The safest medicine for diarrhea for pregnant women (+ home care)

Diarrhea (diarrhea) is a digestive disorder that is often a complaint of pregnant women. Diarrhea during pregnancy needs to be treated immediately because of the risk of causing health problems to the mother and the fetus. So, what diarrhea medication is safe for pregnant women? Apart from using drugs, are there other ways to treat diarrhea in pregnant women at home? Here's the answer.

Safe choice of diarrhea medicine for pregnant women

Diarrhea in pregnant women can be caused by many things, from hormonal changes, stress, dietary changes, to food sensitivity.

The symptoms of diarrhea usually get better on their own within 2 days, although in some cases they can last longer.

If you have this, you need to quickly take medicine to treat diarrhea so that it doesn't drag on.

Diarrhea that is left for days will be very susceptible to making pregnant women feel tired and become dehydrated for a long time.

Even so, not all diarrhea medicines in pharmacies are in fact safe for pregnant women. Before buying drugs, first read the ingredients label.

The reason is, not all drugs are safe to drink by pregnant women. If you pay less attention to the drugs taken during pregnancy, it is at risk of endangering the fetus in the 1st trimester, 2nd trimester, 3rd trimester of pregnancy.

Medicines that cannot be prescribed to treat diarrhea in pregnant women include bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol).

This drug contains salicylates which can increase the risk of babies experiencing low birth weight (LBW), bleeding in newborns, and fetal death in the womb (stillbirth).

That is why, every pregnant woman should first consult with your regular obstetrician to ensure which diarrhea medicine is really safe.

Take diarrhea medicine according to the rules of use. Avoid increasing or decreasing the recommended dosage.

Here are some options for diarrhea medications that are recommended or prescribed by doctors for pregnant women:

1. Loperamide

Loperamide (Imodium) is a drug that slows down the movement of the intestines to produce stool in a denser form during diarrhea.

Loperamide is generally used as a way to treat severe diarrhea in pregnant women.

Until now, there are no studies that suggest loperamide can harm pregnant women and the fetus. Therefore, doctors may be able to prescribe this diarrhea medication for pregnant women.

Adults are usually prescribed a dose of this diarrhea medication in the form of oral tablets, capsules, syrup, or chewable tablets.

Loperamide can cause side effects in the form of stomach pain, dry mouth, difficulty concentrating, drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, and nausea and vomiting.

This medicine is included in the pregnancy risk category C meaning it may be risk according to US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) equivalent to BPOM RI.

Consult with your doctor first about the right dose for your condition.

2. Kaopectate

Other diarrhea drugs commonly given to pregnant women are kaolin and pectin (Kaopectate). Kaolin itself is a kind of natural mineral, while pectin is a type of water-soluble fiber source.

BPOM RI allows diarrhea medicine containing kaolin to be sold freely in the market.

Similar to loperamide, the drug Kaopectate is only given to pregnant women if the diarrhea is severe (the stool that comes out is only water).

Apart from relieving symptoms, this diarrhea medicine can prevent serious dehydration.

3. ORS

ORS is a safe drug for treating diarrhea in pregnant women.

ORS contains electrolyte and mineral compounds such as sodium chloride, potassium chloride, anhydrous glucose, sodium bicarbonate, and trisodium citrate dihydrate.

The combination of these minerals serves to prevent and treat dehydration due to loss of body fluids during diarrhea. The effects of ORS can start about 8-12 hours after consumption.

Some experts believe ORS works better for treating diarrhea than just drinking mineral water alone.

ORS is available in powder or powder form, so it must first be dissolved in water. Use boiled water to dissolve ORS.

This medicine can be taken with or without food first.

4. Antibiotics

If diarrhea has not healed after 3 days, pregnant women are obliged to see a doctor to find out the cause and the right medicine.

Most likely diarrhea that occurs in pregnant women is caused by a bacterial or parasitic infection. In this case, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics to treat diarrhea for pregnant women.

However, not all antibiotics are safe to take by pregnant women to treat diarrhea. Only a doctor can determine the right type and dose of antibiotics.

