In pregnancy, many factors must be actively tracked as they can be a sign of something related to the pregnancy. One such factor is poop; yes, during pregnancy, the poop of the pregnant lady tells a lot about the state of pregnancy and sometimes the concerns. The color of the poop is what can help you understand your pregnancy from time to time. In this blog, we will talk about green poop in pregnancy, which is quite uncommon, making people get concerned about it. So, let’s learn everything about green stool in pregnancy.
What Causes Green Stool in Pregnancy?
While there’s nothing to worry about green stool during pregnancy in most cases, there can be some causes that are concerning. So, let’s look at the most common causes of green stool in pregnancy:
1) Food Items
Even if you are not pregnant, food items still cause the coloration of poop. Food items that are green in color and are also very rich in fiber can cause green stool. What happens is that when you consume leafy greens like spinach, kale, herbs, etc, they contain a lot of fiber, which is crucial for digestion. However, humans don’t digest all the fiber that they consume, which means it is excreted in almost the same way. Hence, the green color also remains intact and makes the stool appear green.
2) Food Coloring
The other big reason for green stool, which is common in normal people as well, is food coloring. These chemicals, which are used to give color to food items like snacks, are often left undigested. So, the poop turns the same color as the dyes. In a pregnant lady, it may not be the cause as a pregnant lady is told not to consume packaged food, but if you still ate it through a cake with green frosting, it’s not an issue.
3) Iron Supplements
Now, let’s come to one of the most common causes of green stool in pregnancy, which is iron supplements. During pregnancy, iron supplements are prescribed to the pregnant lady to make sure that they don’t suffer from its deficiency. This is because iron is an important component of RBCs and is also for the growth of the baby in the womb. Now, these supplements can also lead to a green stool, or in some cases, even black stool can be evident. It happens when there’s an excess of iron in your body. So, you must disclose the diet to your doctor to let them know if you need iron supplements or not. Moreover, if you take iron supplements, then make sure to follow the diet advised by your doctor.
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4) Gallbladder Stones
Build up of stones in your gall bladder can also cause green poop in pregnancy. These are called gallstones, and their build-up happens due to the rise in cholesterol levels. Cholesterol levels in a pregnant woman rise when there are hormonal changes.
While it’s a condition that may seem very concerning, the reality is that mostly the stones float in the gall bladder and keep dissolving and disappearing. Sometimes they may come into the bile duct through which the bile, a digestive liquid, is transported. Due to the stone, the supply of bile gets obstructed temporarily and since bile also contributes to the color of your stool, the lack of bile can cause a change in color.
5) Infections or Medications
Antibiotics or other medications taken during pregnancy can disrupt gut bacteria, potentially leading to green stools. Infections causing diarrhea might also result in the same color change. If green poop persists or is accompanied by other symptoms, consulting a healthcare provider is recommended.
Is Green Poop a Sign of Labor?
Green poop is also considered a sign of labor in the trimester of pregnancy by many people. But it’s not certainly true. Green poop alone can’t be considered as a sign of labor. Instead, diarrhea and loose stool are more prominent signs of labor. While diarrhea in the third trimester happens due to the spiking of hormones indicating the labor date is coming close, green poop can happen anytime in the whole pregnancy.
When to See a Doctor?
As you read above, light or dark green stool during pregnancy is not a concern, so you may not need medical attention. But if there are some other symptoms along with the green poop, then medical attention becomes important.
If you feel like you have a fever, cramps, or gas, then you should consult with gynecologist. Also, if diarrhea happens for more than three days in a row, it’s a sign to see a doctor. Along with these symptoms, you may also feel pain in your abdomen, shoulder, neck, stomach, or back. In all these cases, you must consult your doctor to know if everything is fine or not.
Conclusion
To wrap up, light or dark green poop during pregnancy is caused by multiple reasons, and most of them are not to worry about. Some other colors are much more concerning than a green stool. For instance, a dark red poop is a sign of intense bleeding in the digestive tract, which needs immediate doctor’s attention. Similarly, if the poop appears like coffee grounds, then also you should look for a doctor.
Good to Read:- Indian Vegetables to Avoid During Pregnancy | Brinjal During Pregnancy
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Is green stool a sign of early pregnancy?
No, green stool during pregnancy is not an indicator of early pregnancy. But yes if there are some changes in your body like missed periods, fatigue, etc, then it may indicate early pregnancy.
2) Is it normal to have green stool during pregnancy?
Yes, in most cases, green stool in pregnancy is totally normal. It can be caused due to food with high fiber content, color dyes, etc.
3) Does green mirch cause loose stools during pregnancy?
Yes, spice food, including green chili, can cause diarrhea and loose stool during pregnancy.