ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR BOATING IN PREGNANCY
Being bottled up with staggering emotions to being bloated down with gas problems- All are common in pregnancy. Although pregnancy is the miracle of life, it offers various weird problems for example, bloating in pregnancy.
As in case of bloating, it is a very early pregnancy sign that can leave you really puffed up every time you eat anything or everything.
Besides this common sense however, there is a lot to know about bloating during pregnancy. For example: its causes, symptoms, effects (if any), and most importantly how to get rid of it.
With penetrating insights, this article reveals all that important stuff along with the 15 miracle tricks to stave it off.
Let‘s get started.
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IS BLOATING IN PREGNANCY NORMAL?
Bloating is significantly normal in pregnancy, and rarely a thing of concern. It typically occurs in early pregnancy and can last all through your gestational period.
You can blame pregnancy hormones, especially progesterone for making you balloon out though.
So, is bloating in pregnancy common?
Of course it is.
WHEN DOES BLOATING START IN PREGNANCY?
In general, bloating is one of the earliest yet least charming pregnancy symptoms. It shows up in the first trimester around 11 week of being expectant.
It typically occurs by the indication of rapid hormonal changes in your body in this particular period.
WHEN DOES BLOATING DURING PREGNANCY STOP?
Bloating oftentimes stick all through the gestational period. Pregnant women face this universal issue up until the delivery day.
In simple words, they state to lose the annoying symptoms associated with bloating once the baby is born.
But for the sake of fortune, some women affraim to feel less bloated and more comfortable by the end of 1st 3 months of preganncy, right after the first trimester.
So, the results of bloating in pregnancy go away on its own may vary from woman to woman.
Hope you will be one of them. Fingers crossed!
WHAT DOES BLOATING IN PREGNANCY FEEL LIKE?
Similar to the signs of the menstrual period, bloating can bring a variety kinds of uncomfortable signs.
Commonly, bloating can make you experience sensations including,
- Stomach pain
- Discomfort
- Gassy
- Frequent burping
- Abdominal rumbling or gurgling
In short, bloating in pregnancy can possibly make you feel like having an inflated balloon in the belly.
WHAT CAUSES BLOATING IN PREGNANCY?
The below ones are the factors that can contribute to bloating in pregnant ladies.
HORMONAL CHANGES
The utmost reason behind feeling bloated up while pregnancy is the surge of pregnancy hormone in your body, mostly progesterone.
At the beginning of pregnancy, your body goes through tremendous changes in order to relax the womb.
But along with the womb or uterus, the hormones also relax the digestive muscles, slowing the digestion.
Due to the loose digestive tract, especially the intestines, the foods move slower than usual. This process consequently allows the gas to build up leading to bloating.
EATING BLOATING CAUSING FOODS
One of the major elements that make you vulnerable to face bloating is the foods that you intake.
There are certain eats and beverages that can affect the gas production in your body.
WHAT FOODS CAUSE BLOATING IN PREGNANCY?
Here is a list of foods that can cause bloating time-to-time.
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Apples
- Lentils and Beans
- Onions
- Prunes
- Raisins
- Cauliflower
- Dairy products
- Whole grains
- Brussels sprouts
- Tomatoes
As you can see, these above mentioned foods are nutrient packed ones still they can cause bloating. However, foods other than these super foods, eats that can cause bloating often include:
- Fried foods
- Spicy foods
- Greasy foods
- Carbonated drinks
- Ice cream
- Cheese
CONSTIPATION
Being constipated is more likely to cause bloating. Constipation moreover is quite ordinary while gestation for various reasons.
So, the longer your stool stays in the colon, the more time bacteria have to format it.
This continuous process done by them, will result in more gas, resulting in bloating in later periods.
DUE TO THE GROWING FETUS
Boating usually starts in the first trimester but it gradually gets worse over the time.
As your baby grows in size, it will start to put continuous pressure on its surrounding organs, mostly on the intestines.
It will begin squeezing the digestive system, letting it to slow down.
This factor done by your tiny human also makes you probable to face bloating in pregnancy.
HOLDING HEIGHTENED EMOTIONS
Believe it or not, pregnancy is the deliverer of some superpowers. It lets you acquire heightened emotions and impossible awareness in your body.
This, factor in further, can help you feel bloating more intensely as you become aware of the sensations in the intestines.
How wonderful! Isn’t that true?
WRONG EATING HABITS
Also with wrong eating, eating in a wrong manner can make you puffed up as well.
For example: eating larger meals at a time, having meals too quickly, swallowing hastily or even barely chewing the foods can create more gas in your belly.
But that’s not all.
Talking while having meals makes you swallow more air from the atmosphere.
