If you’ve also been dealing with gas during pregnancy, well, you aren’t alone! Whether it sneaks up on you during a meeting or makes your belly feel too stretched, trapped gas can often be uncomfortable and sometimes painful.
Hormones. Yes! During pregnancy, your body produces more progesterone, which relaxes muscles—including those in your digestive tract. This eventually slows down digestion, leading to bloating, burping, and, of course, gas.
Here are five proven home remedies to help you get relief from gas during pregnancy.
Stay Hydrated
Drinking enough water is indeed an obvious remedy, but it really works magic when it comes to getting relief from gas. Water helps move food through your intestines smoothly, thereby preventing constipation and the buildup of gas.
According to experts, pregnant women must drink at least 8-12 cups of water daily.
Besides, warm water with lemon in the morning can stimulate digestion and get things moving before bloating actually begins. Furthermore, hydration even helps prevent dehydration-induced bloating.
Eat Small Yet Frequent Meals
It's sometimes common to feel too full after eating.
The reason is large meals put extra pressure on your slow-moving digestive system. Instead of three big meals, consider eating five to six smaller meals throughout the day. This will not only keep digestion steady but also prevent sudden bloating and reduce excessive gas formation.
In fact, studies have even proven that eating smaller portions can also help manage acid reflux, another common pregnancy concern.
Keep Your Body Moving
During pregnancy, it feels overwhelming to even move from the couch. However, light movement can significantly help when it comes to gas relief. Did you know that a simple 10-15 minute walk after meals can help your digestive system function more efficiently and prevent gas from getting trapped?
Besides, certain yoga poses, including Child’s Pose or Cat-Cow, can gently massage your intestines and encourage gas to pass naturally. According to research, prenatal yoga not only helps with digestion but also reduces pregnancy discomforts such as back pain and swelling.
Ginger Tea
Yes, ginger tea is another safe home remedy to treat gas. Ginger has been used for centuries to ease digestion.
Ginger helps relax the intestinal muscles, thus allowing trapped gas to move through your digestive tract. Just a warm cup of ginger tea can be a game changer for bloating and indigestion.
Add a few slices of fresh ginger in hot water for 5-10 minutes, add a little honey, and sip slowly. Surprisingly, studies have even proven that ginger is safe during pregnancy in moderate amounts and can also help reduce nausea and morning sickness.
Try Safe and Natural Fiber Sources
Last but not least, fiber is essential for your digestive system and helps keep things moving and prevents constipation, which often leads to gas buildup. However, too much fiber can actually backfire and cause more bloating.
Therefore, we recommend including only pregnancy-safe, fiber-rich foods such as oats, chia seeds, leafy greens, apples, and pears in your diet.
According to the American Pregnancy Association, it is recommended to intake 25-30 grams of fiber per day.
Takeaway
Gas during pregnancy is completely normal. However, simple home remedies such as drinking water, ginger tea, light physical activity, and more can significantly help assure instant relief from gas and bloating. These effective home remedies can really make a huge difference in keeping bloating and gas under control.
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