Gallstones During Pregnancy – Everything You Need To Know
Pregnancy comes with a wide range of signs and symptoms – from heartburn to nausea, and it is often difficult to understand if they’re harmless or something that could be harmful for the baby. Gallbladder disease affects around 15 percent of the total population, and pregnant women are actually at a higher risk of being affected.
Let’s take a closer look at the link between gallbladder problems and pregnancy, and how to handle it all.
The Link Between Gallbladder Disease And Pregnancy:
It has been found that pregnant women are at a significantly higher risk of being affected by gallbladder disease, and this is due to hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy (1).
It has been found that pregnancy coaxes the body to produce more estrogen to support the baby’s development, and higher levels of this hormone can cause the cholesterol content to spike, which can in turn, lead to the development of gallstones (2).
What Are Gallstones?
Simply put, gallstones are nothing but lumps that develop in the gallbladder or the bile duct of the body. Gallstones are usually composed of calcium bilirubinate, cholesterol and calcium carbonate.
Symptoms Of Gallstones:
Some common signs and symptoms associated with the formation of gallstones during pregnancy include:
- Pain: Gallstones that move through the gallbladder system can induce pain, usually in the right side of the abdomen near the ribcage. The pain may be dull or sharp, or even be recognized as a throbbing sensation. The pain associated with gallstones usually worsens during the night, and after the consumption of fatty foods. Pain in the shoulder blades or the right shoulder is also noted.
- Gastrointestinal Problems: Digestive upset is a common complaint noted among women who develop gallstones during pregnancy. Increased flatulence and belching is noted, and in some cases, nausea and an urge to vomit is also observed. Diarrhoea and loose stools are also found to affect women who suffer from gallstones during pregnancy.
- Other Symptoms: Apart from these, gallstones are also thought to induce indigestion, heartburn and nausea.
Can Gallstones Affect My Baby?
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, gallbladder problems could cause serious complications during pregnancy. Pregnant women experiencing abdominal pain for more than 5 hours should consult a doctor. Severe symptoms such as fever, yellowness of the skin and eyes and sudden vomiting could be a signal of a serious gallbladder problem, and if left untreated, it may also lead to infections and gallbladder rupture.
How Are Gallstones Treated?
Your doctor will usually confirm the presence of gallstones after performing an ultrasound, similar to a regular ultrasound which is done to monitor the baby’s progress and growth. Several other diagnostic scans such as an oral cholecystogram and a CT scan may also be advised.
Once confirmed, your doctor may advise you to undergo a gallbladder surgery to have your gallstones removed. This may be done only after your doctor has evaluated several risk factors associated with the surgery and your pregnancy. Usually, the surgery is believed to be safe for both the mother and the developing baby(3).
How Can I Prevent Gallstones?
Following some simple preventive measures could actually help you lower your risk of developing gallstones.
- Stick to a healthy weight.
- Consume a low-fat, high fiber diet.
- Keep your blood glucose levels in check.
- Go for routine examinations to check your progress.
- Keep cholesterol levels in check.(4)
- Exercise regularly.
- Avoid medications that lower blood cholesterol levels.(5)
We hope this article helped you understand a bit more about gallbladder problems, particularly gallstones during pregnancy.
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