Causes of flatulence during pregnancy and how to deal with it

Not a few changes in the body experienced by mothers while pregnant. The stomach, which was rarely problematic, can even suddenly feel bloated. Actually, is it normal to have flatulence during pregnancy?

Let's find out more about what causes and how to deal with this bloated stomach during pregnancy!

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Why can the stomach be bloated during pregnancy?

Pregnancy always provides new surprises, especially for those of you who are going through it for the first time. Well, flatulence is actually one of the signs of pregnancy that not many are aware of.

Here are the causes of flatulence during pregnancy that you need to know:

1. Hormonal changes

Bloating can be felt early in pregnancy due to changes in hormone levels in the body, citing the American Pregnancy Association.

Yes, the high influence of the hormone progesterone on the body of pregnant women often causes flatulence.

The increase in progesterone levels can relax the smooth muscle tissue along the gastrointestinal tract.

Limp muscles make the work of each digestive organ tends to slow down to digest food.

Food that has accumulated too long in the intestine will then continue to produce gas which occupies most of the abdominal cavity.

This excess gas in the stomach makes pregnant women often feel bloated. Pregnant women may even burp and pass wind (fart) due to this buildup of gas.

2. The size of the stomach is getting bigger

In addition, the stomach can also feel bloated when the pregnancy has entered the third trimester.

During this pregnancy, the uterus is very large and stretches to facilitate fetal development.

The enlarged uterus will put pressure on the digestive organs around it. When the digestive organs are squeezed, their workflow may not be as smooth as usual.

Therefore, you are more prone to experiencing digestive problems during pregnancy, such as constipation, whose main symptom is flatulence.

How to deal with flatulence during pregnancy

Flatulence generally does not require special medical treatment, including if this condition occurs during pregnancy.

This is because complaints of flatulence are normal and can subside on their own with only the right home treatments.

In order to recover quickly and return to comfort, the following methods are considered effective in dealing with flatulence that occurs during pregnancy:

1. Drink lots of water

Drinking enough water every day can help smooth the digestive system and avoid constipation during pregnancy.

Constipation or difficulty defecating is often accompanied by symptoms of flatulence.

In addition to preventing flatulence during pregnancy, drinking enough water can also help mothers stay stamina, not get tired easily, and maintain the health of the amniotic sac.

However, you are advised to drink slowly so that complaints of flatulence do not get worse.

2. Eat fibrous foods

Eat foods like spinach, whole grains, whole wheat bread, and papayas that contain lots of fiber.

Eating fibrous food coupled with drinking enough water can prevent the mother from experiencing constipation during pregnancy.

When you experience constipation, the digestive work will be slower so that the gas produced from the pile of leftovers will fill your stomach more.

That is why regularly eating fibrous foods can prevent the stomach from feeling bloated during pregnancy.

3. Eat small portions but often

So that the stomach doesn't feel bloated during pregnancy, according to the March of Dimes, it's good to get in the habit of eating small portions but more often since the beginning of pregnancy.

In fact, the more food you eat quickly, the longer it will take your digestive tract to process it properly.

Moreover, during pregnancy, changes in body hormones tend to make the digestive system work slower.

This automatically makes it more difficult for the intestine to digest a lot of food at the same time.

The longer and more food that builds up in the intestine, the more gas it will produce. As a result, the gas will continue to be held in the stomach and cause a bloating sensation.

In addition to preventing flatulence, getting used to eating often in small portions also helps provide sustainable nutritional intake for babies and controls weight during pregnancy.

4. Eat slowly

Pregnant women may sometimes have to eat quickly because they are pressed for time, for example because they want to do certain activities.

However, the habit of eating too fast during pregnancy is not good for digestion. This is because when you eat quickly, it means that you are also swallowing more air with each bite.

As a result, additional gas enters the stomach and mixes with the gas produced by food.

This condition then makes the stomach feel bloated in pregnant women.

Therefore, try to eat and chew food more slowly. Apart from preventing bloating, eating slowly can also prevent choking.

5. Manage stress well

Who would have thought that stress or anxiety during pregnancy could also be a cause of flatulence?

Generally, anxiety and stress can cause you to eat more and eat more quickly without realizing it. As a result, the more food that settles, the more air will fill the stomach.

So, it is advisable to stay relaxed, relax, and stay away from things that cause anxiety when you are pregnant.

Get plenty of rest to relax your body and mind, for example by trying meditation, taking a nap, or even listening to your favorite music.

6. Avoid foods that cause bloating

Pregnant women are advised to eat more frequent, smaller portions so that the stomach doesn't bloat. However, you should also select the food menu for pregnant women.

Avoid various foods that can cause gas buildup in digestion, such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, mustard greens, and nuts.

As long as they are eaten in sufficient portions, these foods can indeed contribute nutrition for pregnant women.

It's just that, if you eat too often in excessive portions it can actually cause your stomach to bloat during pregnancy.

The reason is, these various foods contain a type of complex sugar that is difficult for the body to break down.

High content of fiber and refined sugar can increase the amount of gas that causes flatulence.

7. Sports

Even though you are pregnant, you still have to move a lot. Not only for maintaining your own health, light exercise for pregnant women such as walking in the morning and evening can smooth the digestive system.

Mothers can also do cycling, exercise during pregnancy, or swimming during pregnancy.

As a result, the gas in digestion as the cause of flatulence can move out through the fart.

When to see a doctor

Bloating during pregnancy is normal. However, pregnant women still have to be vigilant if there are other accompanying symptoms.

Do not underestimate it if your stomach feels bloated accompanied by constipation for more than a week of pelvic pain. If this condition occurs, consult a doctor immediately.

Your doctor can diagnose the cause and find the best solution for your condition.

The doctor may change the diet, prescribe prenatal vitamins for pregnant women, or give medication for flatulence.