Often a woman is worried about gastritis during pregnancy. This is a disease that is caused by an inflammatory process on the gastric walls, which causes a violation of the secretion of gastric juice. If a woman has a disease, then almost always during the period of bearing a child, a relapse will occur, which is due to many interrelated factors. The most common are type A and B gastritis, which does not exclude the likelihood of another type of pathology in a woman.
Why does it arise?
Symptoms of gastritis in pregnant women are quite common. So, ¾ women who were sick before pregnancy complain of its manifestation during this period. The causes of the manifestation of pathology can be conditionally divided into 2 groups:
- general;
- characteristic only for pregnant women.
Common causes of gastritis (also common with breastfeeding):
- unhealthy diet - women during this period often overeat (eat for two) or are malnourished due to toxicosis or a diet that is recommended for breastfeeding;
- violation of the balance of the supplied substances (proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals);
- stress, nervous disorders, depression, neuroses and other disturbances in the well-being of the nervous system against the background of hormonal changes and experiences (worries about the unborn child, new financial burdens on the family, etc. are added to the daily routine);
- poor quality of food, food "on the go";
- drinking alcoholic beverages;
- smoking;
- helicobacteria;
- food with harmful food additives, etc.
You can normalize the hormonal background of a woman with the help of lifestyle and nutrition. Reasons that are characteristic only during childbearing:
- changes in hormonal levels and immune status, causing the immune system to produce antibodies that will attack the walls of the stomach;
- an increase in the size of the uterus every week leads to a shift and constriction of organs (including the stomach), which affects their functionality, preventing the normal evacuation of food, which contributes to stagnant processes in the organs of the alimentary tract;
- against the background of hormones, stress resistance decreases, and any problem can provoke a strong nervous load;
- the functioning of the endocrine system becomes more active, which can cause malfunction of the glands, especially if problems arose on this basis before pregnancy.
The presence of chronic gastritis in a woman often becomes the cause of severe long-term toxicosis.
Possible types of gastritis during pregnancy
The fact that a woman is pregnant or her baby is feeding on breast milk does not change the possible forms of manifestation of gastritis. There are 2 types of disease. Sometimes exacerbation is isolated in a separate third form. "Sleeping" pathology most often occurs before pregnancy and during this period appears with relapses.
Spicy
Acute gastritis is a severe inflammatory process that affects the lining of the stomach due to exposure to infections, chemicals, or toxins. The disease is characterized by a sharp development, when, after a couple of hours, severe pain appears in the stomach area, accompanied by other characteristic symptoms. The disease resembles severe poisoning and requires an immediate visit to a specialist of a pregnant woman or a woman whose baby is breastfed.
Chronic
The manifestation of this form of the disease is completely different from the acute one. Pathology occurs due to a violation of the secretion of saline fluid in the stomach or pathological inflammatory changes in the organ. Relapses of the disease directly depend on the nutrition and emotional state of the mother. The disease affects the duodenum, liver, pancreas, gallbladder and urinary passages. It is impossible to completely recover from this form, so the patient must adhere to the doctor's recommendations all her life. This will help avoid or reduce the number of relapses.
Gastritis of the stomach in the stage of exacerbation
Gastritis can cause toxicosis. If a woman suffers from gastritis, most likely, she will face an exacerbation of the pathology during the period of gestation and breastfeeding. Sick pregnant women are characterized by prolonged severe toxicosis, in which vomiting constantly torments. Gastritis can cause toxicosis throughout the first half of pregnancy. The aggravation does not affect the bearing of the child and his health. Despite this, it is imperative to see a doctor.
Symptoms
If gastritis has worsened during pregnancy or in nursing, it manifests itself with the usual symptoms of the disease:
- heartburn;
- belching with a rotten smell;
- lack of desire to eat;
- a constant feeling of heaviness in the epigastrium, especially after eating;
- a quick feeling of satiety;
- vomiting;
- painful sensations in the stomach area;
- stool disorders;
- bloom on the tongue of a gray tint;
- increased symptoms after "heavy" food;
- a slight increase in body temperature;
- bad odor from the mouth.
If the disease is acute, the following symptoms may be added:
- dizziness;
- pallor of the skin;
- dry skin;
- low pressure;
- irritation;
- prostration;
- frequent loose stools.
