still for an hour. Then use this water as a regular oral tonic.
Repeat this process two to three times a day to get rid of loose motion. Mustard seeds are said to have good antibacterial properties and work to remove the bad bacteria’s from the gut that cause loose motions.
2.Lemonade
Lemon juice has anti-bacterial properties that will help in easily cleaning toxins from the stomach.
Take a glass of water to add lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of salt along with a tablespoon of sugar. Mix it well and then consume this lemonade every hour till you feel that the toxins have been flushed out.
3.Pomegranate
Pomegranate effectively helps in reducing the loose motion symptoms especially dehydration. With loose motions your body ends up losing sodium and minerals, so pomegranate works by replenishing the nutrient intake in your body.Pomegranate fruit or pomegranate juice or both can be taken to stop continuous bowel motions.
4. Methi Or Fenugreek Seeds
Fenugreek has excellent antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. And at the same time they are efficient to maintain a healthy gut.
Take 1-2 teaspoons of dried fenugreek seeds in powdered form along with a glass of water every morning on an empty stomach to get relief from loose motions during pregnancy.
5.Honey
Honey is a natural medicine that can cure a lot of health related issues. Take a teaspoon of fresh, pure honey (especially organic honey) and add ½ a teaspoon of cinnamon powder in a glass of lukewarm water.
Mix it well before drinking. Repeat this process for two days.This will reduce any sort of bladder infections and thereby loose motions.
6.Buttermilk
Buttermilk is considered to be an effective health drink in India. It is used from tradiitonal times to cure nay gastrointestinal issue or any stomach issue. It gives a soothing and cooling effect.
And it also has the ability to fight the bacterial infection in the stomach by promoting the growth of good bacteria in the gut.Consume it at least two to three times a day can help you relief your diarrhea symptoms.
7. Sago
Sago is an effective ingredient for reducing stomach pains and for proper digestion.Soak sago in enough water for three hours. Leave it still. Next, drink this water sip by sip throughout the day for good results.
8.Health Drink
Turmeric has many medicinal properties like anti-bacterial, anti-oxidative and antiseptic. It can cure any sort of digestive issue easily and it also strengthens the immune system to fight diseases.
Take some Turmeric powder along with a pinch of asafetida, curry leaves, a pinch of salt and add a tablespoon of curd to it.
Boil this mixture in water. Drain the remaining water. You can drink this mixture twice a day for three days or until the symptoms subside.
9. Stay Hydrated
If you are suffering from severe loose motion, it is an after effect that body will lose lots of water. Hence, it is very important for you to maintain the quantity of water in the body.
Drinking 8 to 12 glasses of water daily can help a lot. You should also make it a habit of consuming certain healthy soups or fruit juice. Electrolyte powder mixed in water will also provide you relief from stomachache.1
Coconut water is also a very good agent that will keep you hydrated and provide a soothing effect to your stomach during loose motions.
10.Mint
Mint leaves have been used since ancient time to treat loose motions or diarrhea as it has antibacterial properties and helps in quick digestion.
You can chew one or two mint leaves every day after meals or extract mint juice from fresh mint leaves by blending it and draining its juice.
Taking this juice along with honey and lemonade to cure loose stools
11. Bael Leaf Powder
Bael leaves and the Bael fruit which is also known as wood apple is an excellent ingredient that will help in soothing stomach muscles and help in reducing loose motion problems.
Take pieces of dried Bael leaves and fruit powder and mix it with 2-3 tablespoons of honey. Take this mixture 3-4 times a day and repeat it every day until the symptoms of loose motions subside.
You can also boil the Bael leaves. Drinking this boiled water can also provide you with relief.
12.Bottle Gourd Juice
Bottle gourd juice can help in maintaining the lost water during loose motion.
Smash the bottle gourd and blend it in a mixer along with Luke warm water. Take this juice 2-3 times a day till your loose motion is stopped.
13.Dry Ginger Powder
Ginger has anti-fungal and antibacterial properties. It acts as a soothing agent for stomach pains and helps in improving digestion.
Add 1/2 teaspoon of dry ginger powder in a cup of buttermilk. Mix it well and drink this mixture three to four times a day.
This can help you in getting rid of loose motion. You can also boil ginger in water and take this along with a teaspoon of honey.
14. Raw Papaya
The health benefits of papaya are numerous from providing the body with essential nutrients to curing digestive problems.
Grate the papaya and keep it in a bowl along with 2-3 cups of water. Boil it on high flame. Drain the left out water and drink the mixture two times a day.
