What is the opposite of constipation? Loose stools are little talked about, but quite common part of pregnancy. Pregnant women everywhere will complain about how constipated they are, but they rarely mention when they are having loose stools, either out of relief, or embarrassment.

Why do some women have loose stools? In most pregnancies, women will experience times of both constipation and diarrhea. Loose stools are obviously easier to tolerate, considering the condition doesn’t cause pain and hemorrhoids or lead to hours sitting on the toilet trying to get relief.

Loose stools in pregnancy can symbolize different things at different times. During early pregnancy, it can be a sign you are pregnant, as your uterus starts to grow and pushes out the waste. It can also be caused by your prenatal vitamin, just as constipation can be caused by the prenatal vitamin. All pregnancies and women are different.

Loose stools after the 37th week of pregnancy can signify the onset of labor. As your baby shifts and begins to drop, taking pressure off of your intestines and colon, you may begin experiencing diarrhea. It doesn’t mean labor will start that day, but it is a good sign that labor will start soon!

Some people even complain of smelly stools while pregnant. This can be caused by hormone changes and the food you eat, but it might also be caused by a virus. If you have smelly stools you should talk to your doctor. Likewise, while some women will have diarrhea throughout their entire pregnancies, if you are bothered by it, bring it up to your care provider and see if they have any options for you.

Pregnancy itching can range from a slight to severe, can be caused by many different things, and can affect many different areas on a woman’s body.

Itching during pregnancy is quite normal. The most common cause is dry skin, also known as xerosis, which can be caused by not staying well hydrated. Xerosis can be treated by increasing daily water intake and rubbing lotion on the itchy areas.

Other causes of itchy skin include a liver abnormality called intrahepatic (within the liver) cholestasis (pooling of bile salts) of pregnancy, chicken pox, Fifth’s disease, or even a possible reaction to prenatal vitamins or a new medication. If you have a rash that will not go away, or is accompanied by a fever, you should consult your doctor.

Some women may experience some vaginal itching during pregnancy. This itching can be caused by a sexually transmitted disease, or an infection, but is more commonly caused by the change in your vaginal PH level. Yeast infections during pregnancy are also very common and can be the cause of moderate to severe itching.

What Can You Do?
Before trying to treat vaginal itching with over the counter or home remedies, you should consult your doctor or midwife to rule out the possibility of any STDs. If it is determined that your itching is being caused by a change in your PH level, there are several things you can do to try to relieve the itch.

• Run a bath and add baking soda to it
• Make a paste of baking soda and water to put on the itchy areas
• Place a cold compress on the itchy area

Preventing Vaginal Itching
There are many things you can try to do to help prevent the vaginal itching from starting or returning during your pregnancy.

• Keep yourself clean and dry
• Always wipe from front to back to keep bacteria away from your vagina
• Refrain from douching
• Use scentless detergents
• Wear loose clothing and cotton panties
• Take warm baths free of perfumed bubble bath, and use soap for sensitive skin to wash

If you still experience recurrent itching, whether on your belly, arms, legs or vaginal, consult your doctor to discuss other causes of itchy skin and what you can do about it.

While breastfeeding is best, some women can not breastfeed and turn to formula to feed their babies. With both breastfeeding and formula feeding however a baby can suffer from reflux causing belly aches, arching of the back, and painful cries from your baby. There are several things you can do to help your baby feel better, or help the reflux not hit your baby as bad.

Slow Down
Don’t rush your baby with his eating. Let him take little breaks and have adequate time to eat his “food”. It may mean that you need to nurse for a shorter amount of time but more often in order to give your baby a chance to digest some of his food.

Don’t Overfeed
Don’t try to force feed your baby. If he acts full stop feeding him. Overfeeding your baby can cause a back up of gas leading to painful reflux before the food is properly digested.

Consider What Your Baby Is Wearing
Tight clothing can make reflux worse, so make sure your baby’s clothing is loose. Change your baby’s diaper before feeding him and leave it a little loose so that there is room for his belly to expand. Check his diaper afterwards to make sure it isn’t too tight.

Feed In a Comfortable Position
Try feeding your baby in an upright position and when possible hold you baby upright for at least thirty minutes after feeds to help reduce reflux. If this is not possible try setting him in his swing or a seat on the floor that allows him to sit upright. This allows gravity to work at holding the food in their tummies.

Try Thickening Foods
Ask your pediatrician about thickening your baby’s formula with cereal. Depending on your baby’s weight and age, his doctor may say it is safe to start this. Always consult your pediatrician prior to starting solid foods though with your baby as you don’t want to cause any other problems.

Avoid Foods That Cause Problems
If your baby has a milk allergy then soy based or hypoallergenic will likely help the reflux improve. It may mean cutting certain foods out of your diet in order to help your baby process breast milk easier. Avoid the known allergens such as whole milk, chocolate milk, tomatoes, and citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruit and pineapple. You can also try to stay away from fatty foods.

Burp Frequently
Try to stop during your feedings to burp your baby. Getting rid of access air can help the food digest faster. Always remember to burp your baby for a last time after he is done eating.

Change Formula Brand
If you are using formula you may find that changing the brand helps. If your baby has a milk allergy or sensitivity then soy based or hypoallergenic will likely help the reflux improve. Only change formula however after talking to your doctor about the problems you are having.

Babies will normally get over reflux on their own eventually. In some cases of severe reflux damage can be done to your baby’s stomach and esophagus. If you are concerned about your baby be sure to speak to his doctor at your next well-check.