Nausea, belching, and flatulence can be a sign of illness. Such symptoms may indicate the need for urgent help from doctors, since pathology can be dangerous for the mother and the unborn child. Signs of an acute form of stomach disease most often occur 4-8 hours after exposure to the pathogen. In "sleep mode" the disease is characterized by the following symptoms:
- nausea;
- vomiting;
- frequent belching;
- flatulence;
- stomach pains, etc.
With gastritis with high acidity, the painful sensations are acute and strong, with low - muffled and weak. If the disease affects the lower part of the organ, the acidity is normal or increased, if the pathology has developed in the entire stomach, it is low.
Pharmaceuticals at this time can only be prescribed by a doctor, since therapy depends not only on the type of disease, but also on factors such as pregnancy and natural feeding of the baby. Most often, the usual treatment regimens cannot be used. For example, if Helicobacteria become the cause of the pathology, no one treats them with antibiotics because of the negative effect on the child. Perhaps the following medications will be used:
- antacids (reduce acid levels);
- prokinetics (normalize gastric motility);
- antispasmodics (relieve pain);
- dosage forms of enzymes of the stomach and gastric juice (replacement therapy with insufficient production by the organ);
- probiotics;
- anti-inflammatory drugs;
- multivitamins, etc.
According to medical statistics, gastritis is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases. Both adults and children are subject to it. Pregnant women experience particular discomfort from the manifestation of this disease. That is why the treatment of gastritis during pregnancy is a top priority. It should not only be effective, but also not harm the unborn child in any way. Mommies need to have accurate and complete information on this matter.
Causes of gastritis during pregnancy
What causes gastritis during pregnancy? Three quarters of the cases, this is just an exacerbation of a chronic inflammatory process that was in the woman's stomach before her position. There are two types of gastritis:
- Caused by atrophic processes in the stomach wall associated with autoimmune lesions of the cellular systems.
- Infectious, bacterial, caused by contamination.
The expectant mother may contract infectious gastritis during pregnancy or be a carrier of the infection even earlier. In this case, she may not know about it, since the disease may pass sluggishly or generally asymptomatic. The hormonal surge causes the activation of pathogenic bacteria and leads to an exacerbation of the disease. The treatment of a pregnant woman must be approached thoughtfully, because most of the drugs indicated for gastritis are contraindicated in pregnancy.
The following causes exacerbation of gastritis during pregnancy:
- Improper, unbalanced, irregular diet. Overeating or anorexia.
- Excessive intake of food from refined carbohydrates.
- The use of products containing dyes, preservatives, stabilizers and flavorings.
- It is contraindicated to be nervous during pregnancy. Stress leads to an exacerbation of the disease.
Diagnosis of gastritis during pregnancy
Competent, timely diagnosis is the key to successful treatment. An important step in the diagnosis is the collection of anamnesis. The patient may be disturbed by a number of clinical signs of the disease. Usually, the symptoms of gastritis during pregnancy are as follows:
- heartburn
- feeling of hunger with a full stomach together with rumbling in the stomach
- belching
- vomit
- flatulence
- stool disorders
- nausea
- pain in the stomach
The secretory activity of the stomach affects the form of gastritis and its manifestation in the patient. Accordingly, the treatment will be different. Increased secretory activity is more often expressed in pain in the upper abdomen, right hypochondrium or in the navel. The discomfort increases after eating heavy, fatty or spicy foods, as well as on an empty stomach or at night. With this form of gastritis, drugs are prescribed that suppress the secretory activity of the stomach.
If the acidity is lowered, gastritis is manifested by moderate pain, aggravated by an abundant meal. Treatment of this form of the disease is aimed at increasing and normalizing the secretory activity of the stomach.
Exacerbation of chronic gastritis in pregnant women causes the strongest phenomenon of toxicosis in the early stages of bearing a child. The clinical picture of the disease unfolds over the course of 13-16 weeks, causes considerable concern to mom, but does not affect the development of the fetus.
To prescribe the correct treatment for the disease, it is necessary to perform a thorough laboratory diagnosis using instrumental methods. Usually appoint:
- Blood chemistry. It allows you to identify the content of gastrin in the body, the presence of antibodies to bacteria that cause disease and to the parietal cells. The presence of B12-deficiency anemia, which is often a companion of gastritis, is also detected.
- Intragastric pH-metry and fractional sensing help to determine the shape of gastritis by measuring acidity.
- Biopsy of altered gastric tissue lesions, identification of characteristic signs of atrophic processes in the gastric mucosa is achieved using esophagogastroduodenoscopy. However, this technique is quite painful and unpleasant, therefore, it is done to a pregnant woman only if there are serious indications.
