Contents:
- Medical Video: Cholecystectomy | Gallbladder Removal Surgery | Nucleus Health
- What causes gallstones to appear while pregnant?
- What are the symptoms of gallstones during pregnancy?
- What are the risks of gallstones in pregnant women?
- How to deal with gallstones while pregnant?
- How to prevent gallstones during pregnancy?
Medical Video: Cholecystectomy | Gallbladder Removal Surgery | Nucleus Health
Abdominal pain in the upper right can be a symptom of gallstones. This condition is more experienced by women, especially during pregnancy.So, what is the cause of gallstones during pregnancy, and is there an impact on the baby in the womb? More importantly, how to treat it? See the explanation below.
What causes gallstones to appear while pregnant?
Gallstones occur when there is a buildup of fat in the body due to eating too much fatty food and high cholesterol.Bile is an organ located below the liver and is responsible for storing bile which is used to digest fat in the body. Fat buildup makes bile work hard to digestthese fats, so they clump and form gallstones that block the bile duct.
In pregnant women, gallstones usually occur due to changes in body hormones that occur during pregnancy. Increased hormone estrogen canincrease fat levels in the body and slow down bile movements in digesting fat. This then makes women who are pregnant at high risk for developing gallstones.
What are the symptoms of gallstones during pregnancy?
In some cases, gallstones do not cause any symptoms, especially if the size of the stone formed is not too large. In fact, this health disorder can occur and then disappear when you give birth later.
But in some cases, the symptoms caused are quite disturbing, such as:
- Abdominal pain in the upper right side continuously, especially after eating fatty foods
- Pain in the back
- Abdominal pain for approximately 5 hours
- Feel nausea and vomiting continuously
- Having fever to shivering
- The skin tends to turn yellow
If you experience these things, you should consult your doctor immediately.
What are the risks of gallstones in pregnant women?
Gallstones that are too large and difficult to remove will clog the bile ducts. If this happens, there are several health risks that may occur, such as premature birth, the fetus is difficult to breathe, and stillbirth. Therefore, this should be treated immediately so as not to cause interference with pregnancy.
How to deal with gallstones while pregnant?
Most gallstones that appear during pregnancy will be treated with surgery. Experts say that gallstone surgery is a type of surgery that often occurs during pregnancy. However, this depends on each condition of the mother and fetus at that time. Surgery is not recommended and has a high risk if done during the first trimester. If done, this can lead to miscarriage and birth defects in the fetus.
Therefore, if it is not too urgent, the doctor will wait until the pregnancy enters the second trimester or until the birth occurs. However, once again, this depends on the condition of each mother and fetus. It's best to discuss this with your doctor.
In order not to get worse, you should also maintain and choose your food during pregnancy. Avoid foods that contain high fat and fried foods, because this will only add to the workload of bile that is being disrupted.
How to prevent gallstones during pregnancy?
Even though it is at a higher risk for gallstones during pregnancy, it does not mean you will experience it. Of course, this can still be prevented from happening to you. Here are things you can do to prevent gallstones during pregnancy:
- Have an ideal body weight according to gestational age. During pregnancy, it is natural that you gain weight. However, do not let this make you become obese during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor and nutritionist about the ideal body weight according to your gestational age and the menu of foods that you consume well during pregnancy.
- Eat lots of fibrous foods. Prior to pregnancy, you should familiarize yourself to consume more fiber. Fiber can bind fats in the body, thereby alleviating the workload of your liver and bile.
- Avoid foods that are high in fat. Try not to consume fat no more than 25 percent of your total calories. to find out the menu division, it's better to consult your nutritionist.
- Stay active. Even though you are pregnant, it does not mean that you can stay alone all day at home. You must stay active and do sports that are safe when pregnant.
