17 Mar 2023 | 6 min Read
Nidhi Pandey
Author | 47 Articles
During pregnancy, digestive issues like constipation and loose motion are quite common. You can attribute it to changing hormones, dietary changes, and increased stress. Although most digestive problems, like diarrhoea, are normally not significant, they might complicate pregnancy if you have severe or persistent symptoms.
Therefore, if your digestive problems do not improve after a few days or worsen, it is important to seek medical attention. We’ll look more closely at what might cause diarrhoea during pregnancy in this post, along with some things you can try to make your loose motion symptoms during your pregnancy go away.
Pregnancy can cause changes in dietary habits, and some women may experience loose motions due to dietary changes as they often change their diets during pregnancy and include more fibre and other healthy foods such as papaya, and banana, which can lead to loose motions if the body is not used to the new foods.
One of the many changes you could face when pregnant is food sensitivity. Some foods such as high fibre foods, spicy or greasy foods, artificial sweeteners, dairy products and caffeine that may not have caused any problems before pregnancy, may cause issues like diarrhoea, upset stomach, or gas during pregnancy.
Prenatal vitamins are an essential component of a healthy pregnancy, and they offer numerous benefits to both the mother and the developing baby. Prenatal vitamins contain essential nutrients, such as folic acid, iron, and calcium, which are critical for foetal growth and development. These nutrients help support the healthy development of the baby’s brain, bones, and other organs.
However some of these prenatal vitamins may cause nausea, stomach upset, diarrhea, and irritability, as well.
Your digestive system may slow down as a result of changing hormones. Some hormones like progesterone, cause the muscles to relax and that results in the slowing of digestion in the small and large intestines as well as the stomach. This leads to bloating, constipation, gas and even loose motions.
Some of the symptoms of loose motions during pregnancy include:
Loose motions during pregnancy are common and caused by various hormonal changes, changes in diet and sometimes infections. It is important to stay hydrated and replenish lost fluids and electrolytes. There are several natural home remedies that can be used to safely stop motions like:
To control loose motions, cook an apple in ghee with a dash of nutmeg and cardamom before eating the mixture. Cardamom, nutmeg, apple, and ghee are all natural remedies that are believed to have digestive benefits and may help alleviate loose motions during pregnancy. Cardamom is believed to have anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties that can help soothe the digestive system. Nutmeg has been traditionally used to treat digestive issues, including diarrhoea. However, excessive consumption of nutmeg can be harmful, so it’s important to use it in moderation. Whereas, apples are a good source of fibre, which can help bulk up the stool and reduce the frequency of loose motions.
Due to its high potassium content, combining one or two bananas with ghee, a dash of cardamom, and nutmeg may also be useful for controlling loose motions.
For loose motions, eating cooked rice with yoghurt and ghee can be beneficial. Yogurt contains probiotics, which are healthy bacteria that help regulate the digestive system. Ghee is a type of clarified butter that is easy to digest and can help in reducing the inflammation in the gut and prevent diarrhoea. Whereas, rice is an easily digestible food that helps in preventing loose motions and provides energy to the body.
Adding freshly grated ginger to a mixture of equal parts water and yoghurt may help control loose movements. Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce inflammation in the digestive system. Yogurt contains probiotics, which are healthy bacteria that can help regulate the digestive system. And drinking plenty of water is essential in preventing dehydration, which can worsen loose motions. Water can also help flush out toxins from the body and regulate the digestive system.
Consuming raw natural sugar and ginger powder along with warm water will assist to reduce loose movements as it soothes the digestive system and helps in restoring energy to your body.
Consuming a mixture of ghee, nutmeg, ginger powder, and natural sugar two to three times daily for two to three days is another remedy for the management of loose motions..
To treat loose movements, try chewing a fennel and ginger powder combo two to three times each day. Fennel has antispasmodic properties that can help soothe the digestive system and prevent cramping and diarrhoea.
While ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce inflammation in the gut and prevent loose motions. Using powdered fennel and ginger can be an easy and convenient way to incorporate these remedies into your daily routine. You can add them to your meals, teas, or smoothies to reap their benefits.
Mild cases of loose motions usually don’t require medical attention and can be treated with home remedies. Additionally, drinking plenty of water and adhering to a bland diet, is important to treat minor loose movements.
It’s important to speak with your doctor if you experience persistent loose motions or other digestive issues during your pregnancy as they can lead to dehydration and other complications further.
A gastroenterologist (a doctor who treats digestive disorders) should be consulted for treatment of loose movements. More serious cases of loose motions may require medical attention. Additionally, if you have any allergies or medical conditions, consult with your doctor before trying any new remedies.
What are loose motions?
Diarrhoea or loose motions, is usually caused by a virus, or sometimes, contaminated food. Less frequently, it can be a sign of another disorder, such as inflammatory bowel disease or irritable bowel syndrome.
Are there any home remedies for loose motions?
There are a number of home remedies like consumption of a mixture of ghee, nutmeg, ginger powder, and natural sugar two to three times a day for two to three days can help in preventing loose motions.
What causes loose motions?
The most common causes of loose motions are dietary changes, viruses and occasionally contaminated food. Less frequently, it might be a symptom of another condition such as irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease.
Is ginger tea good for loose motions?
Yes.
So, staying hydrated, following a healthy diet, practising good hygiene and seeking timely medical advice if symptoms of loose motions during pregnancy are severe can help you manage and minimise discomfort caused by loose motions.
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