- The most convenient test for diagnosing the presence of a bacterial infection in the gastrointestinal tract is respiratory. It is also called the Helicobacter pylori test (bacteria that cause gastritis) or the HELIK test.
Treatment of gastritis during pregnancy
We examined what manifestations of gastritis are in pregnant women and how to make a clarifying diagnosis for the correct diagnosis and treatment. Next, consider how to treat gastritis during pregnancy.
Proper nutrition for gastritis
Normalization of nutrition, balance and selection of a suitable diet is the first priority in the treatment of such an unpleasant disease as gastritis. In severe forms of the disease, the pregnant woman is prescribed bed rest and food in small portions 5-6 times a day. Food should be light, semi-liquid, especially in the early stages of treatment. Stomach overload is unacceptable. Breakfast and dinner remain the most important meal times.
The diet usually starts with dairy foods: slimy soups, cottage cheese. After a while, the diet includes boiled or steamed eggs, fresh vegetables, fruits, vegetable stew. Gradually, as she recovers, meat dishes, cheese, sour cream, cereals, and potatoes are introduced into the pregnant woman's diet. Fried food is completely excluded.
At the slightest sign of abnormalities in the digestive tract, pregnant women should avoid:
- Drinking coffee
- Fried dishes
- Excessively fatty, salty and spicy foods
- Smoked meats
- Rich meat and fish broths
- Confectionery
- Coffee
All restrictions are very conditional and are selected individually, taking into account the secretory activity of the stomach. So, for example, women with atrophic gastritis are prescribed juice broths that increase acidity.
Mineral water treatment
Treatment for exacerbation of gastritis during pregnancy may be accompanied by the appointment of mineral waters. When a decrease in secretory activity is detected, it is recommended to drink "Essentuki" No. 17 and No. 4, "Arzni", "Mirgorodskaya". With increased acidity, we recommend Borjomi, Jermuk, Smirnovskaya and Slavyanovskaya.
Mineral waters for medicinal purposes are taken after meals, after 1-1.5 hours. The patient's condition is the best indicator of the dynamics of recovery. If gastritis worsens when drinking water, then the treatment with "mineral water" is stopped for a while.
Drug therapy for gastritis
Gastritis during pregnancy is also treated with medication, but traditional methods of drug therapy are inappropriate here. Drugs that attack a bacterial infection can cause irreparable harm to a developing fetus. Therefore, basically all treatment is aimed at normalizing the secretory activity of the stomach. But here, too, the use of traditional drugs is very limited. With gastritis with high acidity, the following are prescribed:
- antacids - when ingested, they lead to a decrease in its acidity, which brings significant relief from the symptoms of the disease.
- prokinetics - regulate the motor activity of the walls of the stomach, eliminate the phenomena of nausea and vomiting during the development of gastritis;
- antispasmodics - reduce the intensity of pain during exacerbation of inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract.
Patients with low acidity are more often prescribed substitution therapy drugs:
- gastric enzymes. In suitable doses, they are able to normalize the activity of the secretory glands of the gastric mucosa;
- with signs of pancreatic insufficiency, pancreatic enzymes are prescribed, which leads to improved digestion;
- combined action drugs that have a complex effect on digestion as a whole;
- prebiotics that naturally extinguish the activity of Helicobacteria and normalize the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract.
Folk recipes for the treatment of gastritis
How to treat gastritis if there is no trust in the traditional methods of getting rid of this ailment? Herbal teas and tinctures come to the rescue, enveloping the walls of the stomach, relieving pain and inflammation, and regulating acidity.
With increased secretion use: shamrock, St. John's wort, mint, chamomile, calamus rhizome, celandine, flax seeds, oats, bird knotweed
Gastritis is a disease characterized by inflammation of the stomach lining.
Gastritis can develop even during pregnancy and significantly reduce a person's performance.
Gastritis in pregnant women must be treated urgently.
The patient should be closely monitored by a physician for the reason that this is the most common disease of the digestive tract, leading to a number of serious complications.
A number of studies have recently been carried out by doctors and scientists, which have shown that more than fifty percent of all people in the world suffer from gastritis.
The ability to identify the factors, causes and symptoms of this disease is especially important in order to carry out its correct treatment for pregnant women at risk.
Causal factors and symptoms
The above process in a pregnant woman takes place in an acute or chronic form. Acute gastritis during pregnancy appears suddenly and proceeds, in most situations, very violently.
Such gastritis is characterized by the presence of inflammatory processes in the walls of the stomach and small intestine.
With this form of pathology, a process of trauma to the glands and the superficial mucous layer in the stomach cavity is observed. As a result, inflammation can develop.
It can affect not only the inner layers of the epithelium, but also penetrate into the muscular membrane of the stomach.
Such gastritis is often promoted by other types of pathological conditions in the organs of the digestive system - liver diseases, problems with the gallbladder, as well as pathological conditions associated with the pancreas.
In rare cases, acute gastritis in the fairer sex can develop after the use of certain medications, poisoning with spoiled foods, the appearance of allergic reactions, detection of damage to the stomach wall with rough food.
Chronic gastritis during pregnancy is a disease characterized by the presence of periods of exacerbation and remission.
The symptoms are not so acute, however, any violation of the normal diet, the consumption of certain drugs and the presence of nervous overstrain can only contribute to the relapse of the disease.
What other factors can also lead to gastritis in women during pregnancy?
Often, the processes of exacerbations of any chronic focus of inflammation that have taken place in the stomach of a pregnant woman are considered to be the causative factors that provoke gastritis during pregnancy.
According to statistics, aggravation occurs in at least 70% of situations.
It is worth noting that gastritis is divided into three types - A, B and C. The first causes atrophic processes during lesions of the mucous membrane in the stomach, provoked by cells of the autoimmune type.
The development of the second type of disease is explained by the penetration of a bacterial agent into the body called Helicobacter pylori.
Women often become infected with the above type of bacteria through contact with other infected people. Thus, they can be infected already at the time of conception.
However, if gastritis before pregnancy may be asymptomatic or have minimal manifestations, hormonal disruptions can greatly aggravate the patient's condition.
To treat such gastritis, you need to consciously approach the choice of methods of therapy and medications, because standard antibiotics are often contraindicated in pregnant patients.
The periods of exacerbations of the chronic form of gastritis during pregnancy are closely related to a number of reasons:
- eating meals containing refined carbohydrates;
- the presence of an irregular and unbalanced diet;
- the consumption of food with a high level of fat and artificial substances;
- nervous tension and stress;
- excessive food intake.
Gastritis during pregnancy, in most situations, develops against the background of an existing disease and is accompanied by the urge to vomit and a feeling of discomfort in the stomach area.
Vomiting during pregnancy (as one of the manifestations of toxicosis) during gastritis takes at least one week.
The acidity level of gastritis during pregnancy varies from woman to woman and is often high.
Symptoms may resemble heartburn, with diarrhea often observed, the main manifestation being soreness in the stomach and frequent belching with an unpleasant odor, a feeling of heaviness and constipation.
Unlike ordinary gastritis, in a situation of staying during pregnancy, a more thorough treatment of a complex type will be required.
The chronic form of gastritis does not show specific manifestations in the early stages of pregnancy, since the symptoms of the disease may vary from patient to patient.
Symptoms of this type of gastritis in many situations include:
- feelings of soreness in the epigastric area;
- nausea;
- frequent belching;
- desires to vomit;
- disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.
If there is chronic gastritis with insufficient acid secretion, indigestion may be much more common.
Erosive gastritis during pregnancy may be accompanied by the development of small erosions (local defects) on the gastric wall.
The state of health of women in a position with gastritis is quite difficult. Blood may appear in the contents of the stomach. Severe pain sensations are considered the first signs characteristic of a disease such as erosive gastritis.
With gastritis with normal or high secretion of gastric juice, often found at a young age, recurrent soreness in the upper abdomen may prevail.
In the presence of gastritis with high acidity, patients complain about the appearance of pain in the epigastric region, in the area of the right hypochondrium or navel.
Pain often occurs after eating, namely after eating a particular type of food.
Rarely, pain during gastritis during pregnancy occurs regardless of food intake, on an empty stomach or at night. The pain is sometimes very severe and sometimes mild.
With gastritis with high acid secretion, the symptoms of pain are usually severe, and with low levels of acid, pain symptoms are usually mild.
If a woman wants to alleviate her condition, she should not overeat, because the more the stomach wall is stretched, the more painful sensations will be.
During pregnancy, other factors also arise that provoke the development of the above condition. Most women experience symptoms of toxicosis in the first trimester.
Nausea and regular vomiting make pregnant women refuse to eat, therefore, food intake is not regular.
Trying to get rid of unpleasant symptoms, expectant mothers consume harmful types of foods (sour or salty foods), and this can exacerbate the disease.
