Remedies for Gas During Pregnancy

Pregnant or not, every individuals suffer from gas.



Excess gas during pregnancy however is common. Progesterone – a hormone which relaxes the smooth muscles tissues in the body including the digestive tract is much higher during pregnancy. This relaxation causes the digestive processes to slow down which can lead to an unpleasant or often embarrassing symptom of pregnancy that is bloating, burping and flatulence. In later stages of pregnancy, the enlarged uterus can put more pressure on the abdominal cavity which slows down the digestion process further. Also constipation and heart burn are common in pregnancy which is also responsible for excess gas in this period. 

The listed remedies for gas during pregnancy can help ease your situation.

Eat Well and Exercise Well – Although the hormone progesterone (along with relaxin) can relax the smooth muscles in your digestive tract and slow down the digestion, this does not mean that you need to compromise on food intake.

• The calorie needs are higher in pregnancy which can be met by consuming small but frequent meals at regular intervals.

• Avoid gulping the food without chewing, chew each morsel thoroughly and eat slowly.

• Avoid drinking fluids during meals; instead choose to drink between meals. When you drink a fluid prefer using a glass instead of a straw or bottle.

• Completely avoid carbonated or frizzy drinks, caffeinated drinks and sodas. Also avoid drinks and products which have artificial sweeteners.

• Sucking a hard candy or chewing gum can lead to lot of swallowing of air which can in turn lead to belching and flatus.

• In order to assist digestion, rest your legs higher on a stool or a chair and chew some fennel seeds after meals.

• Check your posture while eating, sit straight or upright while eating or drinking.

• Avoid eating a heavy meal before going to bed and keep at least 2-3 hours gap between meals and bedtime.

• Try peppermint tea, it has a soothing effect on the digestive muscles and can relieve you from the discomfort of gas.

• Wear comfortable, loose cotton clothing and avoid any tight fitting clothes or belts especially at the waist.

• Don’t smoke, it’s not only harmful for your body but also for your baby.

• Certain foods can cause gas formation in the body, learn to identify the food which causes trouble and avoid it for some time. Common triggers include apples, bananas, asparagus, beans, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, onions, peaches, plums, milk, ice cream and cheese. Don’t completely eliminate all these without consulting your specialist as they also provide vital nutrients besides being triggers for gas production.

• If you are on a high fiber diet or fiber supplement then remember to drink enough water along with it as high fiber can actually cause constipation or gas or flatulence (if enough water is not supplied).

• If you have a habit of getting anxious or tensed then some relaxation techniques like meditation and yoga would work best. A mild exercise after consulting your specialist can be included in your daily routine to eliminate gas.
  

Gas in the body can not harm your baby, however if notice sudden cramping or intense pain then consult your specialist.

Gas is a very common problem whether a person is pregnant or not. In fact, the average person passes gas several times a day, having produced 1 to 4 pints of gas, depending on food and other lifestyle habits. However, once you are pregnant, the belching may seem more incessant, and you will find yourself passing more gas than usual.



Even weeks before you begin to show you are pregnant, you will experience the bloated feeling.

Causes of Gas During Pregnancy: One of the primary causes of gas during pregnancy is the presence of higher levels of progesterone in the body. Most of the symptoms of pregnancy can be blamed on the high levels of hormones. Gas is just one of the many things which are associated with it. Progesterone helps relax the smooth muscle tissues all over the body. While the hormone is doing that, it also smoothens the muscles in the gastrointestinal tract. As the GI tract begins to relax, the digestion and therefore overall metabolism slows down and a build-up of gas in the stomach begins. This relaxation can lead to bloating, burping, and flatulence. It can also create extremely miserable sensations, and you may experience heart burns and other digestion problems. If you are having large meals, your problems will seem even more painful. The bloating and the gas during first trimester is usually the most comfortable. As you go further along your pregnancy, the bloating and gas will increase as your growing uterus takes more space and slows the metabolism down even further. Heartburn and constipation are also usually normal with pregnancy.

There are two main causes of gas in the body. The first is when you swallow air while eating, and the other is when there is large bacterial growth in your intestines and these release copious amounts of gases while metabolizing food.



Typically, the air swallowed while eating can be released as burps, whereas the gas produced in the stomach due to metabolism, is released as flatulence. There are certain carbohydrates that cause the most production of gas. When these carbohydrates remain undigested by the body, they are broken down in the large intestines by bacteria. Since fats and proteins produce very little amount of gas, most of the gas comes from eating refined carbohydrates. If you are intolerant to certain foods, it may cause you to experience excessive gas. However, usually this may not bother other people at all. For instance, if a lactose intolerant person is asked to consume milk products, they will experience gas, while others may not produce gas due to consumption of milk at all.

Natural Remedies for Gas During Pregnancy: You can use natural remedies for gas in order to get gas relief during pregnancy. The easiest way to get rid of gas during the first trimester of pregnancy is to cut back on all the foods that may cause flatulence. However, if you have already eliminated everything that has the potential to cause gas, but are still not experiencing any relief, you may have to move on to other natural remedies for gas and bloating.You can keep a food diary and eliminate all the foods that have the potential to cause gas. Then, slowly start adding these foods back to your diet one by one and notice the changes you are experiencing. If you are experiencing discomfort due to a certain food, you have got your culprit. The food diary will help you keep track of what you have been eating. Some of the foods that you should avoid are beans, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, and broccoli.



