Your body is making lots of extra progesterone, which causes your intestinal muscles to relax. This slows down digestion and leads to more gas and bloating than usual.
Eat plenty of fiber to keep things moving and prevent constipation. Just be sure to add it gradually—too much too fast can make matters worse.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
The symptoms of IBS can be more pronounced during pregnancy because the body is going through major physical and hormonal changes. Whether you had IBS before getting pregnant or not, the additional hormones and physical changes can make the symptoms worse. IBS is a condition that causes abdominal pain and diarrhea. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including eating certain foods or food ingredients, stress, and hormones.
The bloating and abdominal pain that is associated with IBS can sometimes be confused with the cramps of labor, which is why it is important to tell your doctor if you are experiencing new abdominal pain during pregnancy. This will help to ensure that it is not a sign of a more serious issue, such as an infection.
Women who suffer from IBS often experience “flare-ups” when the symptoms get a lot worse. This can be difficult to deal with during pregnancy because it can impact your daily life and mood. If you have IBS, it is recommended to keep a diary of your symptoms and menstrual cycle to help identify the triggers of your flare-ups.
Some studies suggest that women who suffer from IBS have a higher risk of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy, but these risks are still small. The good news is that most studies also suggest that IBS does not affect the health of the baby. However, if you are taking medication to treat your IBS symptoms, it is important to talk to your physician about whether those medications are safe to continue during pregnancy.
Gastric Ulcers
During pregnancy, the extra progesterone in your body relaxes the muscles of the intestines. This can slow down digestion and lead to gas and bloating.
Some foods may trigger excess gas, such as fried and fatty foods, beans, cruciferous vegetables, and carbonated beverages. You also might have an intolerance to lactose, which is found in milk and other dairy products. This is due to a reduced amount of the enzyme lactase during pregnancy. You can try eating smaller meals more often and chewing your food well to help relieve bloating.
Heartburn is also common in pregnancy. It occurs when stomach acid rises from your stomach into your esophagus. This happens because pregnancy hormones can weaken the muscle that keeps stomach acid out of the esophagus, and your growing uterus can put pressure on your stomach.
Stress and anxiety can also cause gastrointestinal symptoms. When you are nervous, you breathe more quickly and swallow more air. This can lead to upper abdominal gas and bloating. Find ways to reduce your stress, such as deep breathing and meditation. Avoid chewing gum, as this can cause you to swallow a lot of air. Exercise can improve digestion, relieve bloating and belching, and help move gas through the system. It is important to drink lots of fluids, such as water and non-caffeinated drinks, throughout the day.
Diarrhea
When a baby is growing inside of a mother’s body, the uterus can compress the intestines and slow down digestion. This can lead to bloating, excess gas and diarrhea. If you have a history of gastrointestinal issues like acid reflux or IBS, these symptoms may become worse during pregnancy.
Pregnancy-induced gastrointestinal problems like gas can be painful, especially when you are trying to work or go about your daily life. It is important to keep a food journal so you can see what foods are causing the most discomfort for you. Also, try not to overeat and instead eat small meals throughout the day. In addition, avoid carbonated drinks and fried foods as these can cause excess gas in pregnant women.
The hormone progesterone can relax the muscles in the digestive tract, which can increase the amount of gas that is produced. Certain foods can also contribute to the increased production of gas, including beans, cabbage, onions, broccoli and whole grain products. Anxiety and stress can also make a woman swallow more air than normal, which can lead to pain and bloating.
In the third trimester of pregnancy, which is from weeks 29 to 40, it is common for a woman’s uterus to begin shifting and turning in preparation for delivery. This can cause a lot of extra gas, and it is also possible for the uterus to squeeze the intestines and lead to diarrhea.
Constipation
Over the course of pregnancy, levels of progesterone steadily increase, which can cause the oesophageal sphincter muscle that separates your stomach and food pipe to become lax. This can result in acid moving back up into your mouth from your stomach, which causes a painful burning sensation and can cause discomfort in your throat or chest.
Often, the best way to deal with this type of gas is by eating small meals more frequently throughout the day and drinking lots of fluids to promote regularity. It is also helpful to use a food diary, which will help you identify foods that may contribute to the problem. Avoid fried and greasy foods, cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli, brussel sprouts and cabbage), beans, sugary or carbonated drinks, and dairy.
The good news is that constipation can sometimes be relieved by eating high-fiber foods, such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Exercise can also help with constipation, but be sure to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness program during pregnancy.
Bloating and gas can last throughout the entire pregnancy, especially into late pregnancy as baby’s enlarged uterus puts pressure on your digestive tract. Try to relax as much as possible, which will help your digestion as well as ease the discomfort. Stress can also trigger digestive issues, so try taking a daily walk or incorporating calming yoga exercises into your schedule.