Diet food in a given period of time plays a critical role. During pregnancy, exacerbation of gastritis and serious symptoms in the early stages can be prevented by adhering to a dietary diet.
Treatment and nutrition
The primary treatment for non-pregnant patients is the elimination (destruction) of Helicobacter pylori and a decrease in acidity. For this purpose, antibacterial and antisecretory drugs are prescribed.
Treatment of gastritis in pregnant women with these groups of medicines is contraindicated, therefore, the drugs listed below remain.
Drugs of the antacid group are drugs that act only in the stomach, without systemic absorption. Antacids bind and neutralize hydrochloric acid in the stomach cavity.
There are antacid suspensions based on magnesium and aluminum (Maalox, Almagel, aluminophosphate gel), the treatment of which is carried out by applying them to the affected areas for no more than 3 days.
However, due to the ingress of aluminum into the blood, drugs of this type can cause constipation in gastritis.
There are also safer medicines based on hydrotalcite (aluminum and magnesium in one large molecule), and Rennie's medicine based on calcium and magnesium.
A drug called Gaviscon reduces acidity levels, is not absorbed and protects the gastric mucosa, which is essential during pregnancy.
Milk and dairy products have the same effect, and together with honey, they can treat gastritis in a completely safe way.
Cannot be used to lower the acidity of baking soda, as it only acts temporarily, causing gas and bloating, as well as a change in blood pH.
Herbs that have the high pH needed to treat gastritis include St. John's wort, mint, chamomile, oat and flax seeds, calamus and valerian roots, yarrow, motherwort, celandine.
They relieve pain, soothe and envelop the stomach. It is recommended to pour 2-3 tablespoons of the collection from these herbs with 0.5 liters of boiling water and leave for 25 minutes, then strain and drink half a glass of broth after eating.
Herbs with low acidity consist of: wormwood, yarrow, plantain leaves, spices (thyme, mint, caraway, oregano, fennel), parsley, parsnip, tripolia, St. John's wort. They stimulate the secretion and digestion process.
If a woman does not want to spend energy on searching and brewing herbal decoctions, Iberogast remedy based on medicinal plants for the treatment of gastritis and restoration of gastric motility will help her.
It is taken exclusively after consultation with the attending physician.
It is safe to say that the treatment of gastritis in women in the position has a number of characteristic features.
Medicines, usually prescribed to alleviate the condition during illness, are contraindicated when carrying a baby.
For example, De-Nol in combination with drugs like Furazolidone and Oxacillin are not used during pregnancy. With severe inflammation, the use of Gastrofarm is allowed.
Medicines in tablet form, which include drugs like Drotaverine and Papaverine, are considered safe to use for gastritis during pregnancy.
They relieve cramps in women in position, suffering from gastritis and other gastrointestinal problems.
At low pH, the best treatment effect will be after using Panzinorm, Acidin-Pepsin (containing pepsin).
In case of disturbances in the digestive process before eating food, doctors recommend taking drugs like Pancreatin, Creon, Mezim, Pangrol, Gastro-norm, as well as medications without added bile like Festal, Digestal, Normanton, Enzistal.
Treatment of gastritis in pregnant women in the 2nd trimester can be performed with the use of Metoclopramide (Raglan), which is prescribed by the attending physician for a short period of time, when uncontrolled vomiting is observed with gastritis.
Very important in the process of pregnancy with gastritis is treatment with a special diet, eating food in small portions.
A pregnant woman does not need to feel hungry or overeating, drink carbonated drinks and caffeinated drinks, add spices to dishes, eat fatty and fried foods (stimulating acid secretion).
You can eat low-fat dairy products, slimy soups and broths (with rice porridge), steamed, as well as boiled white meat and fish, cereals, fresh fruits.
One study found that women are more susceptible to H. pylori infection than other women during pregnancy, so they need to take extra steps to prevent infection.
To prevent food contamination and gastritis, it is necessary to monitor compliance with the rules for preparing food, refrigerating and washing food that a pregnant woman eats.
You can store food in the refrigerator at temperatures below 40 degrees, and in the freezer - below 0 degrees. It is advisable to cook food with an internal temperature of more than 160 degrees.
You also need to thoroughly wash all uncooked foods before eating.
It is important to know that many of the foods a woman loved before she became pregnant can flare up symptoms during pregnancy.
Unfortunately, many of these annoying foods are also foods that should be removed from the menu when carrying a baby.
They include:
- spices and spices;
- all fried and fatty foods;
- most foods that contain an increased amount of fat in their composition.
