Health / Pregnancy & Motherhood

My partner is not disabled, so he has different needs than I do. A lot of my needs are physical, but my physical needs affect him physically. When you bring a baby into the equation, the baby also needs physical help, so what does that look like? What is the dance now? I don’t know yet because the baby’s not here yet. But that’s going to be something that we’re going to have to learn how to do.I’m in this space of getting creative and playing out those scenarios in my head: I’d like to try this, and I need this new equipment. But at the same time, it’s exciting to me. I love this. Because this is my life.“There’s something comforting in saying, ‘Yeah, this is going to be a lot, that is what it is.’”Having a career in the entertainment industry is interesting, because you feel like, If I stop and do something else, will my work still be there when I come back?I’ve been doing this professionally for 18 years, and I know that this kind of work takes a lot of focus and a lot of time. So how do you juggle being a mom with all of that? Then again, my life has always felt like a lot. So there’s something comforting in saying, “Yeah, this is going to be a lot, that is what it is.” I have no idea what it will be like, nor can I even pretend like I do. I’ll find out in real time—but I feel confident in my ability to figure it out.Richard III with Shakespeare in the Park was the first production contract where I was in rehearsals six days a week and then doing a run of a show every night while pregnant. It was a challenge, but it was also really important because every night I had something I had to go do, and every night there was the satisfaction of doing the show. My mind needs to be engaged. I knew I needed to work. I shared with the costume department and the team early on that I was pregnant and was going to be growing. They were amazing—they made adjustments to my costumes, they made them stretchy and adjustable.“My baby will always have a mom in a wheelchair, and I don’t see that represented in many places.”I was really nervous to share this news. It’s the most personal thing that’s maybe ever happened to me. But at the same time, it’s something that I’m so proud of. There’s a huge gap in representation of parents with disabilities. My baby will always have a mom in a wheelchair, and I don’t see that represented in many places. So there are parts of my personal life that are cool to share because there are going to be many more women with all different kinds of disabilities who want to become moms.Another thing that is interesting to me is there isn’t a lot of adaptive equipment for parents. There’s a lot of adaptive equipment for children with disabilities, but not really for parents. There are billions of dollars being made every day in the baby industry, and I wish that there was a little bit more awareness that not every parent is able-bodied.“Part of my body doesn’t work and another part of it does. And I can do this.”When you have a disability, you’re so aware of your limitations. So when you can have a baby and that experience is not being limited, it feels like such a gift. So many people throughout my life have asked, “Can you have kids?” And I’m like, Yeah. The body is amazing. Part of my body doesn’t work and another part of it does. And I can do this.I have felt very calm through this. And I feel lucky that this has been going so well. That’s not the case for everybody with disabilities, or without disabilities—having a baby can be hard and traumatic and painful for a lot of people. I wish more people knew that pregnancy is not the same for every person in a wheelchair or with a certain disability. It’s different for everyone. But I can’t help but share this journey, which has been so smooth. It feels like a miracle. It really does.This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.Related: 

While constipation can set in at any point throughout pregnancy, it tends to get worse with time as your intestines become more squished by the growing fetus and your body continues to relax muscles in preparation for labor, Dr. Elborno says. What I’ve learned is that figuring out a strategy to mitigate constipation early is important, so that you can have a game plan for when it inevitably strikes again.3. Forcing it is one of the worst things you can do.Unless you want hemorrhoids, it’s not a good idea to just sit on the toilet and push hoping that you’ll eventually get relief.Why? Well, without getting too technical, pushing harder to try and force a bowel movement can increase intrabdominal pressure, potentially leading to other GI issues, like hemorrhoids and anal fissures, Dr. Elborno says. Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anus that cause pain, swelling, and bleeding; fissures are essentially small tears in the lining of the anus. Ouch. Neither is a pleasant addition to pregnancy—or really any time in life.Straining to poop also puts a lot of stress on muscles of the pelvic floor, Dr. Paik says. Straining will further weaken those muscles, which will already be put through the wringer during pregnancy and labor. “This can contribute to urinary incontinence and fecal incontinence,” Dr. Paik says.Instead, you want to make it easier for the poop to make its way out with just a normal amount of effort. “The ultimate goal is to try and make poop softer and easier to pass and a lot of times that’s going to come from increasing hydration, having a more physically active lifestyle—movement will increase your intestinal motility—and having a good amount of fiber in your diet,” Dr. Elborno says.4. Fiber truly is your best friend—even if it comes in powder form.Of course, hydrating, exercising, and eating a well-balanced, fiber-rich diet are all easier said than done when you’re exhausted, nauseated, and just simply trying to make it through each day. Luckily, you can totally cheat on the fiber front.“A lot of pregnancy is about survival,” Dr. Elborno says. “I’ve had patients that are like, ‘All I can keep down are Warheads and Pop-Tarts,’ and at the end of the day, you have to get nutrition from somewhere.” If you’re having a really tough time eating fiber-rich veggies and grains, it’s OK to turn to something else like powdered fiber that you mix into water and quickly chug. That’s what I did. The generic form of Metamucil, called psyllium husk, is a powder you spoon into water, mix, and then drink quickly before it gets gelatinous. It works by adding bulk to the stool, which helps prompt the intestines to contract and move stool through.The one I bought was orange flavored, and it was very palatable, even when I was dealing with some nausea and terrible heartburn. But if the powder stuff in water makes you gag (your aversions could be totally different than mine!), Dr. Elborno suggests sneaking it into smoothies, or adding other fiber-rich ingredients like flax seeds. That way, you can get the benefits without having to stomach the taste or texture of something you’re not used to. (I haven’t met a pregnant person yet who didn’t enjoy a fruit smoothie, though I’m sure they exist and if that is you I am terribly sorry!) You can also blend fibrous veggies or powders into soups if it’s easier for you to stomach something hot and brothy, Dr. Elborno adds.5. Don’t be afraid to use other OTC medications.Beyond fiber powder, I also have become quite partial to MiraLAX (the generic name is polyethylene glycol 3350) on occasion. It’s what’s known as an osmotic laxative, which means it works by drawing water into the stool to make it softer and easier to pass. A few days of twice-daily psyllium husk and once-daily polyethylene glycol finally gave me the relief I needed—and is now my go-to whenever I run into constipation again. Of course, always get the OK from your doctor but generally, these things are all considered safe in pregnancy as long as you take them as directed.

While your stomach is built for handling acid, your esophagus is not—that’s why you feel that uncomfortable burning sensation or the feeling like something is sitting in your throat.As your pregnancy continues, another contributor to acid reflux is your growing uterus and the fetus pressing up on your stomach, says Clara Paik, M, ob-gyn, vice-chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology and chief of the division of gynecologic specialties at the University of California, Davis. “The acid is [closer] to the esophagus, plus the [muscle’s strength] is not so good, so stomach acids will go back up,” she says.2. The foods you crave are probably the biggest culprits.Some foods and drinks just straight up make acid reflux worse. Two categories of common triggers: foods that worsen esophageal sphincter relaxation and foods that increase the acidity of the gastric juices, Dr. Elborno says. According to the National Institutes of Health, those can include chocolate, coffee and other caffeinated drinks, alcohol, spicy foods, tomato-based foods, citrus foods, mint, and greasy, fatty foods.You might notice that some of the foods on this list are the only foods you really want to eat during pregnancy. I know that for a brief period of time, I only wanted to drink seltzer water with lemon in it (like, a whole half of a lemon), and I craved grapefruits, tomato sauce and juice, hot sauce, and literally anything greasy and fried.“Sometimes those really sour or spicy foods can help with nausea and sound good when you’re not craving anything else,” Dr. Elborno notes. “It can be complicated because it becomes a cycle.” You crave certain foods, they trigger acid reflux, your nausea and food aversions seem worse, and you indulge further on the V8 juice and spicy-sour pickle cravings. All that’s to say that it’s hard to follow dietary advice when you’re pregnant and only have an appetite for certain things. So do your best and forgive yourself when you just have to eat the thing that you know is going to make your throat burn.Also, it turns out it’s not my imagination that even water gives me acid reflux. Dr. Paik says that anything that fills up your stomach—even water—can get the acid moving up and out.3. Eating smaller, more frequent meals can help…On top of avoiding irritating foods, Dr. Paik also recommends eating smaller amounts at each meal. “Don’t eat to capacity or to the point where you’re so full, because then the stomach is going to be bloated, the esophageal sphincter will be more open, and your stomach acids will more easily go into the esophagus,” she explains. Eating upright, not lying down immediately after a meal, and finishing dinner at least three hours before bed can also help.These modifications have helped me immensely—especially because acid reflux was keeping me up at night. I’ve cut back on some of the foods that were triggering for me, though I still drink coffee each morning, eat tomato-based foods almost everyday (I deeply crave them), and occasionally indulge in greasy, fried foods and citrus fruit.4. …and so can sleeping upright.When I do eat foods that I know will make my throat burn, I make sure to do it earlier in the day so that I can suffer the consequences well before bedtime. There was also a period of a few weeks where I used a pregnancy pillow to prop myself up so that I could sleep at an incline instead of completely flat. That seemed to really help reduce my acid reflux. (I still do it on an as-needed basis on nights when it strikes hard.)

“You might experience some crying, but it is mild and will start to go away around the two-week mark, if not sooner,” says Dr. Kaeni.But if your symptoms are more severe, such as lack of interest in your baby, having feelings of hopelessness or shame, and having thoughts of harming your baby or yourself, those are red flags of a more serious postpartum mood disorder (PPMD), like postpartum depression, anxiety, or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).With postpartum depression, your symptoms are more intense and last longer. For example, you may feel hopeless, have low energy, and cry a lot, Dr. Kaeni says. And if you have postpartum anxiety, you might have generalized worry or have specific worries that are hard to manage. You may also have intrusive thoughts that come out of nowhere.“For example, some people may have a worry that they’re going to drop the baby. And if you continue to think about it, it can take on an obsessive compulsive quality,” Dr. Kaeni explains. “They might stop carrying the baby because they’re so worried that they’re going to do something that harms the child, and it’s not because they actually want to harm the child. It’s the fear that’s debilitating.”Postpartum depression can also crop up later in the postpartum year when people go back to work or wean from breastfeeding, Dr. Vernon says.If you need mental health support, whether you think you have a perinatal mood disorder or not, check out Postpartum Support International, which offers help for mothers, fathers, partners and families, queer and trans parents, and military families. There’s also a 24/7 national maternal mental health hotline: 1-833-9-HELP4MOMS and a 24/7 national mental health and substance abuse hotline: 1-800-662-HELP. It’s worth adding these numbers to your phone now, before you need them, so they’re already there if and when you need to reach out.8. Surround yourself with a like-minded community.It’s common to feel the pressures of being the “perfect parent” because we are constantly surrounded by heartwarming images of parents and newborns on social media. But in reality, it is one of the most mentally challenging periods, and many parents—if not all—struggle at some point. You can help ease some of this pressure by filtering your social media feed to only include accounts that resonate with your experience, Dr. Kaeni says.You can also seek out local mom or parent support groups, where you can meet other parents who are dealing with the same issues. Sometimes all it takes is someone else saying that they can relate.For instance, Dr. Vernon, who is an advisor for Hey Jane, a digital community for postpartum families, runs a support group for pregnant and postpartum parents. She also recommends Peanut, an app that helps connect people who are navigating fertility, pregnancy, motherhood, and menopause. Love also hosts the support groups, Mother Connection and Toddler Time, at Indiana University Health, which are done via Zoom and are open to anyone, regardless of where they live. Dear Sunday Motherhood is another organization that offers virtual mom groups, where people all over the country can connect and gain advice from perinatal experts.Queer and LGBTQIA+ parents and families can also find resources and support through Gay Parents to Be, Men Having Babies, and Rainbow Families.Finally, Dr. Vernon reminds parents to be their own best advocate. “No matter what your birth experience is or how your recovery is postpartum, you’re still a great parent,” Dr. Vernon says. “You’re never alone.”Related:

Asking someone what they need might sound something like this, she says: What would help lighten your load right now? What kind of tasks can I take off of your hands today? Would you rather I help with the baby or help with the chores?Met with a response that the parent in need doesn’t need anything? That brings us to our next point…4. Don’t wait on them to ask for help.It’s a well-meaning statement: “Let me know if you need anything!” But too often, it’s met with silence from those who, well, need things. That’s why many new parenthood experts suggest simply doing without asking. “Drop off a meal or two, ask them what diapers and wipes they use and drop those off, make them a gift or goodie basket of things you think they could use or need,” says Dr. Kaeni. This takes the pressure off the person on the receiving end and provides help.“When we say ‘childcare is infrastructure,’ this is what’s meant: Every basic need is stressed under the weight of parenting young children, so parents need scaffolding to get through the day,” Erin Erenberg, the executive director of The Chamber of Mothers, tells SELF. “A simple gesture like covering a meal can sister a weak joist and keep the house from collapsing.”5. Hold space without expectation or advice.New parents need social support and to know that those around them care about them without being on the receiving end of advice or pressure to respond.“Text them just to say you’re thinking about them, but preface it with ‘no pressure to respond,’” suggests Lexi Tabor, a certified postpartum doula, certified lactation support counselor, and virtual doula with Major Care based in Ohio. “Those messages sent on the regular can really boost moods and make someone feel loved,” she tells SELF. They help someone feel less alone and do away with any feelings of guilt if a new parent forgets to respond in a sleep-deprived haze.Resist the urge to give advice, too. “New parents are so used to being inundated with unsolicited advice that oftentimes they hesitate reaching out to people because reiterating boundaries gets exhausting,” says Tabor. “Many times we respond by sharing a story of our own experience in order to try to connect, but that can feel invalidating to the other person or turn it around to be about you.”The fix: Simply be there. Ask questions unrelated to the baby’s sleep, eating, or development, and really listen. If you’re not sure what they want, ask them if they would like feedback or just need someone to hear them. Most of the time it’s the latter, says Tabor.Remember, too: Parenthood changes people but your new parent friends are still people. And as much as they want to talk about their new baby, they might also want to joke about that viral TikTok or that new show they’ve been able to catch one or two episodes of. Talk to them about the things you would have pre-baby—whether that was politics, pop culture, or hearing some juicy gossip about an ex. In fact, they’ll probably appreciate the no-baby talk.6. Honor cultural postpartum rituals.In the United States, new parents are woefully under supported. The US is one of only a few countries around the world without a federal paid family leave program, and by some counts, one in four moms return to work just two weeks after giving birth; only about 23% of people in the US have access to paid family leave. But that’s not the way things are in other parts of the world. Many cultures, including Latin American culture, Indian culture, and many Asian cultures, honor and respect the postpartum period.

As someone who spent the first 24-ish weeks of pregnancy in the spring and summer, I lived in dresses. I was surprised to learn that the best maternity dresses aren’t even maternity dresses at all.As my body has gone through changes, I’ve been so grateful that I could just throw on a dress and not have to worry about a tight and uncomfortable waistband over my growing belly. I’ve navigated the inevitable wardrobe crisis any pregnant person will feel once they can no longer button their jeans (or in my case, jean shorts), and learned that certain dress styles and cuts—smocked, tiered, wrap, bodycon, and anything with a high and elastic waistband—can take you through your entire pregnancy and beyond.Ultimately, I’ve relied on a mix of non-maternity dresses and maternity dresses so far. And turns out, I’m not alone. When I asked pregnant people for their best maternity dress recommendations, they all echoed the sentiment that you can find great dresses both meant for pregnancy and not.Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best maternity dresses to carry you through this fall and winter, from retailers like Amazon, Nordstrom, Target, and other maternity brands like Hatch and PinkBlush. Because let’s be honest, comfort is priority number one during this stage of your life, and dresses often tend to be the easiest and most accommodating option when your belly is growing noticeably bigger from one week to the next.1. Old Navy Fitted Rib-Knit Midi Cami DressOld NavyOld Navy Fitted Rib-Knit Midi Cami DressWhile it’s not technically a maternity dress, this rib-knit dress stretches right over your growing baby bump and is so easy to just throw on with a jean jacket or cardigan. I love that I could wear it all summer and can also transition it into fall—and I can keep wearing it post-pregnancy, too.Available in sizes S, XL-3X and Petite XL-XXL.2. Ingrid and Isabel Cozy Dress + Sweater SetI’m so excited to wear this dress and sweater set all fall long. The material is thick and stretchy and not at all itchy (is it just me or does everything make my belly itchy lately?!) and the silhouette accentuates my bump in the cutest way. It goes great with white sneakers, but you could also wear it with heels and a blazer to dress it up.Available in sizes XS-XL.3. KIM S Boho Flutter Short Sleeve Maternity DressAmazonKIM S Boho Flutter Short Sleeve Maternity DressA smocked dress is another great style for pregnancy. “It’s accommodating and also doesn’t require a bra or nipple pads (usually),” says Arielle P., 32. The delicate flutter sleeves and pretty pastel colors of this smocked dress make it a great choice for a baby shower. Throw on a jean jacket and you’ve got an easy, cute option for the fall months ahead.Available in sizes S-XXL.4. Pinkblush Floral Short Sleeve Maternity Maxi DressPinkblushPinkblush Floral Short Sleeve Maternity Maxi DressI bought this floral dress for my fall baby shower, and I absolutely love how it fits and feels. The wrap neckline and tie waist (with elastic underneath) sit at just the right spot, and the slit on the side is a nice addition. The pattern and colors are really beautiful and perfect for the season. Overall, I feel like a pregnant goddess in this flowy number.

Serena Williams shared her feelings on motherhood—and never wanting to “choose between tennis and a family”—in a new essay for Vogue, published Tuesday. The 40-year-old tennis star wrote that her feelings on retirement are conflicted—“I’m torn: I don’t want it to be over, but at the same time I’m ready for what’s next”—adding that even the word retirement makes her uneasy. “I’ve never liked the word retirement. It doesn’t feel like a modern word to me,” Williams wrote.Williams, who has won 23 Grand Slam titles during her legendary career, wrote that she’ll miss playing the sport that has given her “some of the happiest times,” but that she’s excited by the prospect of growing her family. Still, she wrote, she knows that her tennis career might not be ending right now if not for her gender. “I don’t think it’s fair,” she wrote. “If I were a guy, I wouldn’t be writing this because I’d be out there playing and winning while my wife was doing the physical labor of expanding our family.”Williams wrote that she and her husband, Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian, have been trying to have another child. “We recently got some information from my doctor that put my mind at ease and made me feel that whenever we’re ready, we can add to our family.” She acknowledged that she didn’t want to endure pregnancy again as a professional athlete. In an essay for Elle published in April, Williams explained how her childbirth experience led to life-threatening complications and required four surgeries. After having a C-section, Williams had a pulmonary embolism that a nurse initially did not take seriously, an experience she also spoke about in a 2018 Vogue cover story.Still, she writes, she “loved every second of being pregnant with Olympia.” “I was one of those annoying women who adored being pregnant and was working until the day I had to report to the hospital—although things got super complicated on the other side,” Williams wrote.Her words underscore the difficulties that female athletes face when balancing the challenges of pregnancy and the demands of a rigorous training schedule: “A lot of people don’t realize that I was two months pregnant when I won the Australian Open in 2017. But I’m turning 41 this month, and something’s got to give,” she wrote. Not to mention the time constraints, which Williams also touched on, writing that, before having Olympia, she feared she’d have to rely on others to watch her child: “I figured that if I ever did have a baby, I would have people taking care of it 24/7.”But that hasn’t been the case for Williams: Even while traveling the world and breaking record after record, she has maintained what she described as a “hands-on” approach as a mother. “Olympia has only spent one 24-hour period away from me…. The fact is that nothing is a sacrifice for me when it comes to Olympia,” she wrote. “These days, if I have to choose between building my tennis résumé and building my family, I choose the latter.”

While pregnancy definitely comes with a host of challenges, navigating your new body postpartum has its own share of stress as well. If you’re looking for the best postpartum swimsuits this summer it might be difficult to narrow down the choices. We spoke with an ob-gyn to help guide us on what to look for in a swimsuit, tankini top, or bikini for postpartum moms.How does your body change during postpartum?“Postpartum is a massive, taxying readjustment—both physically and emotionally,” says Dr. Anna Cabeca, triple-board certified ob-gyn and author of the upcoming book MenuPause: Five Unique Eating Plans to Break Through Your Weight Loss Plateau and Improve Mood, Sleep and Hot Flashes. “Some of the physical changes a postpartum body goes through includes stretched out skin (stretch marks) around your belly, hips, and breasts. Not only will the skin around your breasts change, but the shape will change as well…and you will need more support there. Some women tend to hold on to weight around the belly, and some women also notice that even when they lose all the weight, their shape has shifted, usually in the hips.”Some other changes involve loose skin in the tummy, along with larger breasts while you’re nursing. So, it makes complete sense that putting on a swimsuit and heading to the beach this summer with a comfortable and supportive swimsuit is essential. Thankfully, you have no need to worry. These days, there are so many wonderful swimsuits designed for postpartum bodies with designs like easy access for breastfeeding or soft fabric for tender skin. What to look for in a postpartum swimsuitIdeally, you’ll want postpartum swimwear that gives you tummy support for your sensitive belly, whether that’s through a high-waisted bottom or extra compression on a one-piece. Underwire and padded cups are a huge help for your sore breasts, but you can also opt for a full-shelf bra for extra support. Dr. Cabecas suggests temporarily sizing up a size or two in order to have your bikini bottoms fit your newly curvy hips, too.“Overall, prioritize your comfort,” she adds. “Stretchy fabrics will adjust as your body changes. Some women may prefer darker, plainer colors to hide the curves, while others may prefer patterned or more colorful clothing to brighten up their days, but that’s an individual call.” From rainbows of shades to sleek, chic black, there’s a postpartum bathing suit out there for you. Below we’ve picked the best postpartum swimsuits from Amazon, Summersalt, Walmart, and more.

When you’re trying to conceive, it’s understandable to hope that sudden bodily changes indicate that it’s finally happened. You may wonder, “Is diarrhea a symptom of pregnancy?” if you’re now hitting up the bathroom all the time. The answer isn’t so straightforward.“Pregnancy can affect your bowel movements, but it’s also common to just get diarrhea for other reasons,” Christine Greves, MD, a board-certified ob-gyn at the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, tells SELF.But your bathroom habits may clue you into the state of your G.I. tract and uterus. Let’s dive in.What is diarrhea, exactly?Diarrhea is basically poop hell. But more technically speaking, it’s defined as loose, watery bowel movements that occur three or more times in a day, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM). It usually lasts just a day or two which is called acute diarrhea. (Diarrhea that lasts longer than a few days may signal a more serious problem, as can diarrhea lasting a few weeks, called chronic diarrhea1.)Ever wonder what’s actually going on in your body to make your butt expel its contents so violently? There are a few different potential mechanisms, depending on the underlying cause (of which there are many, which we’ll get to). But generally speaking, diarrhea occurs when your digestive system fails to remove enough water from your stool, Rudolph Bedford, MD, a gastroenterologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, tells SELF. That commonly happens when stool moves too quickly through the digestive tract, as Merck Manuals explains, or when your stool is diluted by excess water secreted by the intestines.Back to topIs diarrhea a symptom of early pregnancy?The answer is going to take a sec, so pull up a seat.Your hormones fluctuate throughout your menstrual cycle, and you might know that these hormonal changes can make your poop real weird around the time of your period2. That’s largely thanks to a hormone that helps prep your body for pregnancy called progesterone.Progesterone levels increase after ovulation, anticipating that the egg your ovaries just released will be fertilized, the NLM explains. If you don’t become pregnant, progesterone levels fall back down, and you get your period. If the egg is fertilized and you do become pregnant, your levels of progesterone will continue to rise, Mary Rosser, MD, PhD, an ob-gyn at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, tells SELF.How does this early pregnancy progesterone surge affect poop? Progesterone helps relax the smooth muscles, like your uterus and intestines. While relaxed intestines might sound like a recipe for the loose, speedy bowel movements that characterize diarrhea, that isn’t what actually happens. In fact, without your G.I. muscles contracting as hard to move things along, food passage starts to slow down and bowel movements become sluggish, G. Thomas Ruiz, MD, an ob-gyn at Memorial Care Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, tells SELF.In other words, high levels of progesterone result in constipation, i.e. the exact opposite of diarrhea. Many people experience constipation in early pregnancy3, so diarrhea really isn’t an accurate sign of early pregnancy, Dr. Rosser says.Total caveat alert: some people have the opposite reaction.“While constipation is more common in early pregnancy, sometimes the hormonal changes in pregnancy impact people differently and result in diarrhea,” Dr. Greves says. What’s more, some people may be pregnant and crave foods that don’t agree with them, which can lead to diarrhea, Dr. Greves says. For instance, maybe you are lactose intolerant but can’t get enough cheese.Of course, diarrhea can happen for other reasons completely unrelated to growing a baby. One super common cause is a stomach bug, which is caused by consuming food contaminated with parasites, bacteria, or viruses4, Dr. Rosser says. But numerous other things can lead to loose stool, including bacteria-contaminated food or water, viruses (like the flu or norovirus), parasites, certain medications (like antibiotics), and food intolerances, according to the NLM. (And sometimes, the cause is a mystery, but that’s typically NBD if it goes away after a couple days.)

Priyanka Chopra, 39, and husband Nick Jonas, 29, gave an update on their baby via Instagram over the weekend. They jointly shared a photo of their first child, Malti Marie Chopra Jones, who was born via a surrogate pregnancy in January. Chopra Jones was born 12 weeks early, and her parents reflected on their daughter’s first months of life in the caption: “On this Mother’s Day we can’t help but reflect on these last few months and the rollercoaster we’ve been on, which we now know, so many people have also experienced.”They went on to reveal their child had been released from the hospital after more than 100 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). “Every family’s journey is unique and requires a certain level of faith, and while ours was a challenging few months, what becomes abundantly clear, in retrospect, is how precious and perfect every moment is,” they wrote.The couple, who married in December 2018, thanked their daughter’s medical team for their support: “We are overjoyed that our little girl is finally home, and just want to thank every doctor, nurse and specialist at Rady Children’s La Jolla and Cedar Sinai, Los Angeles, who were there selflessly every step of the way.”Instagram contentThis content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.Their daughter’s birth was considered preterm, meaning it occurred before 37 weeks of pregnancy had been completed. In 2020, one in every 10 infants born in the U.S. was preterm, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Because babies born preterm do not have sufficient time to develop in the womb, their liver, lungs, and brain aren’t always fully formed at the time of birth, per the CDC. This can lead to respiratory issues, cerebral palsy, development delay, and vision problems, among other issues; the CDC reports that babies born before 32 weeks of pregnancy have higher rates of disability and death.Warning signs of preterm birth include change in vaginal discharge, pelvic pressure, low backache, cramps and contractions that occur before 37 weeks, and abdominal cramps that may include diarrhea, per the CDC. While many circumstances can result in preterm birth—and some causes aren’t well understood—the CDC recommends following certain precautions to reduce your risk. These include smoking cessation, avoiding alcohol and drugs while pregnant, starting prenatal care immediately when you suspect you’re pregnant, and seeking medical attention if you experience warning signs of preterm labor.Related: