Abdominal pain, flatulence, a feeling of vomiting (nausea), loss of weight without any reason or difficult to digest the meal is called acidity. According to experts, if you face these symptoms every day, then it can prove to be dangerous for your health. Although acidity during pregnancy is common for most ladies but for some it may be really troublesome.
Acid is produced in the stomach which is digestive juice required for the digestion of food that we eat. Sometime, excess acid is produced in the upper part of the navel, which irritates the area. This acid if comes upwards into the throat causes sour belching and burning sensation. It is mainly due to bile.
Acidity during pregnancy:
There is a time in every woman's life when she is pregnant. It has a pleasant feeling throughout her life. At the same time, some problems also have to be faced during this time. In this article, we are mainly talking about bloating and flatulence during pregnancy. Of course, in today's age, everyone is troubled by this problem, but for a pregnant lady, it is nothing short of excruciating pain.
To get relief from this, she also takes many measures, some of which prove to be effective, while some prove to be ineffective. Therefore, in this article from “The Art of Health,” we will discuss in detail the problem of gas, bloating and acidity during pregnancy and also suggest some remedies to get relief from it.
Why do gas and flatulence occur in early pregnancy?
Most gas and flatulence problems occur in the early days of pregnancy. Therefore, it is important to know what could be the possible reason for this. According to studies, during pregnancy, the level of progesterone hormone starts to increase, due to which all the muscles of the body including the digestive system start getting loose. Due to this, the digestive power of pregnant women gradually starts to weaken and one has to face the problem of gas and flatulence.
Causes of gas and flatulence in pregnancy
There can be many reasons for gas and flatulence in pregnancy. One is mentioned above that due to an increase in progesterone hormone, gas starts to form. Apart from this, here are some other reasons for gas formation below, which can cause problems not only in pregnancy but also for a common person.
1. Constipation:
Pregnancy causes constipation due to not being able to digest food properly. Due to weak digestion power, food stays in the intestines for a long time which results in gas formation.
2. The bacterial balance in the colon:
The problem of gas starts when there is a disturbance in the balance of bacteria in the colon (rectum).
3. Increasing weight:
Due to frequent hunger in pregnancy, the diet of many women increases, and they start gaining weight. Due to weight gain, pregnant women also start having gas problems.
4. Wrong food habits:
There are some foods, which make gas by eating. Some women have celiac disease (a small intestine disease caused by eating whole grains). Those who have this disease cannot digest gluten-containing foods and have gas problems. Likewise, eating lactose-rich food, especially dairy products can also cause problems in some women. These products also sometimes cause bloating.
Home remedies for bloating, flatulence, and acidity during pregnancy:
However, no treatment is needed to get relief from gas during pregnancy, as this problem is self-corrected after delivery. If this problem is still bothering you more, then you can adopt home treatment. Most people prefer to have home remedies for problems like gas. Believe it, there are many such things in your house, which can relieve the problem of gas and flatulence.
- Chamomile tea can be helpful in gas problems. Drinking a cup of chamomile tea after meals can dissipate the gas that causes the stomach to bloat.
- Cardamom proves to be very effective for relieving gas. If you feel gas or flatulence, you can eat cardamom. Apart from this, cardamom tea can also bring relief.
- Consumption of cinnamon can also cure gas problems. For this, you mix one teaspoon of cinnamon powder and honey in a cup of boiling water. Drink it when the water becomes lukewarm. This will give you relief from the gas problem.
- Grind coriander seeds in a cup of hot water and keep it for a while. Then filter and drink this water. The problem of gas will be relieved.
- Ginger is considered a panacea for gas problems. One teaspoon of ginger juice mixed with a little honey can bring relief to flatulence after a meal.
Tips to reduce flatulence and acidity during pregnancy:
There are many home remedies as well as other tips to get relief from gas and flatulence during pregnancy, which can reduce this problem. Below are some tips which you can follow:
• Eat in bits: Since you have to take care of your baby as well as during pregnancy, it is important to take the right diet. In such a situation, the pregnant lady is advised to eat all three meals properly. But, you should not eat a large quantity in a single meal but should eat in smaller bits more frequently. By doing this, not only does the problem of flatulence go away, but the baby also gets adequate nutrition.
• Take fluids: To get relief from gas and flatulence, take as much fluid as possible. Drink lots of water. Apart from this, juice and lemonade will make you feel relieved.
• Eat slowly: Chew slowly and thoroughly, whatever you eat. Eating slowly will digest your food well and you will not have problems with gas.
• Eat fiber-rich food: You should eat food that is rich in fiber. Fiber absorbs water from the digestive system, allowing food to reach the intestines easily. So, your stomach stays fine and the problem of flatulence is avoided. For fiber, you can add carrots, oats, or apples to your diet.
• Stay away from fried and gas-producing foods: Fried foods can cause many health problems. The most common of these is the bloating. Also, avoid gas-producing things. Things like broccoli, cabbage, and beans make gas in the body and should be avoided by pregnant ladies. Make a diary and write down what you are eating. Then take a note of the foods that are causing gas problems within six hours of consuming them. Remove that food item from your list.
• Avoid refined sugar: During pregnancy, it is normal to eat sweet food, but you should abstain from refined sugar. Carbon-rich beverages also contain similar sugar. Also, packaged juice contains high levels of fructose corn syrup, which can cause flatulence. You can drink fresh fruit juice instead. You should not consume chewing gum, because it contains sorbitol, which causes the gas to build up.
Prevention of gas and acidity during pregnancy:
• If you smoke, stop it immediately. This is harmful to you as well as your baby. While smoking, along with harmful gases, air also goes inside the stomach, which causes bloating.
• If you are drinking any beverage, do not use a straw for it. By doing this, the air can go through the straw, which can again cause gas problems.
• Do not eat cold immediately after eating or drinking hot food. This causes the gas to form.
• Many times gas also starts due to stress. For this, practice yoga and try to keep yourself away from stress.
• If you want to lie down after eating food, then lie on the left side of your body and lift the leg slightly up. You can put a pillow under your feet. By doing this, the pressure of the uterus decreases in the intestines and there is no gas problem. Digestion is also better while lying in this position.
• Regular exercise also relieves gas. Exercise should always be done under the supervision of an instructor.
Medications to treat gas and flatulence
Apart from home remedies and some precautions, doctors may prescribe you the following medicines to get relief from gas and flatulence:
• OTC simethicone (Mylicon, Gas-X) for quick relief from gas.
• Antacids to relieve flatulence.
Note: Do not take any medicine on your own. Always take medicine on the advice of a doctor.
When to call the doctor?
While gas and acidity during pregnancy is common, but if you see any of the following symptoms, do not delay in contacting your doctor:
- Severe abdominal pain and cramps.
- Blood in the stool.
- When contractions occur before the 36th week of pregnancy.
- In case of constipation or diarrhea problems.
- Constant nausea or vomiting.
If you notice some such symptoms, it is better to contact a doctor. In such a situation, the doctor can give you the necessary medicines, depending on your physical condition.
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