How to Relieve Gas During Pregnancy

The gas and bloating you are experiencing during pregnancy can be caused by many natural factors, such as the extra amount of progesterone in your body during your pregnancy. However, just because it is a natural occurrence does not mean that you have to suffer through your entire pregnancy with this pain and discomfort. Read on to learn how to relieve gas during pregnancy.

Limit your consumption of foods that you know cause gas in everyone, not just pregnant women. If you know that cabbage and beans give you gas when you are not pregnant, then it is probably a good idea to assume that they will also give you gas during pregnancy.

It is not necessary to totally abstain from foods that you like just because they can give you gas at times, but it is probably a good idea to limit your consumption of these foods. You can still eat them, but only eat them occasionally and only a small amount at a time.

Avoid artificial sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners can cause excessive gas and sometimes they can even cause diarrhea. These types of sweeteners can be found in diet drinks, which in and of themselves are not recommended for pregnant women. Avoiding these types of drinks can help to improve some of your gas.

Get your fiber. You don’t have to overdo it, but try to add a decent amount of fiber into your diet, which can help you keep your bowel movements regular. By maintaining a regular bathroom regimen, you will decrease the amount of gas pain and discomfort that you experience.

Once again, it is important not to overdo fiber. If you are not used to eating a lot of fiber in your everyday diet, start adding it into your diet at a slow pace.

Try eating smaller portions. If you try to limit the amount of food that you eat in one sitting, it may help ease gas discomfort. Instead of eating 3 large meals, try to scale down the size of the meals you are eating. Eating smaller portions can help your body to break down the food quicker and make it easier to digest.

Write down the foods that you eat on a daily basis. If you are having trouble figuring out the different types of foods that hurt your stomach, keep a food journal of what you are eating. By doing this, you can pin point exactly when you have the most gas and what you have eaten right before you experienced this gas. This can help you ease your gas pain and discomfort by highlighting which foods should be avoided.

Refrain from eating too fast. If you look around the table and everyone else is still eating their lunch or dinner, then you may need to slow down your eating.

When you are eating too fast, you are not only swallowing your food, but you are also swallowing a lot of air. This air can cause gas bubbles to develop and can cause you to have a lot more gas than you normally would. So, slow your pace down and take the time to enjoy your food.

Wear loose clothing. If you are wearing clothing that is tight fitting, it can be the cause of some of your discomfort. If the pants you are wearing are leaving marks on your stomach because they are too tight, it is a good indication that your pants are too tight, which may be contributing to your bloating and gas pain. This is because the tightness around your stomach is making it difficult for your food to digest properly.

Try different sitting positions. If you can prop your legs up with a pillow while you are sitting, this can be a useful tool for reducing gas. If you put your feet up, the baby will not be putting as much pressure on your abdominals.

Take an after dinner walk. Sometimes, getting your body moving after you eat a meal is all that your body needs to alleviate some of that pesky gas you are experiencing. If you stay stationary, it doesn’t allow the gas to move around and can cause you to be bloated and uncomfortable.

Taking an after dinner walk can also reduce your stress levels. Stress can cause a lot of the gas and abdominal pain that you are experiencing. When you get some exercise, it can help to relieve the stress you are experiencing throughout your busy day.

WARNINGS

It is time to call your doctor if you have tried all of the home remedies for gas relief and if your gas pains feel like labor pains. If these pains are coming and going at regular intervals, call your doctor immediately.
Also contact your doctor if the gas pain you are having is accompanied by excessive diarrhea and/or blood in your stool.
Eat right and make sure you’re drinking enough water to avoid constipation during pregnancy, which can aggravate gassiness.

TIPS

Another important factor to discuss with your doctor is any medicine that you may consider taking to relieve gas. It is always a good idea to discuss any over the counter medications you are thinking of taking while you are pregnant with your doctor before you take them.
It is always a good idea to discuss your meal plans with your doctor if you are experiencing a great deal of gas pain and discomfort. Your doctor can be a beneficial resource for you and can help you to choose good foods that will help relieve some of your pain and discomfort.

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