Dysbacteriosis in pregnant women

Dysbacteriosis is a clinical symptom typical of a variety of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The change in the composition of the microflora leads to the activation of opportunistic microorganisms. Microbial balance is a dynamic indicator that can differ depending on age, nutrition, intake of medications and the presence of pathological processes.

Dysbacteriosis in pregnancy is a very unpleasant phenomenon, which women often encounter when they are pregnant. What causes this malfunction, how it manifests itself clinically and whether it is possible to get rid of it? We'll talk about all this in this article, but first let's talk about the role of normal microflora in the body.

The role of normal microflora

Normally, the intestinal microflora is responsible for performing the following functions in the body:

• digestion of food;
• protection from attack by pathogens;
• activation of immunity;
• protection from falling into the bloodstream of toxic substances.

The intestine inhabits a vast array of beneficial microorganisms. Separately it is necessary to note bifidobacteria, which are responsible for the absorption of vitamins and trace elements. It is these bacteria that promote the absorption of calcium, iron and vitamin D.

They also produce lysozyme, a substance that prevents the penetration of pathogens into the upper gastrointestinal tract( GI tract).Their role is also in the formation of amino acids, proteins and B vitamins. Infectious processes, prolonged antibacterial therapy, artificial feeding - all this leads to dysbiosis, and hence to the development of complications such as:

• decrease in calcium absorption and vitamin D. Risk of occurrencerickets greatly increased;
• to reduce iron absorption, which leads to the development of anemia;
• diarrheal disorders in the form of belching, bloating, lack of appetite, diarrhea;
• infringement of absorption of nutrients leads to a set or loss of weight, dry skin and a general decrease in immunity.

Bifidobacteria are responsible for the absorption of nutrients

Lactobacilli also play an important role. They prevent the appearance of putrefactive processes and form local immunity. Lactobacilli affect the digestion of food, strengthening the motor system of the digestive tract. In addition, they have antibacterial activity, produce lactic acid, alcohol, lysozyme, as well as interferons.

Other microorganisms, such as clostridia and Escherichia coli, also participate in the formation of local immunity. While normal biocenosis is maintained, there are no failures in the body. When the balance of microflora is disturbed, the level of beneficial bacteria decreases, while conditionally pathogenic microorganisms begin to multiply actively.

Causes of dysbiosis

There are quite a few reasons provoking dysbiosis in pregnant women. The main role is given to antibiotics, which destroy not only the pathogenic microflora, but also useful microorganisms. Low-quality food, preservatives, stressful situations, chronic fatigue, radiation radiation, poor ecology - all this can cause a violation of natural microflora.

Dysbacteriosis of the intestine during pregnancy most often develops against the weakened immunity

Dysbiosis can also result in various diseases: gastritis, hormonal disorders, hypertension, hypotension, helminthiasis, caries, allergies and others. The death of beneficial bacteria and the rapid development of pathogenic microflora occur most often against the background of weakened immunity, which decreases during the period of gestation.

Natural weakening of the immune system helps a woman to bear the child. Otherwise, the body would reject the life that was born. The fetus is an alien body for our body. If immunity worked in the usual way, any pregnancy ended in miscarriage.

Specialists identify four forms of dysbiosis in pregnant women, each of which has its own developmental reasons:

• transient. It occurs in healthy people and is most often associated with eating habits, professional activities and age characteristics;
• secondary dysbacteriosis, which occurs against the background of diseases of the digestive tract: pancreatitis, gastritis, hepatitis;
• dysbiosis against parasitic, infectious, allergic reactions, as well as immunodeficiencies;
• dysbacteriosis on the background of irrational treatment with antibiotics, laxatives and antihistamines.

Clinical Symptoms

Dysbacteriosis during pregnancy is manifested as follows:

• pain in the near-umbilical zone;
• appearance of heaviness in the abdomen after eating;
• diarrhea;
• flatulence;
• heartburn;
• the lagging of the tongue;
• dry skin;
• allergy;
• irritability, anxiety;
• a breakdown, insomnia;
• reduction in body weight;
• increased toxicity in early pregnancy.

Dysbacteriosis manifests as chronic diarrhea

Many of the above symptoms often accompany, so often the pregnant simply do not pay attention to them, writing off on the natural processes in the body. Dysbiosis affects both the condition of the mother and the baby. The maternal microflora becomes the foundation for the formation of the intestinal microflora in the fetus.

