Peptic/Stomach Ulcer During Pregnancy – Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatments

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D o you o f t e n experience a burning s e n s a t i o n in t h e stomach d u r i n g pregnancy? D o e s the s e n s a t i o n lead t o side e f f e c t s like n a u s e a or v o m i t i n g ? If y o u nodded a l o n g solemnly, y o u might w a n t to v i s i t your d o c t o r . You m i g h t be s u f f e r i n g from P e p t i c Ulcer D i s e a s e . To l e a r n more a b o u t peptic o r stomach u l c e r during p r e g n a n c y , scroll d o w n and r e a d the p o s t below.

W h a t Is A Stomach Ulcer?

A stomach ulcer o c c u r s when t h e mucus l i n i n g of t h e intestine o r stomach e r o d e s . The e r o s i o n affects a c i d s of t h e stomach, a n d damages t h e stomach w a l l s . Apart f r o m Stomach Ulcer, t h e r e are c e r t a i n other d i s o r d e r s related t o the d i g e s t i v e system t h a t are c o m m o n during p r e g n a n c y .

T h e most c o m m o n gastrointestinal d i s e a s e s during p r e g n a n c y are a s follows:

V o m i t i n g and N a u s e a

G a s t r o e s o p h a g e a l Reflux
Sponsored

I r r i t a b l e Bowel S y n d r o m e

I n f l a m m a t o r y Bowel D i s e a s e

N a u s e a and v o m i t i n g are c o m m o n symptoms o f pregnancy. A l s o , symptomatic g a s t r o e s o p h a g e a l reflux d i s e a s e is a common d i s e a s e in w o m e n who a r e expecting. H o w e v e r , stomach ulcer d i s e a s e occurs l e s s frequently i n pregnant l a d i e s and h a s fewer c o m p l i c a t i o n s .

C a u s e s Of S t o m a c h U l c e r During P r e g n a n c y :

T h e r e is n o determinable c a u s e of t h e stomach ulcer. A n ulcer o c c u r s due t o an i m b a l a n c e between d i g e s t i v e juices i n the s t o m a c h and d u o d e n u m . Also, u l c e r s occur d u e to a bacterial i n f e c t i o n called H e l i c o b a c t e r pylori ( H . pylori).

S y m p t o m s Of S t o m a c h U l c e r During P r e g n a n c y :

H e r e are s o m e of t h e symptoms o f a s t o m a c h ulcer i n p r e g n a n c y :

N a u s e a and v o m i t i n g

Bloating

Heartburn

S e v e r e pain i n the m i d d l e or u p p e r part o f abdomen.

D a r k or b l a c k coloured s t o o l s due t o bleeding.

W e i g h t loss

D i a g n o s i n g Stomach Ulcer D u r i n g Pregnancy:

E s o p h a g o g a s t r o d u o d e n o s c o p y isn’t j u s t a b i g word. I t is t h e term f o r the d i a g n o s i s of S t o m a c h U l c e r Disease d u r i n g pregnancy. H o w e v e r , the m e t h o d is o n l y used w h e n the s y m p t o m s are s e v e r e . Also, w h e n there a r e PUD-associated c o m p l i c a t i o n s viz. H a e m o r r h a g e s or G a s t r i c outlet o b s t r u c t i o n , this d i a g n o s i s works b e s t .

T r e a t i n g Stomach Ulcers D u r i n g Pregnancy:

I f you a r e suffering f r o m Peptic U l c e r Disease ( P U D ) during p r e g n a n c y , then y o u r doctor w i l l suggest s o m e treatment o p t i o n s listed h e r e :

A n t a c i d s are c o m m o n l y used f o r the t r e a t m e n t of P U D as t h e y are c o n s i d e r e d safe d u r i n g pregnancy.

H o w e v e r , antacids c o n t a i n i n g bicarbonate a r e not p r e s c r i b e d by t h e doctors. T h e reason f o r this i s that t h e y are h a r m f u l to b o t h mother a n d foetus a s they c a n precipitate m e t a b o l i c alkalosis i n both.

R a t h e r , your d o c t o r will p r e s c r i b e you a n t a c i d s containing M a g n e s i u m , Calcium o r Aluminium t h a t too i n normal d o s e s , required f o r a t h e r a p y .

M a g n e s i u m or C a l c i u m – c o n t a i n i n g antacids d o not c a u s e any c o n g e n i t a l anomalies i n the n e w b o r n babies.

P r e v e n t i n g Stomach Ulcer D u r i n g Pregnancy:

1 . Avoid C e r t a i n Foods:

I f you a r e suffering f r o m Peptic U l c e r Disease w h i l e pregnant, t h e n you s h o u l d avoid f o o d that a g g r a v a t e s the d i s o r d e r . Here a r e some f o o d items t h a t you s h o u l d avoid i f you h a v e PUD o r if i t is s u s p e c t e d :

2 . Medication:

I f you a r e pregnant a n d suffering f r o m Peptic U l c e r Disease, t h e n avoid n o n – s t e r o i d a l anti-inflammatory d r u g s or N S A I D S , as t h e y are h a r m f u l to y o u as w e l l as y o u r growing b a b y .

3 . Avoid A l c o h o l :

C o n s u m i n g alcohol i s harmful f o r your g r o w i n g baby. H o w e v e r , if y o u have a PUD, t h e n it i s all t h e more n e c e s s a r y that y o u avoid a l c o h o l consumption a s it w i l l further d e t e r i o r a t e your d i g e s t i v e system.

3 . Quit S m o k i n g :

S m o k i n g is h a r m f u l to y o u r lungs a s well a s for y o u r developing f e t u s if y o u are p r e g n a n t . Also, i f you a r e suffering f r o m Peptic u l c e r disease d u r i n g pregnancy, t h e n quit s m o k i n g or e l s e it m i g h t lead t o nasty c o m p l i c a t i o n s and a f f e c t your u n b o r n baby.

D i d you a l s o suffer f r o m Stomach o r peptic ulcer d u r i n g p r e g n a n c y ? What t r e a t m e n t did y o u r doctor s u g g e s t ? Share y o u r story w i t h other m o m m i e s – t o – b e . Drop a comment b e l o w .

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