Limiting these foods will help prevent indigestion and gastritis throughout the pregnancy.
Certain foods do not usually cause immediate reactions, but can make pain worse in the long term.
To avoid long-term problems, pregnant women can reduce their intake of red meat and other foods such as white bread and sugar.
You can also substitute lean meats for beef and pork and opt for whole grain breads.
Coffee-based foods and beverages are another contributor to gastritis attacks.
Even one cup of coffee can increase stomach acid levels, leading to inflammation of the stomach lining. To avoid this problem, try herbal teas instead of coffee and sodas.
Diet plays an extremely important role in the implementation of therapy for the pathological process during the period of bearing a child.
All pregnant women with gastritis are strongly advised by medical experts to make fractional, small portions of food.
In the first days after an exacerbation of gastritis during pregnancy, a diet is usually followed, during which any dish should be served puree.
The diet should be prescribed exclusively by a professional gastroenterologist or nutritionist, based on the existing signs and symptomatic manifestations of the above gastrointestinal tract disease.
Useful video
Pregnancy is a rather difficult stage for any woman in her life. And since the immune defense is significantly weakened, then many chronic diseases pass into the stage of exacerbation. That is why gastritis during pregnancy is diagnosed especially often.
Acute gastritis (newly diagnosed) is inflammation of the stomach lining that occurs suddenly. There can be quite a few reasons for this, in particular, exposure to chemical or toxic factors.
The disease develops sharply. Symptoms characteristic of the acute form of pathology are formed after a few hours:
- acute pain in the stomach, accompanied by cuts;
- when examining the tongue, a dense gray coating is visible;
- dizziness attacks;
- the skin becomes uncharacteristic pallor;
- diarrhea develops.
The acute form of gastritis in pregnant women requires hospitalization and treatment in a hospital setting.
Chronic gastritis
Chronic gastritis is a sluggish inflammation of the gastric mucosa, accompanied by a violation of the secretion of gastric juice. Pathology is characterized by alternation of exacerbations and remissions.
Even if the exacerbation of pathology before pregnancy in a woman was not observed, then with significant hormonal changes, chronic gastritis will certainly declare itself.
Any typical symptoms of chronic gastritis in pregnant women are not observed, but the early and severe toxicosis of the first trimester should already alert.
In general, symptoms can be as follows:
- dull pain localized in the epigastric region;
- frequent and severe heartburn;
- belching with an unpleasant smell of spoiled eggs;
- bouts of nausea, ending with vomiting;
- stool problems.
In this case, the body temperature can rise to 38 ° C. On the tongue, as a rule, there is a dense coating of gray.
Decreased and increased acidity with gastritis: characteristic symptoms
With increased acidity, a woman can be troubled by "hungry" pains that pass after eating.
For low acidity, the following symptoms are typical:
- a feeling of fullness in the stomach;
- bowel disorders;
- heavy breath odor.
But in any case, the symptomatology increases with the intake of food that irritates the gastric mucosa.
What can cause an exacerbation of gastritis?
Many reasons can provoke a relapse of gastritis in a pregnant woman. But the most common are the following:
- unstable psycho-emotional state;
- violation of the usual daily routine;
- work at night;
- frequent lack of sleep;
- power supply errors;
- infections;
- allergic reaction to food;
- chronic diseases of internal organs (pancreas, gallbladder and liver);
- disorders related to metabolic processes;
- taking medications;
- smoking;
- taking a lot of alcohol.
Treatment of chronic gastritis during pregnancy
It is worth remembering that diagnosed gastritis during pregnancy does not have any effect on the development of the child.
Medical treatment of the disease is aimed at eliminating unpleasant symptoms. Drugs from the following categories can be prescribed for admission:
- anti-inflammatory;
- antacids;
- antispasmodics;
- enveloping.
Additionally, nausea-relieving agents can be prescribed that can regulate the production of hydrochloric acid, as well as restore damaged microflora.
Treatment also includes the use of aids. These include:
- vitamins;
- prebiotics;
- gastric enzymes that improve the digestion process.
How to treat gastritis during pregnancy should be decided only by a qualified specialist.
Since drug treatment during the period of childbearing is undesirable, the question arises: "What to do in this case?" As a rule, exacerbation of pathology is most often treated with a diet.
