To all the little ailments specific to pregnancy, there are sometimes seasonal illnesses that we would do well without our round stomach! Among them, gastroenteritis, which can especially infect us in winter. Symptoms, possible risks and treatment: let's take stock to advise and reassure you.
As if you didn't get enough of the first trimester nausea (which sometimes goes beyond it) and other digestive disorders that accompany most pregnancies, now you think you have gastroenteritis. And although you may have unfortunately had this disease before, nothing is the same when you are pregnant and as a future mother you are certainly worried about your baby. We understand you and first of all we want to reassure you: gastroenteritis will in no way be dangerous for you or the good health of your child, as long as you follow a few simple recommendations.
How to recognize the symptoms of gastroenteritis?
First of all, make sure that it is gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is actually an infection of the lining of the digestive tract, that is, the walls of the stomach, small intestine, and colon. This infection can have several causes: a virus in most cases, but also a bacteria, or more rarely, a parasite or a fungus.
And, you probably know, gastroenteritis is most often characterized by a charming combination of vomiting and diarrhea, sometimes accompanied by stomach aches like stomach cramps or abdominal pain, but also fever. As soon as you experience any of these signs, do not wait to see your doctor, whether in the first, second or third trimester. He will be able to confirm or not the diagnosis, and perhaps refine the cause of the gastroenteritis.
Be aware that gastroenteritis during the third trimester, and especially towards your expected due date, can lead to labor. It is therefore all the more important to consult quickly to verify whether or not labor has started: stomach cramps can indeed be mistaken for labor contractions at this stage.
What are the possible risks for pregnant women with the gastroenteritis virus?
Your doctor will be able to check that it is gastroenteritis and not another disease or infection with more serious consequences for a pregnant woman. We think of listeriosis, caused by the listeria bacteria, which can be found in particular in food, and which can unfortunately cause a miscarriage, premature childbirth, or infection or even death of the fetus.
Your doctor can also make sure that you are adequately hydrated, as this is where the main risk of gastroenteritis is – dehydration. Because if a pregnant woman already has to drink more water than usual, it is even more the case during gastroenteritis. Repeated vomiting, acute diarrhea with numerous stools will indeed deprive you of a significant water level for you and especially your baby, who of course feeds through you. We will therefore never recommend that you drink plenty of fluids, water of course, but also sugar water or fruit juice as soon as you can. And if the diarrhea and vomiting are really too bad and you can't seem to keep anything in your stomach, not even water, then your doctor may advise you to go to the hospital to help you. '' be hydrated by infusion, thus preserving your health and that of your child by avoiding dehydration.
What treatment for pregnant women against the gastroenteritis virus?
If all signs of viral gastroenteritis usually go away on their own, usually after three days, without special treatment, your doctor may still prescribe medication for your relief – medications that you may be okay with. heard taking despite pregnancy; do not take any medication without your doctor's advice, be sure to always consult a professional beforehand. These may be medicines to calm stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps or even fever, in particular.
What diet for pregnant women during and after gastroenteritis?
While you might not even want to hear about food and feed when you can't keep anything in your stomach, here are our tips: As soon as you can start eating, choose foods that can harden early. stools such as the essential rice, pasta, bananas, and applesauce. If possible, avoid foods rich in fiber which tend to soften stools, raw fruits and vegetables as well as milk. The most important thing is to eat as soon as possible, between times of vomiting and diarrhea, whatever makes you want it most, in small amounts. We will in fact wait a few days before cracking for a heavy meal, difficult to digest for your weakened digestive system.
How to prevent gastroenteritis?
Very contagious, viral gastroenteritis is usually transmitted by contact with a sick person who has symptoms but also with a person who is cured within two weeks after the end of the symptoms. Less contagious, bacterial gastroenteritis or caused by a parasite can be transmitted via food contaminated by a suffering person, contaminated water or contact with a surface or object on which there are particles of human stool infected.
To protect yourself as much as possible from any contamination, it will be necessary to adopt a few reflexes on a daily basis and in particular during periods of an epidemic. Fortunately, barrier gestures no longer hold any secrets for you and they will obviously apply perfectly to the prevention against gastroenteritis. It will therefore be necessary to wash your hands regularly, for at least 30 seconds, regularly clean the toilets, disinfect the surfaces most used in your home but also the mobile phone, avoid touching your face, and especially your mouth and nose, and use disposable tissues. Also, avoid any close contact with people who may have contracted the gastroenteritis virus, even if they are your half or your children: wait until they can no longer infect you.
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