The presence of blood in the stool during pregnancy can be caused by situations such as hemorrhoids, which are very common at this stage, cracking by dry fecal bolus, but may also indicate a more serious situation, such as a gastric or intestinal ulcer. polyp, for example.
If the woman notices blood in her stool, she should see her doctor for a stool test, confirm her presence, discover the cause, and start appropriate treatment.
Common causes of blood in the stool at this stage include
Hemorrhoids are common during pregnancy due to weight gain in the abdominal area and can be aggravated by constipation, which also usually occurs during pregnancy. In the presence of hemorrhoids, the main indication is the presence of bright red blood in the faeces or toilet paper after cleaning, as well as pain when standing or ventilating. In the case of external hemorrhoids, a small soft pill may be felt around the anus.
What to do: It is recommended to observe if symptoms persist for more than 3 days and, if positive, it is recommended to contact your doctor so that the stool test and evaluation of the area can be indicated for external hemorrhoids. See how hemorrhoids are treated during pregnancy.
The fissure is also common because, due to decreased intestinal transit, stools become drier, forcing the woman to force heft during evacuation, resulting in cracks that bleed every time the stool passes through the site. .
Thus, it is possible to identify the fissure when the presence of bright red blood is observed in the stool, in the toilet paper after cleaning, as well as pain when standing or ventilating.
What to do: In this case, it is best to soften stools by increasing fiber consumption and water consumption, in addition to exercising, as this can also help improve intestinal transit. It is also recommended to avoid the use of force when evacuating and cleaning the anus with wet wipes or soap and water, avoiding toilet paper.
Polyps are small pedicules that develop in the intestine. They are usually discovered before the woman becomes pregnant, but when they are not removed, they can cause bleeding when dry stools pass where they are.
What to do: In these cases, it is important to consult the gastroenterologist and obstetrician to assess the need and risk of colonoscopy, which is a procedure used for the diagnosis and treatment of intestinal polyps, but is contrasted during pregnancy. Therefore, the doctor should evaluate the woman and indicate the most appropriate treatment option. Understand how intestinal polyps are treated.
Gastric ulcers can get worse during pregnancy when a woman is very irritated or has frequent vomiting. In this case, the blood in the stool may be almost imperceptible because it is partially digested. Thus, the features include sticky, dark and very smelly stools.
What to do: It is recommended to see your doctor for tests to help diagnose the ulcer and/or indicate treatment, which usually involves the use of antacids, strategies to keep calm and a pasty and easy-to-digest diet.
Although it is scary to find blood in the stool, it is a common sign during pregnancy due to changes that occur in the woman’s body and are usually due to constipation or the presence of hemorrhoids, which can occur during pregnancy.
It is recommended to consult a doctor if you notice the presence of
Your doctor may order tests to identify what’s going on and then indicate the most appropriate treatment for each need.
Find out how to correctly collect stool for the exam:
If the woman prefers, she can contact her obstetrician and inform her about her signs and symptoms, because since she is already following the pregnancy, it will be easier for her to understand what is going on.