Hormonal restructuring occurs in the body, starting with the first days of pregnancy. It affects all vital systems, and urogenital is not an exception. When vaginal dysbiosis in women, the following symptoms appear:

• itching and burning of the vulva;
• appearance of pathological discharge with an unpleasant odor;
• pain in the lower abdomen, which intensifies during intimacy;
• swelling of the labia.

Danger to the fetus

The violation of the qualitative and quantitative composition of the natural microflora can lead to the following complications: a violation of the elasticity of the birth canal, which increases the risk of trauma, impaired fetal development due to inadequate intake of nutrients, infection of the child with a bacterial or fungal infection.

With dysbacteriosis of the vagina, a very frequent phenomenon is an increase in the tone of the uterus, which can result in miscarriage or premature birth. Dysbiosis of the intestine can also cause hypertonia due to its irritating effect on the uterus.

Dysbacteriosis can lead to an increase in the tone of the uterus and, as a consequence, to miscarriage

Dysbacteriosis after pregnancy

Symptoms of dysbiosis after childbirth can be constipation or diarrhea, and also their alternation. Women can also complain about a feeling of incomplete bowel movement, vomiting, nausea, dizziness, pain in the abdomen. The most common change in microflora is the manifestation of other diseases, namely: gastrointestinal diseases, gynecological problems, intestinal infections, radical diets that women use to regain their form after childbirth, parasitic diseases. Dysbacteriosis often occurs after cesarean section.

This is due to the fact that after the operation, a course of antibiotic therapy is prescribed for women. In this case, both intestinal and vaginal dysbacteriosis may occur. Therapeutic therapy primarily includes a diet for normalizing the atmosphere in the intestine. Increase the number of useful microorganisms dairy products, so they must be mandatory in the diet.

Diagnostic inspection

The doctor can suspect the development of dysbiosis on the basis of complaints of a pregnant woman and the results of an examination with a gynecologist and gastroenterologist. Yet no doctor will prescribe a treatment without examining the patient. At any time of pregnancy, the following studies can be performed:

• feces for coprogram. The analysis allows to assess the functional activity of the intestine, as well as to reveal violations in motor skills and absorption of nutrients;
• bacteriological analysis of feces. Sowing helps to identify the presence of pathogenic microorganisms, as well as to determine their sensitivity to antibiotics;
• ultrasound examination. Ultrasound can not show dysbiosis, but it is possible to identify the disease that caused the disorder.

Ultrasound will help to identify the disease that caused the disbiosis

Features of treatment

The goal of treating dysbacteriosis in pregnancy is the normalization of normal microflora. Therapeutic therapy may differ slightly depending on the timing of the pregnancy, the severity of the process and the presence of concomitant pathologies. You can treat dysbacteriosis with the help of medicamentous and non-medicament methods.

Adherence to dietary nutrition is an important element of therapy. To stabilize the growth of useful microorganisms, it is recommended to use cereals: millet, buckwheat, rye. The diet should be enriched with fruits for the season and vegetables: cabbage, tomatoes, zucchini, carrots. Special attention should be paid to sour-milk products.

Foods containing yeast cultures are considered harmful:

• fresh bread;
• kvass;
• grapes;
• sweets;
• preservatives;
• refined products.

Many medications during pregnancy are prohibited. Even such a seemingly innocuous violation, as a dysbacteriosis, can not be ignored. Medications are prescribed along with diet, but in no way exclude correction of the diet. Without restrictions in the diet, any medicine will not give the desired result. Currently, probiotics, which include living microorganisms, are very popular.

Probiotics are allowed for use from the first trimester of pregnancy, they are absolutely safe for the mother and child

To prevent the development of the disorder, simple recommendations of specialists will help:

• rational use of antibiotics under the supervision of a doctor;
• timely treatment of any gastrointestinal diseases;
• high-grade food;
• increased immunity;
• reception of vitamin complexes according to the doctor's indications.

So, dysbacteriosis in pregnancy is a common phenomenon, the appearance of which is associated with a natural weakening of the immune system. In early terms, the disorder may not, generally speaking, manifest itself, but as the pathological process progresses, abdominal pain, swelling, nausea, and diarrhea appear.

Dysbacteriosis is not such a harmless violation, as it might seem, at first glance. It can lead to miscarriage and premature birth. To avoid serious complications, it is extremely important to listen to the recommendations of a specialist. Reception of probiotics in combination with dietary nutrition will help to speed up the healing process and restore normal microflora.