So, gulping air without any reason can eventually lead to bloating.
THE PRENATAL VITAMINS
Prenatal vitamins are important to progress your pregnancy according to the plan.
They fill most of the needs that are vital for fetal development. So, no matter what, you are bound to intake them.
However, the fact that they do is, they contribute to constipation. And being constipated in turn makes you gaseous and puffed up.
STRESS AND ANXIETY
As unlikely as it may sound, both anxiety and stress contribute to the consequence of bloating.
But, how?
Well, whenever you feel anxious or stressed out you inhale air faster and in larger quantities. This larger consumption of air can lead to gas as the last outcome.
LACTOSE INTOLERANCE
Milk is a super food for pregnancy that you get suggested to consume first. Everybody knows that.
But if you’re lactose intolerant then symptoms including milk allergy, gas, pain, diarrhea as well as bloating are the must outcomes.
PHYSICAL INACTIVITY
Physical inactivity creates an increased risk of bloating.
It has been seen that lack of body movements can affect your digestive health, making you prone to face issues like bloating.
This happens because; spending most of your time being lazy makes the food move slowly through your digestive tract which obviously leads to indigestion and bloating.
DEHYDRATION
Dehydration is the leading contributor to many pregnancy related complications but more often it creates a soft route to bloating.
Whenever you gat dehydrated, the body faces problems in flushing out the bowel or stool out of your body.
This factor notably causes constipation and being constipated as a consequence causes bloating.
BEING SLEEPLESS
Unexpectedly enough, having regularly interrupted sleep patterns can cause havoc on your gastrointestinal tract.
Sleeplessness has been linked to cause stomach pains, inflammation, food sensitivities and severe bloating.
Studies state that sleeplessness can possibly cause stress that affects the gut.
And there are plentiful reasons why sleeplessness is common in pregnancy though.
As you barely get a good night sleep in pregnancy, you become vulnerable to experience bloating during pregnancy.
So, sleeplessness too is a significant factor that causes bloating.
WHAT CAUSES BLOATING IN PREGNANT WOMEN?
In summary, these following factors are the contributors to bloating in pregnancy.
- Hormonal changes
- Eating bloating-causing foods
- Constipation
- The growing fetus
- Having heightened emotions
- Wrong eating habits
- Prenatal vitamins
- Stress and anxiety
- Lactose intolerance
- Physical inactivity
- Dehydration
- Being sleepless
SHOULD YOU TREAT BLOATING DURING PREGNANCY?
Bloating is common in pregnancy and only occurs for the body’s newly changing activities. It even indicates that your pregnancy is going fine.
There are plentiful over the counter medications for controlling the effects of bloating.
But pregnant women should avoid the consumption of any over the counter medicines without the prescription of a doctor.
In order to relieve pains affiliated with bloating, you can take medications prescribed only by your doctor.
However, bloating is preventable. Although you may not be able to completely manage it, you can surely minimize some pains caused by bloating.
So, you can give shot to some changes in your lifestyle aiming to deal with this not-that-charming outcome of pregnancy.
HOW TO RELIEVE BLOATING DURING PREGNANCY?
Consider implementing some easy tips described below for reducing the chances of bloating in pregnancy.
STAY WELL HYDRATED
Drinking enough water keeps constipation at bay, consequently reducing the risks of bloating.
As in case of pregnancy, aim to cover up 8 to 12 cups or 64 to 96 ounces of water every single day to keep the possibility of bloating and other fatal consequences as minimal as possible.
But why only water when you can add some other brilliant varieties of it?
For example, you can include some outstanding and pregnancy friendly drinks such as milk, smoothies, vegetable or fruit juices, cranberry juice, flavored water, sparkling water for keeping your body’s water level in a perfect balance.
DRINK SLOWLY
While fishing the glasses of fluids, you also sip down a little amount of air unknowingly.
So, don’t rush at all. Take your time. Sit down. And let the fluid down at a slower pace.
USE CUP INSTEAD STRAW
Using straws to drink makes you swallow more air. So, insure using straw, use a cup or glass to drink. And drink slowly.
Also remember to avoid any carbonated and sugar based drinks like soda. They can make you feel more bloated and also cause the symptoms to get worse.
CONSIDER A HEALTHY DIET
As discussed earlier, some healthy choices such as broccoli, lentils, beans etc. can also make you swell up.
But don’t try to skip them at all for the sake of avoiding bloating. They are pregnancy super foods that can supply you with various benefits.
Hence, consider a perfect pregnancy diet to get better at learning on what to eat and what to not.
GET SWEATY A LITTLE
Performing physical activities supports your overall heath, even while dealing with bloating.