These vegetables contain compounds that create gas when ingested. The best way to get rid of gas is to stay away from these foods. Too much sugar in the food, especially fructose, is also bad for a lot of people. If you have been eating lots of sweet fruits, you may have to cut down a little. Fructose also occurs naturally in scallions, pears, wheat, honey, dry fruits, onions, artichokes and leeks.

Also avoid carbonated drinks, fruit drinks, canned or bottled fruit juices, and corn syrup,which contain high fructose. These foods also pile on empty calories and can cause adverse effects to all the natural remedies for gas relief that you have been trying. There are some starches such as corn starch, potatoes and wheat starch that may cause gas. Fiber rich foods are usually broken down in the large intestines and therefore, may cause a lot of gas as well. One of the best natural remedies for gastric reflux, bloating and gas is to drink a lot of water. You could also add wheat bran to your food as this improves metabolism, aids digestion, and also does not have to be broken down in the large intestines, therefore does not cause any gas. If you are also suffering from gastritis along with bloating and gas, it is important that you take medical advice and also start some natural remedies for gastritis. In case your problem is more severe, you may have to resort to natural remedies for gastroenteritis. In most cases, gastroenteritis can only be resolved by taking antibiotics and other similar medications.



Natural remedies for gastrointestinal problems usually do not help much if there is an infection or the problem is the result of an underlying condition such as irritable bowel syndrome. For such conditions, it is better to use medical aid and consult with a doctor.

Since you are pregnant, discussing all the home remedies that you are trying with a doctor is important. While natural remedies for gastroparesis and any other gastrointestinal condition can help you marginally, you would also require medical attention. If you are experiencing diarrhea, constipation or abdominal pain along with your symptoms of gas, it is all the more important for you to get yourself treated properly. Steer clear of high-fat and fried foods to make your recovery speedier. If you have a habit of eating big meals, try and break them down into more number of smaller meals. Chew your food well and avoid any carbonated foods that may cause an increase in the bloating that you are already experiencing. The use of natural remedies for gas during pregnancy would best work along with tips given to you by the doctor.

Gas trouble during pregnancy is known to be one of the most common complaints along with gastric problem during pregnancy and the other such issues. Gas problem during pregnancy is observed because of a hormone called progesterone which is released in excess during pregnancy. Progesterone performs the function of relaxing the smooth muscle tissues in the body which also includes the digestive tract. This relaxation of the digestive tract during pregnancy results in the slowing down of the digestive process. This in turn results in excessive gas during pregnancy or bloating, flatulence and burping that can be rather awkward and embarrassing for the pregnant woman. Pregnancy and gas cramps are known to go hand in hand even in the later stages of pregnancy because the growing uterus tends to put added pressure on the abdominal cavity of the pregnant women which in turn slows down the digestive process even further.



Another one of the reasons for gas during pregnancy are pregnancy symptoms such as heart burn and constipation that contribute to flatulence. Those who are keen on knowing how to reduce gas during pregnancy should understand that they should eat a healthy and balanced diet during pregnancy and also take up some moderate form of exercise. This is one of the pregnancy gas remedies because although the progesterone hormone tend to relax the smooth muscles that are present in ones digestive tract, one should not compromise on their food intake in any way especially during pregnancy. One of the ways to know how to avoid gas during pregnancy is  to meet the need for a higher calorie intake by having frequent small meals throughout the day. Gas relief during pregnancy can also be obtained by chewing each morsel slowly and carefully while eating and not gulping the food down while eating.  Similarly pregnancy and gas relief can also be synonymous if ones avoids fizzy or carbonated drinks and by avoiding the consumption of liquids in between meals. One of the home remedies that one can take for  gas during pregnancy includes having some peppermint tea which is known to soothe the muscles in the digestive tract and thereby provide relief from the discomfort on account of excessive gas. Gas relief during pregnancy can also be obtained by wearing loose and comfortable cotton clothing throughout the pregnancy as far as possible.  Gas problem during pregnancy can also be prevented by avoiding the consumption of certain foods that are known to trigger the formation of gas in the body. These foods include bananas, apples, cabbage, cauliflower, asparagus, ice cream, cheese, onions and so on. Similarly gas trouble during pregnancy can also be addressed by not eating too close to bed time. In fact pregnant women should have their last meal at least two to three hours before going to bed. Those women who want to get gas relief during pregnancy naturally should also ensure that they consume plenty of water. This will also ensure that they remain fresh during the pregnancy and don’t get dehydrated. Those women who are pregnant and suffer from excessive gas during pregnancy should bear in mind that this accumulated gas is usually not harmful to the mother or the child. However if the woman also has other symptoms along with the gas such as intense pain or even sudden cramping then they should immediately report the same to their doctor. Pregnant women who are on a high fiber diet can also get some gas relief during pregnancy by drinking plenty of water as fiber tends to result in flatulence or constipation if it is not supplemented with an adequate water intake.