Pregnant or not, bloating is one of the common abdominal issues faced by most of us at some point in our lifetime. That uncomfortable feeling of a full stomach, abdominal tightness, and absolutely no space in the stomach even to sip water are all signs of bloating. Find out 10 natural remedies for bloating during pregnancy.
Imagine, you feel your stomach is terribly filled with gas and there is an urgency to pass gas or burp! Sometimes, the abdomen protrudes out and is accompanied by pain. Bloating is a common woe of pregnant women. This can be attributed to hormonal imbalance and slow digestion during the gestation period.
In This Article
10 Natural Remedies For Bloating During Pregnancy
The abdominal pain can be really pesky and force you to visit a physician for immediate relief. Pain, flatulence (farting), and frequent belching add up to embarrassment with uneasiness. You may already be put up on iron, folate, and other multivitamin tablets and surely would not welcome more medicines. OTCs claiming relief from abdominal bloating is available in the market, however, it’s best to avoid medicine combinations during pregnancy.
Therefore, we present you with home remedies that will effectively solve this problem. It’s only wise to stick to natural remedies during pregnancy. Should you consume OTC medicines during pregnancy? Know here.
1. Break Your Meals
The new mantra to eat fewer and more frequent meals is exactly what you need to follow. Due to sluggish digestion or indigestion during pregnancy, it becomes easier for your stomach to break down smaller food and prevents you from feeling full. Having nourishing and healthy food at regular intervals to keep up with the energy that you require during pregnancy.
2. Watch How You Eat
Your digestion is naturally slowed down during pregnancy and not chewing food properly increases the stomach’s job. Also, if you tend to gobble down food quickly, you unknowingly swallow air too. Therefore, you need to chew your food well and eat slowly. It is also recommended to drink liquids like water and juices from a glass rather than sipping from straws or gulping from a bottle.
3. Cut On Sinful Food
Yes, pregnancy and the most sinful and delicious food cravings are correlated, but you need to vouch for four your health too. Overindulgence in anything is bad.
Try to avoid the following food items as they induce gas:
- Fried foods: pakoras, fries, samosas
- Sugary sweets and deserts: do absolutely no good to anyone
- Few veggies: cabbage, cauliflower, potatoes, asparagus, and beans
- Carbonated drinks: You are simply gulping sugar, air, and lots of empty calories!
- Frozen food: They are processed and dumped in hot oil!
- Starchy foods: White rice, bread, pasta
4. Dress Comfortably
Wearing clothes fitting around the abdomen not only adds to discomfort while eating since the abdomen distends a bit, it also constricts blood flow. Sometimes it also leads to breathing difficulties. Dress in clothes that are airy and comfortable, and now that you are pregnant, avoid shape-ups and other dresses that stick to your body.
5. Move Around
Yes, you get exhausted during pregnancy and need to rest. But slouching on the couch every time you can sneak on a break will simply aggravate bloating. Walk around for a couple of minutes and do a few stretches. Such movements will help release gas and are effective in cub bloating.
6. Increase Fluid Intake
Drink plenty of water, which will not only flush out toxins from the body but will help disturb constipation too.
7. Reduce Caffeine
Caffeine is capable of inducing gas, and acidity and leading to bloating. By caffeine, we mean chocolates, sodas, coffee, and tea. Caffeine during pregnancy is advised to be limited, know why.
8. Add Anti-Bloating Foods To Your Diet
There is always a solution to your problems in the kitchen. Try including the following items in your diet if you are prone to bloating; you can simply prepare your own herbal tea by adding one or two of the above ingredients to boiling water and sipping it!
- Peppermint
- Anise
- Cinnamon
- Cardamom
- Coriander seeds
- Ginger honey syrup
- Basil
Read more on gas and bloating in pregnancy here.
9. De-Stress Yourself
Yoga, meditation, music, and movies do whatever it takes to get rid of your stress and stay happy. Believe it or not, the stress hormones in your body are very efficient in causing a number of ailments.
10. Raise Your Legs
It’s common sense not to lie down immediately after meals. You need to sit upright. Those expecting should sit with elevated legs to aid digestion. While lying down, consider propping a few pillows under your feet to create an elevated posture. This will also reduce the pressure of an enlarged womb on the intestines.
Sometimes, certain medications may also cause bloating. You should discuss this with your physician and consider appropriate antacids. The above remedies will definitely prevent bloating and provide you relief. Bloating usually does not warrants a visit to a physician. However, if severe symptoms such as passing blood with stools, persistent pain and vomiting are experienced, then you should call the doctor.
Eat well, exercise, and stay happy – this will keep most problems at bay!
FAQ’s
1. Why Is My Stomach So Bloated During Pregnancy?
Muscle relaxation is just another effect of increased progesterone production during pregnancy. These include the muscles in your digestive tract. When the muscles in your intestines relax, it slows down the digestive process. This results in gas buildup, which manifests as abdominal distention, frequent burping, and flatulence.
2. Does Lemon Water Help With Bloating?
Yes. Lemons are a natural diuretic, and when added to warm water, they may also act as a light laxative. Consuming lemon water can help lower the amount of salt that is retained in the body. It also alleviates bloating. It is important to remember to drink directly from the glass rather than via a straw, as using a straw increases the chances of gulping more air.
3. Is Yogurt Good For Bloating?
If you haven’t been diagnosed with lactose intolerance, eating yogurt on a daily basis may help reduce bloating and/or gas. Yogurt contains potassium, which helps to flush out excess sodium. Yogurt also includes beneficial bacteria, known as probiotics, which aid in the relief of stomach gas and bloating.
