When you’re pregnant, your hormones can cause your digestion to go haywire. Estrogen and progesterone that is being produced in your body helps relax smooth muscle tissues. This can cause your gastrointestinal tract to relax and lead to side effects like bloating, indigestion, constipation and gas. However, hormones aren’t the only reason for causing these symptoms.
These are some of the most common causes of bloating and indigestion during pregnancy:
- Eating greasy, fatty, or highly seasoned foods
- Eating or drinking too much caffeine – chocolate, soda, coffee, or other drinks
- Eating big meals
- Eating too fast
- Lying down or not moving too much after eating
- Wearing tight clothes
Here is what you can do to get rid of bloating and indigestion during pregnancy:
- Eat Small, Frequent Meals
When you’re pregnant, don’t eat for two. Eating more may cause you heartburn, bloating and indigestion. Instead, eat more frequently and only a little bit at a time. Try to eat around five or six times a day, to keep your digestive system moving and avoid overloading it with too much food.
- Avoid Foods that can Trigger
Certain foods which are spicy, greasy, citrusy, or those that contain caffeine or alcohol may trigger heartburn or indigestion. Identify such foods and try to avoid them. You can try keeping a journal and noting down which foods are causing your symptoms. When you eliminate or restrict these foods from your diet, they may prevent gas or indigestion from appearing in the future.
- Get some Exercise
One of the best ways to get rid of bloating and indigestion during pregnancy is to walk after your meal. Small walks around your neighborhood or even around your house can do the trick. Sitting in one place can cause the gas to remain in the bowels, causing bloating and pain.
- Chew Your Food
When you’re pregnant, your digestion is slow. Chewing helps ease your digestion. It is the first stage of the digestive process, but when we eat fast, it can cause you to swallow air which leads to gas. Take your time when eating and chew your food thoroughly to avoid gas and indigestion.
- Avoid late-night Snacking
If you like snacking right before going to bed, this may be one of the causes behind heartburn and indigestion. When you lay down after a meal, it makes it easier for stomach acid to rise up into the esophagus and cause heartburn. Eating right before going to bed doesn’t allow your body enough time to digest the food properly. Try eating small snacks if you feel the need to eat late-night.
- Elevate your Legs
Sitting with your feet elevated can help relieve bloating and indigestion. This position helps take the pressure of baby off from your abdomen and allows your body to digest food more easily. Also, make sure you’re wearing lose comfortable clothes all the time as tight clothes may restrict digestion when you’re sitting with elevated legs and cause pain.
If you continue to experience pain, or have other symptoms such as spitting up blood, losing weight, passing black stools, or trouble swallowing, talk to our team of experts at KIMS Cuddles.
*Information shared here is for general purpose. Please take doctors’ advice before taking any decision.
