12 Ways To Get Rid Of Gas Problem During Pregnancy

You’re pregnant: congratulations! The first weeks of your pregnancy are a vital time as your body gets busy building a baby. How exciting! Your body goes through many changes during pregnancy, and unfortunately gas is an uncomfortable result of some very normal body processes. The hormone progesterone is one of the main causes of excess gas during pregnancy. As your body produces more progesterone to support your pregnancy, progesterone relaxes muscles in your body. Once you get further along in your pregnancy, the increased pressure from your growing uterus on your abdominal cavity can slow down digestion, leading to more gas. This uncomfortable, and sometimes painful, gas is generally due to constipation, and it can get worse as your pregnancy progresses. But there are various things you can do to combat the gas.

# Avoid Gas-Forming Foods

The food you eat has a direct impact on the amount of gas you experience, pregnant or not. During pregnancy, you need to eat a balanced, nutritious diet and avoid foods that can lead to gas buildup in the stomach and intestines.

# Drink Plenty of Fluids

Water is your best bet when it comes to improving your digestive health and preventing the formation of gas. The digestive tract functions better when the body gets an adequate amount of fluid intake.It also prevents constipation. By keeping your stools soft, water helps facilitate their smoother movement through the colon and eventually out of the system.

# Up Your Fiber Intake

Foods that contain fiber may cause your body to produce more gas, but it also helps move the food more smoothly through the digestive tract and ensures regular and timely bowel movements. Thus, by preventing constipation, the problem of excessive gas is inherently kept in check as well.

# Be Active

Pregnancy often entails an inactive and sedentary lifestyle with the objective of keeping you and your unborn child out of harm’s way. While safety and caution are paramount for an expecting mother, this does not necessarily mean that you need to lie in your bed and rest all day.

# Perform Yoga and Meditation

Prenatal yoga is as much a gas buster as it is a stress buster. The “cow pose” is one of the ideal yoga asanas that help with the abdominal discomfort caused by pregnancy-related gas issues.It helps open the chest and promote spinal flexibility and provides a gentle massage to the spine and belly organs. This, in turn, works to release the tightness in the abdomen, which is a huge solace during pregnancy.

# Avoiding Certain Drinks

Some people experience gas when they drink beverages containing the following ingredients: Carbon dioxide is a gas in a wide range of drinks, including cola and other sodas, carbonated energy drinks and sparkling (fizzy) waters, including tonic water. People get rid of most of this gas through belching, but carbon dioxide can also cause flatulence. The added sugars or artificial sweeteners in many carbonated drinks can also contribute to intestinal gas.

# Wearing Comfortable Clothing

Clothes that are tight around the waist can put added pressure on the abdomen, which may increase the buildup of gas. Wearing loose-fitting maternal wear in the later stages of pregnancy can help to alleviate this problem.

# Reducing Stress Levels

Stressed is main reason of gas problem during pregnancy. This may be because people tend to gulp down air when they are anxious. Stress-related gas can also be a symptom of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS is a gastrointestinal disorder that causes abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits. Other symptoms can include bloating, gas, cramping, constipation and diarrhea.

# Fenugreek Seeds

Drinking water infused with fenugreek seeds is an age-old remedy for gas. It is a tried and tested solution to control gas during pregnancy. You can take a tablespoon of fenugreek seeds and soak it in a glass of water overnight. Filter the seeds from the water and drink the water to reduce flatulence.

# Have Small Meals

Instead of having three heavy meals a day, you can split them up into six smaller meals over the day. Eat your meals at a leisurely pace. Do not gulp down the food – chew it properly before taking the next spoonful. Also, avoid fried and unhealthy food.

# Lemon Juice

Squeeze a whole lemon into a bowl and add one cup of water and half a spoon of baking soda to it. Keep stirring until the baking soda dissolves completely. Drink this to get quick relief from gas and other gastric problems. Drinking lemon juice with warm water early in the morning can provide relief from stomach pain too.

# Drink Warm Water

Indigestion and other gastric problem can be effectively tackled by drinking warm water every day. Drinking a glass of warm water daily will keep your digestive system on track and ensure proper bowel movements. If you are having a meal at a restaurant or a party, make it a point to drink a glass of warm water (squeeze half a lemon if possible) after your meals.