The doctor will also tell you the length of time you take diarrhea medicine during pregnancy.

A safe way to deal with diarrhea in pregnant women besides using drugs

Diarrhea is a disease that can actually heal on its own. That's why before prescribing medication, doctors usually suggest things that need to be done as a way of dealing with diarrhea during pregnancy.

Moreover, pregnant women are also more sensitive to drugs because the contents can flow to the fetus.

If this condition improves within 2 days, you don't need to take diarrhea medicine again. Things that need to be done as a way to treat diarrhea during pregnancy include:

1. Drink enough water

The problem of continuing to pass stool can cause the body to lack a lot of fluids that pass out with feces.

Therefore, consuming fluids such as mineral water, electrolyte fluids, warm soup, or even fruit juice can be a natural diarrhea remedy for pregnant women.

Quoting from the American Pregnancy Association, how to deal with diarrhea in pregnant women serves to help replenish lost electrolyte levels in the body.

2. Eat probiotic supplements or foods

Probiotics are a type of bacteria that are good for the body. Probiotics work to help kill the bad bacteria that cause diarrhea that develop excessively in the digestive tract.

Probiotics also restore the balance of good bacteria that live naturally in the stomach.

That is why probiotic foods can be a natural remedy for treating diarrhea in pregnant women.

According to a research published in the journal Canadian Family Physicians Probiotics in the form of food or supplements are safe to treat diarrhea that is safe for pregnant women.

Examples of probiotic foods that can be consumed by pregnant women are yogurt and tempeh.

3. Obey the recommendations and abstinence from eating when diarrhea

Food for pregnant women needs to be considered. Correct eating rules can be a way to deal with diarrhea in pregnant women.

The reason is, some pregnant women may become more sensitive to certain foods, causing diarrhea.

Even though when you are not pregnant, your stomach will never have a problem after eating these foods.

If pregnant women suspect this is the cause of diarrhea, avoiding certain foods is a powerful medicine to overcome it.

Generally, foods that are avoided are foods that are all spicy, sour, fatty, and fried. In addition, avoid types of food and drink, such as:

• Carbonated (soda) and sugary drinks
• Dried fruit
• Red meat
• Milk
• Chocolate and candy

Instead of healing, these foods can actually worsen your condition. Instead, know which foods to eat when you have diarrhea.

Your doctor may recommend a diet called the BRAT diet for a while.

This diet requires that you only eat bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast while you have diarrhea. These foods are classified as easily digested by the digestive system when diarrhea.

After diarrhea has improved, the BRAT diet may be stopped because in fact this diet is not able to meet the nutritional needs of pregnant women and their fetuses.

During the various home remedies above, monitor your diarrhea symptoms for two days.

However, if you have diarrhea so many times a day that you feel weak due to dehydration, don't delay consulting a doctor.

The doctor will perform a physical examination or blood test to determine the cause and prescribe the right diarrhea medication for pregnant women.

4. Stop using certain drugs or supplements

Mothers may be advised to take certain drugs or supplements which can cause allergic reactions or side effects such as diarrhea during pregnancy.

So while diarrhea is still devastating the stomach, first stop taking these supplements or replace them with a safer one.

However, consult your doctor first, not on personal decision.

However, pregnant women may still take pyridoxine or vitamin B6 to treat nausea due to diarrhea.

When to see a doctor

The method described above can be the main choice for dealing with and treating diarrhea in pregnant women.

However, you should not skip seeing a doctor if your symptoms are getting worse.

Severe diarrhea that can lead to dehydration requires hospitalization. The reason is, severe dehydration can cause various complications in pregnancy.

Dehydration can also cause the fetus to lack nutrition and oxygenated blood. This can be fatal for the future development of the fetus.

Here are some symptoms of dehydration that you need to be aware of:

• Concentrated urine
• Dry mouth
• Thirst
• Decrease in the amount of urine
• Headache
• Dizzy

When you are dehydrated, taking diarrhea medication alone is no longer sufficient as a way to deal with severe diarrhea in pregnant women.

Pregnant women should be taken to the hospital immediately to get additional fluid intake through the IV.

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