It helps keep your digestive system in check as well as helps your body release gas that aids bloating.
But in bonus, they can aid constipation- the leading cause of bloating.
However, intense workouts are a strict “NO” for pregnancy. They can impact stomach muscles and also on the uterus.
So, forget about any intense workout.
So, instead of any harsh tasks, you can perform low impactful exercises including:
- Walking
- Riding a stationary cycle
- Low impactful aerobics
- Yoga and Pilate classes
- Swimming and water workouts
So, Rather than just sitting, keep moving in order to keep bloating at bay.
CHANGE YOUR EATING HABITS
Wrong eating habits for example, taking while eating, not chewing properly, eating in a rush can encourage the chances of bloating unwantedly.
So, take your time and feel every single bite that you taste.
Don’t talk or rush even not.
Moreover, distribute your whole eating pattern throughout the day instead of having larger meals at a time.
Don’t you guess it’s the perfect time to remember your mother’s advice- “do not talk while eating”?
CHOOSE COMFORTABLE CLOTHES
Along with other measures, pay attention to the things that you wear. Shun clothes, bra, pants, underwear or belts that help build pressure.
Wearing these types of clothes can flare up the discomforts associated with bloating in pregnancy.
But more importantly choose the right clothes for pregnancy.
AVOID CHEWING GUMS
Chewing gums can develop the chances of painful bloating as it makes you swallow more air in a limited period.
Not only this!
Gums also contain artificial sweeteners that can cause gas.
DEAL WITH STRESS
Stress is also responsible for causing bloating. Apart from only bloating, it can possibly cause other side effects such as preterm labor as well.
So, you better be getting rid of it.
But “how” is the real concern here.
Well, you can do certain things including meditation, yoga, and avoid smoking to get rid of it.
But, more importantly, talk about your problems and concerns with your loved ones or doctor to ease your stress levels down.
QUIT SMOKING
Cigarette smoking lets you inhale air together with the toxic pollutants. This factor certainly contributes to vast gas production in your belly.
In fact, smoking should not be done by expecting women no matter what the situations are.
It can lead to terrible consequences.
GET SOME GINGER TEA
Offer yourself some ginger tea whenever you feel swollen up.
It is considered to ease digestive upsets along with bloating.
ADD FIBER IN YOUR DIET
Constipation leads to bloating and fiber is the best thing to fight it off.
But don’t be too quick to add lots of fiber in your diet. A sudden change in your diet with lots of fiber can actually lead to more gas production. And you may not like that a lot.
So, add it as gradually as possible.
As you know, “Slow and steady wins the race”
MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT
Rapid weight gain is a thing to get concerned about, in case you are on a mission to prevent bloating.
Getting more weight than required can put intense pressure on your gut and digestive system, causing the gas to build up and get trapped.
So, ask your healthcare provider to recommend you a healthy weight in accordance with your demands for pregnancy.
INTAKE PROBIOTICS
Probiotics promote regular bowel movements since they are packed with healthy gut bacteria.
Hence, products including natural yogurt, kefir and sauerkraut can benefit.
Also ask your doctor to recommend a probiotic supplement for better results.
TRY GENTLE ABDOMINAL MASSAGE
Trying a gentle abdominal massage for the first trimester’s bloating issues can help.
Consider these tips to soothe away your cramps while facing bloating accompanied by constipation.
- Lay down on your side
- Start massaging your abdomen with circular gentle strokes with your fingers
- Don’t press your belly with maximum force
Try these abode tips to soothe your first trimester’s bloating experiences before the baby starts kicking.
All things considered, these are the practical and workable tips on how to control bloating in pregnancy.
CAN BLOATING AFFECT PREGNANCY?
Bloating is an annoying yet ordinary thing to face in pregnancy. It does not put yours or your baby’s health under any threat.
Although you will face its significant outcomes still your baby is safe from its upshots.
BLOATING IN PREGNANCY: WHEN TO SEE DOCTOR?
Bloating is common in pregnancy, but pregnancy is the real attention seeker. All the time.
Although bloating isn’t a concern, still seek medical help if you notice no such relief from it within 30 minutes and the pain gradually gets worse.
Also remember to console your doctor if you are dealing with constipation for more than a week.
Seeing blood in stool is also a thing to notify your doc.
LAST WORDS FROM “PREGARLYBODY“
Bloating is nothing but an early pregnancy sign that may last all through your gestational period.
It is just the indication that your body is adapting to certain changes to make a tiny room for your growing baby.
Besides, I hope that you came to know a thing or two about how to deal with bloating in pregnancy.
All at the end, pregarlybody wishes you a healthy pregnancy ahead.
