It is common to feel gassy and bloated during pregnancy. Diet and hormones can contribute to digestion-related symptoms that may range from mild discomfort to moderate abdominal pain.

An increase in abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence, and belching can occur and disappear within the course of your pregnancy. However, there are ways to ease gastric discomfort and abdominal pain during pregnancy.

Causes of Abdominal Pain During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, you’ll notice you pass gas more often than usual, and it can be painful. A variety of factors can lead to an increase in gas and bloating during pregnancy.

Among the causes are:

• An increase in progesterone production. Progesterone is a hormone that slows digestion.
• Foods that increase gas production, such as spicy foods, fried foods, processed foods, and others like beans and broccoli.
• Changing from a low fiber diet to a high fiber diet too quickly.
• Eating too fast or talking while eating.
• The abdominal area is expanding and your digestive system is being squeezed.
• Difficulty moving your bowels.
• Prenatal vitamins like iron, for instance, which can cause constipation.
• Breathing more quickly due to anxiety and stress.

Knowing the causes of bloating and gas during pregnancy can help you find ways to ease abdominal pain during pregnancy.

How To Ease Abdominal Pain During Pregnancy

It is normal for the body to produce gas and it is almost impossible to prevent it. However, you can do something to lessen the discomfort. Here are some ways to ease abdominal pain during pregnancy:

Change your eating habits

• Avoid foods that cause gas. Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and beans produce more gas than other foods. You may also get gas from fatty, spicy, or sweet foods.
• Healthy foods like fruits and vegetables can cause gas. While it may be best to avoid some, you shouldn’t stop eating these nutritious foods altogether. How to ease abdominal pain during pregnancy should not stop you from getting the nutrition you need.
• Slowly add fiber to your diet. Fiber draws water into the intestines, thereby making stool movement easier. However, it can also cause bloating, pain, and gas.
• Don’t chew gum. You can swallow air when chewing gum. Additionally, chewing gum may contain artificial sweeteners that cause gas.
• Make sure you maintain a healthy weight. Gaining too much weight can put pressure on your digestive tract, which leads to trapped gas.

Consider What and How You’re Drinking

• Water is essential, but be sure to drink it slowly. You breathe in more air when you gulp a lot.
• Drink from a cup or glass rather than a straw. With a straw or bottle, you swallow more air as you drink.
• Do not drink too much sugary and carbonated
• Drinking peppermint and ginger tea are both great options for how to ease abdominal pain during pregnancy.

Drink Medication

• To treat gas, many over-the-counter (OTC) products are available. Some products are safe to use during pregnancy, but others should be avoided.
• Whenever you start taking a new medicine, you should speak to your doctor. Consulting your doctor when drinking any medication is especially important if you are pregnant. During pregnancy, even OTC medicines that you might think are safe to take could be dangerous.

Other Lifestyle Changes

• Exercise regularly. During pregnancy, physical activity is good for digestion and lets your body release gas, which relieves bloating.
• Wearing comfortable clothing is one of the ways on how to ease abdominal pain during pregnancy. Belts or pants that are too tight can press on your intestines and cause discomfort.
• Manage your stress healthily. When you feel upset or worried, digestion can become slower, and gas can build up.
• Don’t smoke. Inhaling cigarette smoke draws in air in the body. Cigarette smoke is also very harmful to your baby.

Effects on Baby

An unborn baby does not feel the pressure or gas pain you do when they are in the womb. Your baby is safely encapsulated within the amniotic sac. Noises and movements made by gas as it passes through your intestines might be even soothing to your baby.

Gastric discomforts of pregnancy (such as heartburn and constipation) are uncomfortable and sometimes painful, but they won’t harm you or your baby.

Key Takeaway

During pregnancy, gassiness and bloating are common. You’ll notice that you pass gas more frequently while pregnant. It can also be painful. There are many ways on how to ease abdominal pain during pregnancy. Being mindful of what you drink and eat, exercising regularly, and drinking medication can help alleviate discomfort and abdominal pain.

Learn more about managing health issues during pregnancy here.