Diarrhea during pregnancy

Diarrhea during pregnancy usually isn't a reason for alarm. Possible causes include a stomach virus, medication, or something you ate. You may have heard that diarrhea is an early sign of pregnancy, or signals that labor's near, but this isn't proven. If you have diarrhea in pregnancy, be sure to drink plenty of fluids and talk with your healthcare provider before taking any antidiarrhea medications. Call your provider if you have accompanying symptoms, if your diarrhea lasts longer than a couple of days, or if you think you might have food poisoning.

Medically reviewed by Layan Alrahmani, M.D., ob-gyn, MFM

Written by Karen Miles | Jan 24, 2023

Photo credit: Sarah Ottavis for BabyCenter

In this article

Is it normal to have diarrhea in pregnancy?

While it's more common for pregnant women to have constipation than loose stools, diarrhea can still happen during pregnancy - for many of the same reasons it happens when you're not pregnant.

In addition, some women report having mild diarrhea in late pregnancy, just before they go into labor.

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If you have loose stools three or more times in one day, you have diarrhea.

What causes diarrhea during pregnancy?

Just like when you're not pregnant, you can get diarrhea from an illness or from something you ate. Causes of diarrhea during pregnancy include:

A stomach virus, such as viral gastroenteritis or rotavirus
Food poisoning, such as listeriosis or salmonella
Certain antibiotics or antacids
Sugar-free candies (these contain sugar alcohols, such as sorbitol, that may cause diarrhea in some people)
Dairy products (if you're lactose-intolerant)
Digestive problems, such as celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis
Medications. Stool softeners are commonly prescribed to pregnant women, and some women are more sensitive to them than others.

What should I do if I have diarrhea while pregnant?

If you have diarrhea:

Be sure to drink plenty of fluids to replace those you're losing.
Avoid drinking dairy products, soda, and juices, which may make the diarrhea worse.
If the diarrhea continues for a few hours, drink fluids and liquid foods containing salt, such as broth or sports drinks.

There are some over-the-counter antidiarrheal medications that are safe to take during pregnancy, but check with your provider before taking one while you're pregnant. Avoid antidiarrhea medications if you have any signs of a bacterial infection, such as a fever or blood in your stool.

Should I call my provider about diarrhea during pregnancy?

Call your provider if you have diarrhea that lasts longer than two days or if think you may have food poisoning. Having food poisoning during pregnancy can be serious. Listeriosis, for example, can cause serious complications for your baby.

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Also call if you have diarrhea and any of these symptoms:

Stomach pain
Fever
Explosive diarrhea
Diarrhea with blood or mucus
Frequent vomiting
Dry mouth, dizziness, dark-colored urine, less frequent urination, or lightheadedness (signs of dehydration)

Contact your provider right away if you have diarrhea and also feel your baby moving less often or vigorously than usual. Also call if you have signs of preterm labor such as:

Regular or frequent contractions
More vaginal discharge, or discharge that's watery, bloody, or mucus-like
Cramps
Pressure or pain in your pelvis or lower stomach that is persistent or gets worse

Having a bout of diarrhea while you're pregnant isn't usually anything to worry about. In fact, many mild illnesses and discomforts may come and go uneventfully during your pregnancy. It's a good idea to know what symptoms warrant a call to your doctor or even emergency care, though. Our article on pregnancy symptoms you should never ignore can help you identify them.

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Sources

BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.

MedlinePlus. 2016. Diarrhea. U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://medlineplus.gov/diarrhea.htmlOpens a new window [Accessed January 2023]

NIH. 2016. Definition & facts for diarrhea. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/diarrhea/definition-factsOpens a new window [Accessed January 2023]

NIH. 2016. Symptoms & causes of diarrhea. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/diarrhea/symptoms-causesOpens a new window [Accessed January 2023]

NIH. 2016. Treatment for diarrhea. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/diarrhea/treatmentOpens a new window [Accessed January 2023]

UpToDate. 2022. Approach to the adult with acute diarrhea in resource-rich settings. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/approach-to-the-adult-with-acute-diarrhea-in-resource-rich-settingsOpens a new window [Accessed January 2023]

Karen Miles

Karen Miles is a writer and an expert on pregnancy and parenting who has contributed to BabyCenter for more than 20 years. She's passionate about bringing up-to-date, useful information to parents so they can make good decisions for their families. Her favorite gig of all is being "Mama Karen" to four grown children and "Nana" to nine grandkids.

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