Gastritis, as statistics show, is one ofthe most common gastrointestinal diseases today, from the manifestations of which more than half of the adult population of the globe suffers. Symptoms of the inflammatory process of the gastric mucosa can significantly darken the course of pregnancy and bring a lot of discomfort to the woman. In this case, the problem also becomes the treatment, which should not only be effective, but also safe for the child. That is why it is important to have sufficient information on this issue.
Causes of gastritis in pregnancy
What causes gastritis during pregnancy?Most often, this is just an exacerbation of chronic inflammatory processes that have already occurred in the stomach of the fair sex. This happens in more than 75% of cases. There are two types of gastritis: A and B. The first is caused by the development of atrophic processes in the gastric wall, caused by autoimmune damage to cells. The development of type B gastritis is based on infection with a bacterial agent such as Helicobacter pylori. Please note: a pregnant woman can become infected with Helicobacter pylori during household contacts or already be infected at the time of conception. However, if before pregnancy the disease can be asymptomatic or with minimal severity, then changes in hormonal levels significantly exacerbate the clinical picture. It is necessary to treat such a disease consciously, because standard antibacterial drugs are often contraindicated for pregnant patients. The following factors can cause an exacerbation of chronic gastritis in this case:
- the use of a large number of products from refined carbohydrates;
- irregular and unbalanced nutrition;
- abuse of foods with a high content of preservatives, artificial colors, stabilizers and flavors;
- stress;
- binge eating.
Diagnosis of gastritis in pregnancy
In order to prescribe effective treatment,the doctor must conduct a competent diagnosis. An important point in this case is the collection of information during the first examination (patient complaints, analysis of primary symptoms). Gastritis during pregnancy is often characterized by a wide variety of clinical symptoms. A woman may be concerned about:
- rumbling in the stomach, as if she constantly wants to eat;
- painful sensations localized in the epigastric region;
- stool disorder;
- nausea;
- eructation;
- vomiting;
- meteorisms.
Different forms of gastritis are characterized by certainFeatures of the clinical picture. Thus, with increased secretory activity of the stomach, pain syndrome comes to the fore among complaints. Pain occurs in the upper abdomen, can be localized near the navel or even in the right hypochondrium. Unpleasant sensations intensify after eating fatty, spicy, heavy food, on an empty stomach or at night. This form of the disease is most often found in young women. Treatment of such gastritis should be aimed at suppressing the secretory activity of the stomach. In the case when acidity in a woman is reduced, and not increased, the most pronounced manifestations of gastric and intestinal dyspepsia. Painful sensations are moderate and become more pronounced when the walls of the stomach are stretched by a large amount of food. With this type of gastritis, treatment is designed to increase and normalize the secretory activity of the gastric glands. As a rule, against the background of an exacerbation of chronic gastritis in pregnant women in the early stages, toxicosis develops, which is characterized by a particularly severe course. In this case, clinical manifestations of the disease persist for 14-17 weeks, and the body responds poorly to standard treatment. However, gastritis does not have any direct impact on fetal development. Adequate treatment of gastritis is impossible without high-quality laboratory and instrumental diagnostics. The following methods can be used to establish a correct diagnosis:
- fractional sounding and intragastricpH-metry - these diagnostic methods allow you to determine the degree of acidity of gastric juice in your specific case and, accordingly, determine the type of gastritis;
- the blood test is done first. Performing a biochemical study makes it possible to reveal in your body the concentration of gastrin. Special techniques allow to determine the presence of antibodies to the lining cells and Helicobacter pylori. The study of peripheral blood is directed to the detection of signs of B12-deficiency anemia, which often accompanies this disease;
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy - this endoscopicthe method of investigation makes it possible to detect changes in the mucous membrane characteristic for the development of gastritis, and also to perform a biopsy of the affected tissues. However, this technique is rather unpleasant and is performed by pregnant women only if there are special indications;
- The respiratory test is a non-invasive method for diagnosing the infection of Helicobacter pylori, which is most convenient for use in pregnant women.
Treatment of gastritis in pregnancy
Proper nutrition for gastritis TreatmentGastritis during pregnancy begins with normalizing the diet and selecting a gentle diet. In severe cases of the disease, a woman is prescribed bed rest and fractional meals. The number of meals should be 5-6 times a day. At the same time, do not forget to have breakfast and a full dinner. In the first days of treatment, food should have a semi-liquid consistency so as not to burden the stomach. It is recommended to start the diet with milk and mucous soups, milk, cottage cheese. After a few days, the diet can be expanded to include chicken or quail eggs, soft-boiled or steamed, fresh fruits and vegetables, vegetable stew. As the normal regimen returns, porridge, boiled meat, potatoes, sour cream, and cheese should be introduced into the diet of a pregnant woman. If deviations in the indicators of stomach function are detected throughout the pregnancy, a woman is advised to avoid eating foods such as:
- fried food;
- smoked products;
- spicy and spicy seasonings;
- dishes and foods high in salt;
- confectionery;
- meat and fish broth;
- coffee.
However, these restrictions are not alwaysapplicable to patients with atrophic gastritis, accompanied by decreased gastric secretion. For such patients, within reasonable limits, it is recommended, for example, juice broths that activate the work of the glands of the mucous membrane. Treatment with mineral waters Treatment for exacerbation of gastritis during pregnancy may include the prescription of mineral waters. If pH-metry is indicated, reducing acidity will be useful to drink "Essentuki" No. 4 and 17, "Arzni", "Mirgorodskaya". With hypersecretory gastritis, it is recommended to take "Jermuk", "Smirnovskaya", "Borjomi", "Slavyanovskaya". It is better to take medicinal waters 1.5-2 hours after eating. If gastritis worsens, stop drinking mineral water for a while. In any case, you should first consult with your doctor. Drug therapy for gastritis Undoubtedly, gastritis during pregnancy can be treated with drugs. However, the most effective treatment regimens cannot always be used. Helicobacter pylori infection is never eradicated, as many antibacterial drugs can have a negative effect on the developing fetus. Therefore, the main treatment is to normalize the acidity level of the gastric contents. However, even such therapy is not prescribed in full. For example, antisecretory drugs are not used. For gastritis with high acidity, the following can be used:
- antacids - getting into the stomach cavity, they reduce the acidity of its contents, which brings significant clinical relief;
- prokinetics - regulating the motor activity of the gastrointestinal wall, eliminate the feeling of nausea in the development of gastritis;
- antispasmodics - are able to reduce the severity of pain when exacerbating the inflammatory process.
There are some specific features of therapy for gastritis with decreased secretory activity. Such patients may be prescribed replacement therapy drugs:
- preparations of gastric enzymes. In doses recommended by a specialist, they are able to compensate for the lack of activity of the secretory glands of the gastric mucosa;
- preparations of pancreatic enzymes are used to improve digestion (in the presence of signs of pancreatic insufficiency);
- combined drugs have a complex effect on intestinal digestion.
Positive impact on the course of the diseasein pregnant women, taking probiotic preparations has an effect. They have an antagonistic effect on Helicobacter pylori and help to normalize the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract. Folk recipes for treating gastritis Often, when gastritis worsens during pregnancy, there is a desire to solve the problem using only natural remedies. In this case, medicinal herbs and tinctures with anti-inflammatory, enveloping and analgesic properties can help. The most commonly used in the complex therapy of gastritis with increased secretory activity are: trefoil, St. John's wort, mint, chamomile, calamus rhizome, celandine, flax seeds, oat seeds, bird's knotweed. In case of decreased acidity of the gastric contents, the following may be useful: caraway, cumin, wormwood, savory, parsley, wormwood, trifolium, parsnip, plantain leaves, oregano and fennel. The main thing is to buy products only in pharmacies and brew them correctly, following the instructions on the package. And do not abuse them, since taking some drinks can negatively affect the complex treatment. Herbs with a sedative effect, such as valerian and motherwort, also have a positive effect on the general condition. However, it should be remembered that the body of a pregnant woman reacts differently to any therapy. Therefore, even when using herbal remedies, it is better to consult a doctor who will prescribe you a full treatment. It is necessary to remember that therapy for chronic gastritis during pregnancy should first of all be safe for your child. That is why this disease can only be treated after consulting a competent specialist! If gastritis worsens, urgently go to a gastroenterologist. Remember once and for all: the baby's health depends on what the mother ate and took during pregnancy.
