What helps with bloating during pregnancy

During pregnancy, many women suffer from increased flatulence and constipation. It’s not usually dangerous, but uncomfortable. Find out why flatulence is more common during pregnancy and what helps against it.

Everyone knows occasional flatulence, for example after eating certain foods such as cabbage or beans. The stomach then appears bloated (meteorism) and/or there are more intestinal winds. Experts refer to the latter as flatulence.

Bloating is common during pregnancy. Hormones and the growing unborn child play a role here, among other things.

What causes bloating in pregnancy

In early pregnancy, flatulence is mainly caused by the hormone progesterone, which is increasingly released in this phase.

Progesterone causes the muscles to relax. The effect is also noticeable in the intestine. The intestinal activity slows down, the intestine becomes “sluggish”. The result: the entire digestive process is slowed down, which promotes constipation. There is also more intestinal gas, which can lead to bloating. Especially in early pregnancy, women often have to deal with flatulence.

In addition to hormonal changes, there is another cause of flatulence during pregnancy, which is particularly important in the last trimester of pregnancy: the baby needs more and more space. Its growth can impede intestinal activity, which can lead to digestive problems such as gas, constipation and bloating.

Bloating during pregnancy: what helps?

Flatulence and other digestive problems during pregnancy cannot be avoided 100 percent. But there are some measures and remedies to alleviate the annoying discomfort. On the one hand, this can be counteracted with an adapted dietary behavior. On the other hand, various home remedies and medications that are also suitable during pregnancy may help.

Bloating during pregnancy: changing your eating habits
In the case of flatulence during pregnancy, it can help to check your eating habits and change them if necessary:

Take your time when eating and chew thoroughly – if you eat quickly, you often swallow a lot of air, which promotes flatulence.
Avoid (temporarily) carbonated drinks.
Avoid foods that cause gas; these include legumes such as beans, peas or lentils, cabbage and leeks such as onions or leeks.
Vegetables that are better tolerated include fennel, tomatoes or carrots.
Drink enough (1.5 to 2 liters) to aid digestion, such as tea or still water
Many small meals are easier to digest than a few large ones.
Very greasy, fried and/or spicy foods can increase bloating and other digestive problems.
High-fiber foods and raw foods can also promote flatulence.
Some pregnant women also experience increased flatulence after consuming dairy products. If the symptoms are severe, it can make sense to adjust your diet accordingly.

Tip
Not only the right diet, but also exercise stimulates digestion. Pregnant women should therefore pay attention to (light) physical activity – provided there is nothing against it from a medical point of view. This could be longer walks or gymnastics.

Bloating during pregnancy: Which home remedies and medications are allowed
There are some herbal remedies that are more commonly used for gas and bloating during pregnancy. These include above all:

fennel
Caraway seeds
anise
marjoram
mint

Pregnant women can drink these herbs as tea, for example. Special tea blends, for example with fennel, aniseed and caraway, can often be found in supermarkets, drugstores or pharmacies. The herbs can also be used to season dishes or as oil for rubbing.

Note: These herbal remedies are often recommended for bloating. However, their effect has not yet been sufficiently examined or proven in scientific studies – but its use during pregnancy is probably not a concern either.

In addition, there are over-the-counter medicines for flatulence that are also suitable during pregnancy. So-called “defoamers” with the active ingredients simethicone or dimeticone dissolve gas bubbles in the digestive tract and can relieve temporary flatulence.

Flatulence during pregnancy: What else helps

A warm bath or a (not too hot) hot water bottle can be beneficial for flatulence during pregnancy.

A gentle abdominal massage in clockwise circular motions can also help. In case of doubt, and especially in the case of a high-risk pregnancy, a gynecologist should always assess whether an abdominal massage is suitable.

Flatulence during pregnancy: when to see a doctor?

If flatulence persists for a long time or is particularly stressful, pregnant women should not hesitate and make an appointment with their family doctor or gynecologist. The doctor can then prescribe medication if necessary or give other tips.

A doctor’s visit is always necessary if other symptoms occur – such as severe abdominal pain or vomiting.