Gallstones can be an especially difficult problem to deal with for any person. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), women are at a much higher risk than men of contracting gallstones. The site says the risk increases "especially for women who are pregnant, use hormone replacement therapy or take birth controls pills." Symptoms of gallstones in pregnant women are similar to those that all gallstone patients experience.
Intense and Consistent Pain in the Right Abdomen
Many pregnant women report feeling an intense pain throughout the entire middle region of their body due to gallstones. This pain can become especially bothersome when large gallstones begin to block a person's cystic duct. The New York Times Health Guide reports that this blockage and pain in your digestive system is known as biliary colic. It subsides as soon as the gallstone is allowed to pass into the first part of the small intestine.
Jaundice-Related Skin Problems
Gallstones that become lodged within the common bile duct can cause jaundice and jaundice-related symptoms such as a yellowing of the skin and eyes. Jaundice is often caused by bile from the liver that fails to leave the digestive system. According to the Cedars-Sinai medical page, gallstones can create a blockage that prevents bile from reaching the duodenum and may cause a liver malfunction. Jaundice symptoms are directly related to the liver's inability to function properly. In some cases of pregnant women contracting gallstones, infants also have a greater risk of having jaundice-related symptoms at birth.
High Fever, Diarrhea and Vomiting
Large gallstones can have a dramatic impact on the digestive system by blocking the cystic duct path that leads from the gallbladder to the common bile duct. In some cases the person's gallbladder, stomach or intestines become infected and the body begins to reject food and improperly digest bile. The combination of these effects can result in a high fever, diarrhea and vomiting.
Silent Symptoms
The NDDIC also reports that many people may have no symptoms related to their gallstones. These types of gallstones are also known as "silent stones" and don't affect the gallbladder, intestines, liver or pancreas. Pregnant women should still seek the aid of a physician if they are aware that they have gallstones but don't exhibit any symptoms.