Diet for gastritis
The nutrition of a woman during an exacerbation of the disease should be completely revised. It is necessary to exclude from the diet all foods that can negatively affect the state of the gastric mucosa. It:
- spicy, sour, fried and highly salted foods;
- sweets and spices;
- conservation;
- too hot / cold food;
- carbonated drinks;
- coffee;
- fatty broths.
It is worth avoiding the use of products with a large amount of chemical additives and dyes.
Nutritional treatment for exacerbation should be reduced to the intake of natural semi-liquid food:
- cereal and vegetable soups;
- dairy products;
- steamed and boiled vegetables;
- soft-boiled eggs;
- omelets;
- jelly;
- fruits.
After the acute phase has passed, the diet can be expanded with the following products:
- boiled meat (low-fat varieties);
- boiled potatoes;
- unleavened cottage cheese;
- sour cream;
- mild cheeses;
- yesterday's bread;
- biscuits.
Natural, non-acidic drinks should be preferred. Drinks should be warm, but not hot. Mineral water will be useful in the treatment of gastritis in pregnant women - an hour after a meal, you need to drink one glass at a time.
Meals should be fractional, i.e. meals should be taken at least six times a day and always in small portions. On average, the interval between meals should be 2 ... 2.5 hours.
Traditional methods of treating gastritis
It is also possible to treat gastritis during pregnancy with the help of traditional medicine. Here, infusions and decoctions of herbs can be used that can relieve pain in the stomach, as well as formulations with an enveloping effect.
With increased production of hydrochloric acid, infusions from the following herbs help:
- chamomile;
- mint;
- celandine;
- St. John's wort;
- shamrock;
- flax and oat seeds (enveloping);
- calamus rhizomes.
Treatment of low acidity can be carried out using:
- wormwood;
- cumin;
- plantain;
- fennel;
- parsley;
- parsnips.
Herbal infusions are prepared according to the same recipe: two large tablespoons of the dry product must be poured with 500 milliliters of boiling water and left to infuse for half an hour under the lid. Before use, the product must be filtered, carefully squeezing out the remnants of raw materials. It is necessary to take infusions in half a glass after each meal.
When referring to traditional medicine, it is imperative to consult a doctor, since only a specialist can choose the dosage.
Pros and cons of treatment
Exacerbation of pathology is not a reason to terminate pregnancy. And although the intake of medications is somewhat limited, it is still necessary to receive treatment.
If the symptoms of the disease are ignored, then against the background of a weakened immune defense, the disease will develop much more actively. This can cause the formation of erosive gastritis, later turning into gastric ulcer.
In addition, the pain symptoms disturb the woman, disrupting her psychological state. And this already negatively affects the child. Deviations in the digestive process become the reason for the baby's lack of necessary nutrients. This can negatively affect the development of the fetus, especially in the first trimester.
Gastritis during pregnancy acts as one of the most common pathologies of an extragenital nature. Being, in essence, inflammation, it negatively affects not only the well-being of the pregnant woman, but also the fetus.
Statistics say that gastritis occurs in more than 70% of pregnant women. Moreover, only 1% have an acute episode of pathology, the rest of the disease becomes chronic.
The disease has a varied clinical picture even in ordinary people, to say nothing of women "in position".
Gastritis during pregnancy may not manifest itself in anything and be asymptomatic, which significantly complicates the timely establishment of the diagnosis. This situation is typical for the chronic form of the disease. The acute stage usually manifests itself violently and there are no problems in its diagnosis.
An exacerbation of gastritis during pregnancy is associated with an increased load on the female body, as well as with possible nutritional disorders of the expectant mother, provoked. Doctors identify many types of pathology.
Type B is more common, caused by the excessive reproduction of the opportunistic H. pylori bacteria in the stomach.
It is able to secrete enzymes that disrupt the full activity of the walls of the stomach, which leads to the appearance of characteristic symptoms. Sometimes the disease is associated with an excess of hydrochloric acid or a lack of it. Naturally, the tactics of treatment will be different.
If an excess of hydrochloric acid is registered, the symptoms of gastritis during pregnancy will be as follows:
- soreness (when specifying the localization of the patient, they mainly indicate the upper abdomen, the epigastric region, the space near the navel, the right hypochondrium);
- pains do not arise by themselves, but in response to the intake of a certain food (by carefully questioning the patient, the doctor will be able to establish which food provokes the onset of symptoms);
- in rare cases, there is diarrhea, accompanied by pain;
- registered heartburn, belching with a sour smell and taste.
Women should remember that pain does not always appear after eating. Unpleasant sensations can disturb women at night or on an empty stomach.
Symptoms of gastritis with low acidity are somewhat different:
- attacks of nausea and vomiting;
- belching, accompanied by the appearance of an unpleasant putrid odor from the mouth;
- flatulence;
- a feeling of fullness in the stomach;
- attacks of weakness.
Diagnostic methods
In diagnostics, in addition to accounting for complaints, instrumental research methods and laboratory diagnostics occupy an important place. For examination of a woman during the period of bearing a child, preference is given to endoscopy and analysis of gastric juice.
The intake of digestive fluid allows you to assess its characteristics, establish acidity and select the optimal treatment regimen.
Endoscopy gives information about how badly the stomach lining is damaged. This method is rarely used to diagnose gastritis in pregnant women. The main indication for endoscopy is the failure of standard therapy.
How can a pregnant woman get rid of gastritis?
Many women are wondering how to treat gastritis during pregnancy so as not to harm the baby and quickly get rid of unpleasant symptoms. It should be understood that therapy for this pathology is long-term and requires a systematic approach.
To cope with the problem, you should listen to your doctor and follow all his recommendations, both on diet and on taking medications. The peculiarity of the disease is that it is easily exacerbated at the slightest deviation from the chosen treatment regimen.
If gastritis is diagnosed during pregnancy, it is recommended to start treatment with the most obvious, that is, with a full correction of the woman's nutrition.
You will have to change your eating habits by giving up a number of foods that irritate the stomach. It is necessary to exclude from the diet:
- sour;
- salty;
- roast;
- spicy;
- smoked;
- spicy;
- canned;
- too hot or too cold.
It is advisable to form the daily menu from boiled products, lean meat or fish, jelly, pasta, cereals, some types of cheese (low-fat and mild). Drinks are best consumed warm, but not hot. Drinking should not be overly acidic, and caffeine should also be eliminated.
Drug therapy
The question of how to treat gastritis during pregnancy with the help of drugs is also relevant. Sometimes nutritional correction is not enough and women have to resort to medication.
Drugs with the following effects are used:
- anti-inflammatory;
- antacid (neutralizing acidity);
- antispasmodics;
- having an enveloping effect;
- symptomatic (relieving nausea, regulating microflora, etc.).
Now doctors, dealing with the treatment of gastritis, are trying to act directly on the most common causative agent of gastric diseases - the H. pylori bacterium, eliminating its harmful effect on the membrane of the digestive organ. This measure is called eradication.
During pregnancy, its implementation is complicated or completely impossible, since the drugs used for this can affect the fetus. This explains the largely symptomatic approach to the treatment of gastritis during pregnancy.
Some women use folk remedies as therapy, but even before using them, it is recommended to consult a doctor. Decoctions and infusions have fewer side effects, but are not always suitable for pregnant women and can cause allergies.
During the period of childbearing, you cannot select medications on your own, without the help of a gastroenterologist, since not all drugs are used during pregnancy.
The combination of several approved products can also have an undesirable effect. Only a specialist is able to assess the risks and rationality of drug treatment in a specific situation.
Complications and measures to prevent them
Gastritis in itself does not pose a threat to the fetus and does not in any way interfere with the course of pregnancy, but it can cause serious inconvenience to a woman, affecting the general condition of the body.
Only in severe cases, when the expectant mother is deprived of the opportunity to fully eat due to pain, is there a threat to the normal development of the child.
Uncontrolled progression of the disease can lead to a number of complications that manifest themselves during gestation or after delivery.
Uncontrolled gastritis during pregnancy leads to the following complications:
- ulcers of the stomach and duodenum;
- polyps (neoplasms on the gastric mucosa that can be injured, causing pain and occasional bleeding);
- tumors.
The most dangerous are benign or malignant neoplasms. All complications of gastritis are directly related to the inflammatory process, in which the walls of the stomach are involved.
To prevent such consequences, it is necessary to stop inflammation in a timely manner, using the principles of rational nutrition and drug therapy.
If this was done and in the future the patient adheres to the doctor's recommendations, complications rarely develop.
Methods for the prevention of gastritis
In most cases, gastritis is a chronic disease. The attending physician should advise the woman on the best methods of prevention in order to avoid exacerbation of the disease while carrying a child.
Even if there is an increased appetite, pregnant women should not gorge themselves for future use.
The habit of overeating leads to excessive overstrain of the stomach, acting as an additional factor that provokes the development or exacerbation of gastritis. It is recommended that you always have some permitted foods with you and, if necessary, consume them in small portions.