- Symptoms of gall bladder in pregnancy
- Treatment for gall bladder in pregnancy
- Is surgery recommended?
The gallbladder stone in pregnancy is a problem that can arise due to hormonal changes in pregnancy that hinder the emptying of the gallbladder, facilitating the accumulation of cholesterol and the formation of stones inside it.
Generally, gallbladder stones in pregnancy are more frequent in pregnant women who are overweight, have high blood cholesterol levels and diabetes, since gallbladder stones are formed due to the accumulation of calcium and cholesterol within the gallbladder.
The gallbladder stone does not prevent pregnancy or affect the baby, however, some complications, such as infection or severe vomiting, can decrease the pregnant woman's nutritional status and hinder the development of the fetus. Therefore, it is important to consult the obstetrician and have nutritional monitoring if symptoms of gallbladder, such as abdominal pain and nausea, appear to initiate the appropriate treatment and avoid complications.
Symptoms of gall bladder in pregnancy
Symptoms of gall bladder in pregnancy can include:
- Abdominal pain on the right, especially after eating; Back pain; Nausea and vomiting; Fever above 38ºC. Chills; Yellow skin or eyes; Lighter stools.
Symptoms of gallbladder stones during pregnancy are more common in the third trimester of pregnancy, however, they may appear earlier in overweight women. See how to identify the gallstone.
Treatment for gall bladder in pregnancy
Treatment for gall bladder in pregnancy should be done under the guidance of the obstetrician as soon as the first symptoms appear and aims to improve the health of the woman and, consequently, the baby. Treatment usually includes regular physical exercise and a diet low in fatty foods, such as fried foods or sausages, to reduce symptoms. Learn how the diet is done during the kidney stone crisis.
In addition, the doctor may also prescribe the use of anti-inflammatory and analgesic remedies, such as Indomethacin or Acetominophene, which help to reduce symptoms if diet and exercise are not enough.
Is surgery recommended?
Surgery for gallbladder stone in pregnancy is not recommended, only in very severe cases, so when the first symptoms of gallbladder stone appear, you should go to the obstetrician for diagnosis and start treatment.
When indicated, surgery should be performed when the woman is in the second trimester of pregnancy, because before that there may be a risk of miscarriage and after this period there may be a risk for the woman due to the size of the baby that ends up making it difficult to access the gallbladder. In addition, surgery should only be performed in cases of severe infection of the gallbladder, severe pain or risk of miscarriage due to malnutrition of the mother, for example. In these cases, laparoscopy is used in order to reduce the risks of surgery for pregnancy. Understand how laparoscopic surgery is performed.
