Understanding stomach bugs and sickness in pregnancy

Having a sickness bug is never nice, but a funny tummy when you’re pregnant can be even worse, especially if you’re already feeling tired and run down.

Stomach bugs are usually nothing to worry about and tend to go away on their own within a few days. Even a particularly nasty bout of sickness and diarrhoea is unlikely to harm your baby as long as you take good care of yourself.

Here’s a quick guide to tummy bugs, how you can help yourself and the signs that mean you should see a doctor.

What is a stomach bug?

A tummy bug is another name for ‘gastric flu’ or gastroenteritis. It’s where the lining of your stomach and gut become inflamed due to an infection and it typically causes sickness and diarrhoea.

Tummy bugs can affect anyone at any time but during pregnancy your immune system isn’t quite as strong as normal, so you’re more susceptible to bugs and germs.

What causes a tummy bug?

Gastroenteritis can be caused by a range of different bugs, including viruses and bacteria. The most common virus causing stomach bugs in adults is norovirus. It tends to be more common during the winter (hence its nickname ‘the winter vomiting bug’) when people spend more time indoors and germs are passed between people more freely.

Rotavirus is a common cause of gastroenteritis in children, which is why babies are vaccinated against it during the first few months of their life.

Stomach bugs can also be caused by eating food that’s contaminated by bacteria, such as Campylobacter, Salmonella, Listeria and E. coli. This can happen when food hasn’t been cooked, prepared or stored properly. It’s one of the reasons pregnant women are advised not to eat certain foods during pregnancy, such as cheeses made from unpasteurised milk and shellfish.

You can also pick up bugs from the things you touch, like door handles or the toilet seat, especially if you don’t wash your hands before eating.

What are the symptoms of a stomach bug?

The main symptoms of a stomach bug include:

• Watery diarrhoea
• Feeling sick (nausea)
• Vomiting (being sick), which may be projectile
• Stomach cramps/pains
• Fever (a temperature of 38°C or higher)
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Aches and pains
• Chills (shivering and goosebumps)

You may not get all of these, and some people experience only very mild symptoms.

What is the best treatment for a stomach bug during pregnancy?

If you have a stomach bug, there’s no medicine that will cure it. It’s important not to take medicines such as Imodium to stop the diarrhoea – these aren’t recommended during pregnancy. It’s fine to take an oral rehydration solution (e.g. Dioralyte) if you’re having trouble keeping fluids down, which you can buy from your local pharmacy.

Other things you can do to help yourself:

• Stay at home and rest as much as possible
• Take sips of water throughout the day to replace fluids lost through vomiting and diarrhoea
• If feel able to, eat some plain food such as a slice of toast or bowl of cereal but don’t worry if you’re not able to eat for 24 hours
• Take paracetamol to ease aches and pains, if needed
• Wash your hands thoroughly after going to the toilet or vomiting
• Try not to worry – focus on taking care of yourself

If you’re in doubt about what medicines you can take during pregnancy, speak to a pharmacist.

Can a stomach bug harm my baby?

Most stomach bugs won’t harm your baby – the placenta stops most germs from reaching them. However, severe dehydration or a high, long-lasting fever can bring on premature labour.

Food poisoning caused by Listeria (known as listeriosis) is a greater cause for concern during pregnancy than other types of tummy bug, as it can be passed to the baby. Listeriosis is rare though, and if you stick to the dietary advice for pregnancy, there’s no need to worry.

Should I see my GP about a stomach bug in pregnancy?

Although tummy bugs can make you feel very ill, it’s usually not necessary to see your doctor. It’s important to know that while vomiting usually stops within a couple of days, diarrhoea can persist for up to a week.

Seek advice from your GP if:

• You’re having difficulty keeping any fluids down
• You have symptoms of severe dehydration (your urine is very dark in colour, passing only small amounts of urine or none at all, feeling dizzy)
• There is blood in your diarrhoea
• You’re still vomiting 48 hours after it started
• You still have diarrhoea after a week
• You have severe stomach cramps

If you’re at the stage of pregnancy when you can feel your baby’s movements and you notice that they’ve changed, slowed down or stopped, call your midwife or maternity unit immediately – even if it’s in the middle of the night.

Call 999 or get to A&E immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:

• A sudden and severe stomach-ache or headache
• Pain when looking at bright light and a stiff neck
• Blood in your vomit, or vomit that looks like ground coffee
• Vomiting yellow or green fluid
  

I caught a tummy bug while abroad – should I be worried?

‘Traveller’s diarrhoea’ is not necessarily a cause for concern but if you’ve just returned from a part of the world where sanitation is poor, it’s a good idea to speak to your GP. They might want to send off a sample of your poo to a laboratory to check what’s causing it.

How can I stop others from getting my stomach bug?

Gastroenteritis spreads quickly and easily, so it’s important to try and contain it as much as possible to protect your family and others.

Here are some things you should do stop it spreading:

• Wash any clothing and bedding you’ve used while ill – wash them separately on a hot wash (60°C)
• Wash your hands thoroughly and regularly with soap and warm water
• Regularly clean and disinfect surfaces, such as toilet handles, door handles, taps and loo seats
• Don’t share things like cutlery, crockery, cups, clothes or towels with anybody else
• If possible, avoid preparing food for others while you’re unwell
• Stay away from work for 2 days after the sickness and diarrhoea has stopped
• If you swim, stay away from the pool for at least 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped