There is nothing to worry about the stoma and your pregnancy. You need not worry about your pregnancy and delivery even though you are having a stoma. Several women experience no complications and risks before and after the delivery, it’s normal and safe. But here are several things you must take care of during your pregnancy and after the birth also.
Changes that occur during the gestation period:
The most prominent changes occur in the stoma. It can change in its:
Height
Degree of protrusion
Diameter
These changes also affect peristomal skin (creases, curves, and dips)
With the passing days as the fetus starts growing and you gain weight; there is a decrease in stomal projection and there may be an increase in its diameter. There are also chances that the skin around the stoma may flatten out. During your gestation period, the stoma may change its color and it may become less visible. But don’t worry its functions will remain the same. You just need to change your stoma appliances to cope up with the increase in stomal height and diameter. The most common example is changing your flange. If you have been using a flat flange, now you need to replace it with a curved flange. In the first trimester, there are not many changes in the stomal orientation. However, during the end of the second trimester and start of the third trimester when you start to gain more weight, changing your products is necessary. If you will not switch to the other products it may develop the risk for skin irritation and stomal laceration.
Post-partum changes:
It is recommended not to shop too many products at a time because the changes in body and stoma are very sudden and dramatic during the last trimesters. So you may need to switch to the different sizes with every coming day. Most of the famous brands offer samples that can be used as a free trial. You can also contact your ET nurse. She can help you to choose the products for you throughout your gestation period. She can also help you with using these products.
They're also the number of changes in your peristomal skin after the delivery. Some common changes are:
Less taut skin
More wrinkles around the stoma
The stoma may begin to protrude again.
After delivering the baby you will lose weight and it will bring changes in your body one after another. That’s why you need to make changes in your pouching system accordingly. Depending on the alteration and variations in your body weight after the delivery, it is hard to decide whether you can use those appliances which you were using before pregnancy.
Pregnancy and Ileostomy:
Usually, nausea and vomiting that are related to morning sickness can cause problems if you have an ileostomy. Frequent vomiting can cause dehydration due to fluids and electrolyte imbalances. Nausea may affect your appetite, and it can be bad for you and your baby. In this case, you must have regular checkups by the physician so that she can introduce intravenous nutrients into your body. This shows how dehydration and other weaknesses can be avoided.
Pregnancy and colostomy
In case if you have a colostomy this can cause constipation with the advancing trimesters. If constipation prolongs then you can consult with your ET. She will prescribe you any medicine or any remedy that will be safe for you and your baby as well. If you are having a colostomy and you are used to performing irrigation, it can be a concern for the later stages of pregnancy. With the advancing days, you may not be able to install an adequate amount of water that is needed for irrigation. This will lead to discontinuous leakages. You will also observe that you are not able to insert the cones properly and ultimately water can’t reach inside your body. You may need to stop irrigation in the last trimesters and use any alternative. But you can start irrigation after some period of delivery.
It has been observed that some women feel difficulty in the irrigation of the pouch during the second and third trimesters. It’s hard for women to place a catheter inside the stoma. This problem can be solved by following the steps mentioned below:
Use more lubricant
Lying supine during the insertion of catheters
Use a relatively smaller catheter
Problems related to Ostomy care
If you decide to use a small catheter then you must avoid high fiber foods. This will ensure that the pouch is irrigated and drained properly. You can seek help from a dietitian for this matter.
There is also the possibility that you may not see the stoma because of your weight and large stomach. You may need a perched mirror to perform your Ostomy care. You can also use a longer ouch that will help you to drain the pouch easily in the toilet. Most of the women prefer to drain the pouch in containers placed on the bathroom counter. It prevents them from the extra struggle to visualize their stoma.
Risks
There are chances of some complications following the delivery. You may develop:
Parastomal hernia (hernia around the stoma)
Abnormal lengthening of the stoma (prolapsed stomas)
Your ET can support you to manage the complications after your delivery. If you will stay connected with your health care team it will be good for the health of your baby and it will allow you to enjoy your precious moments.
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