What increases my risk for acute diarrhea during pregnancy?

From too big meals to a bigger uterus, pregnancy can increase the risk of acute diarrhea. Obstetrician and gynecologist Lauren Streicher, MD, discusses the risks of pregnancy-related diarrhea.

Transcript

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And in pregnancy, this is particularly of concern because if someone is having diarrhea, number one, they can get dehydrated much more quickly than they

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ordinarily would. And the other is that if someone is having a lot of diarrhea and getting dehydrated as a result of it,

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this could even cause preterm labor. [INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

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Well, there are many things that can cause acute diarrhea. I think the thing that most people are familiar with is if you just ate something

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that didn't agree with you. And in pregnancy, this is particularly of concern because if someone is having diarrhea, number one, they can get dehydrated much more quickly than they

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ordinarily would. And the other is that if someone is having a lot of diarrhea and getting dehydrated as a result of it,

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this can even cause preterm labor or increase the risk of someone having a preterm delivery. So that occasional bout of diarrhea

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is really nothing to be concerned about, but if it's coming and it's not stopping, you need to call your doctor sooner rather than later.

01:00

And when they're pregnant, take vitamins, and as a result of vitamins, a lot of women become constipated. So they try and counteract the constipation

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with using stool softeners. And sometimes they go a little bit too far and end up with some pretty nasty diarrhea.

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In addition, you've got a big uterus filled with baby sitting on the bowel, and sometimes that's

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going to make things a little bit looser as well. [AUDIO LOGO]