15. Chamomile Tea
Chamomile flowers are often used in an effective treatment of loose motions as tea made from chamomile helps in reducing stomach inflammations and quick recovery of the digestive action.
Chamomile is available in the market in the form of tea bags. However, you can also make chamomile tea at home also.
Take some chamomile flowers and boil it in water along with some peppermint. Drink this mixture 2-3 times a day to get a soothing effect and reduced loose motion.
Diet Sheet To Avoid Loose Motions During Pregnancy
During pregnancies, it is advisable to have some dietary variations in order to control loose motions.
The doctor can prescribe you with a BRAT diet (BRAT is a mnemonic for bananas, rice, apple sauce and toast). Include the following foods can act as an ideal diet during your pregnancy period-
- Cooked white rice
- Boiled potatoes
- Tapioca
- Carrot juice
- Apple
- Unsweetened cereals
- Yogurt
- Ginger
- Brown rice
- Whole wheat toast
- Crackers
Similarly, some foods that should be strictly restricted are as follows-
- Carbonated beverages
- Dried fruits (prunes)
- Fried and oily foods
- Cheese
- Milk products
- Margarine
- High fibrous foods
- Red meat
- Spices
- Sweets and sugar based item
It is always necessary to take meals at regular intervals however, you should first consult the doctor before making any dietary changes to avoid a negative impact on yourself as well as the growing fetus.
Preventive Measures
- Remain hydrated
- Go for regular prescribed medications
- Avoid contaminated foods
- Go for regular checkups
- Maintain hygiene
- Prefer eating home cooked food
- Consider doing little physical activity or mild yoga
Causes Of Loose Motion During Pregnancy
The following factors can act as activators of loose motion during pregnancy-
1.Dietary Alterations
Many women vary their diets when they find out that they are pregnant. This sudden change in food intake can derail the internal digestive process.
Changing a diet all of a sudden is not good and sometimes this becomes the major reason of diarrhea in early pregnancy. So, slowly adapt to a healthy diet plan and prepare your body for motherhood.
2.New Food Sensitivities
Food sensitivity is one reason that can cause digestive variations during pregnancy. Foods that never troubled you before pregnancy may now cause gastroenteritis and later loose motions. This cause of loose motions is usually faced by pregnant women in their second trimester.
3.Antenatal Vitamins
Antenatal vitamins are not only good for your health but also for the growth of your baby. But sometimes these vitamins can lead to a digestive change and upset your stomach resulting in diarrhea.
4.Hormonal Changes
During pregnancy, there is a hormonal imbalance in your body. The body would surely take some time to adjust. This may result in digestive process failure and finally, lead to diarrhea.
5.Increased Water Intake
The doctor may advise you to take excess water for flushing out the waste buildup in the digestive colon. This might result in diarrhea until the colon is clean.2
6.Food Poisoning
The consumption of outside adulterated food may result in stomach upset and can lead to prolonged bouts of loose motion.3 This is a reason for serious concern and should be immediately checked by the doctor.
7.Labor
As the delivery closes by, diarrhea becomes more active. Loose motions during 7th and 8th of pregnancy are quite common. This may be an indication of the labor.
But diarrhea doesn’t always indicate that your labor period is about to start and the increased frequency should be of that much concern. Thus, keep a watch on the severity and consult your doctor for the same.
8.Viruses/Parasites
Sudden virus attacks can also weaken your immunity to fight any disease. Thus, it can cause various stomach problems and serious, persistent diarrhea.4
Symptoms Of Loose Motion During Pregnancy
The symptoms of loose motion vary depending on the intensity of the intricacies. The symptoms of small-scale diarrhea include-
- Abdominal swelling of cramps
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Watery or loose stool
- An urgency to have a bowel movement
Symptoms Of Diarrhea In Pregnant Ladies
The primary symptom is continuous and prolonged bouts of loose motion but it is often accompanied by the traits also:
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Blood in the stool
- Dark-colored stools
Small-scale loose motion can be treated home remedies. But continuous loose motion along with prolonged fever requires doctor’s attention as it suggests severe infection.
It is essential to revitalize the lost water from your body, i.e., stay hydrated during diarrhea. Loose bowels often remove a lot of water from the body. Dehydration can be proactive and be a serious reason for concern.
Final Talk
Diarrhea does not need any medicines for its correction. In fact, most of the diarrhea symptoms get over quickly using few home remedies.
Pregnant women should not panic over it as it can have a negative impact on their mindset. Instead, adopt a healthy lifestyle to stay away from it.
Also Read:
9 Yoga Poses For Pregnant Women That They Should Do Every day
Complete Ayurvedic guide for pregnancy
References
