Gassy moments in pregnancy

Bloating is common for human being.  Research shows that an average person produces between one and four pints of gas each day, and passes gas about 14 to 23 times a day. Once pregnant, you may find that belching or passing gas is more frequent and sometimes more intense.

Dr. Munyalo Isika, a gynecologist based at Makindu District Hospital, points at hormone progesterone as being responsible for many pregnancy related issues, bloating included. “Because of its muscle relaxing effect in the body to enable the body adjusts for pregnancy, the gastrointestinal tract also is relaxed, leading to a slow down in digestion, which can lead to gas, bloating, burping, and flatulence. This generally creates miserable sensations in your gut, especially after a big meal.”

He adds that in later pregnancy, the growing uterus crowds the abdominal cavity. This further slows digestion, and pushes on your stomach, increasing the bloated feeling after eating. “For this reason, you may also start to experience other discomforts. These include Heart burn and Constipation ”

Gas in your body is caused by swallowing air and bacteria in the colon breaking down undigested food. According to Dr Munyalo, most stomach gas results from swallowing air and is typically released by burping.   A small amount can continue down to the large intestine to be released as flatulence.

“Gas that causes flatulence is produced when bacteria in the large intestine break down food that was incompletely digested by enzymes in the stomach and small intestine. Although proteins and fat produce little gas directly and could slow down digestion, certain carbohydrates are the main culprits. While some people will get flatulence in pregnancy from foods that never bothered them before , the same food may not cause any effect on other pregnant women. His advice is for each pregnant woman to know what causes or increase gas levels in her body.

Cut back on suspects

The best way to reduce gas may be by cutting back on the foods that are most likely to cause it However, make sure you still have a balanced meal. To ensure you are not depriving yourself and the growing baby any nutrients by cutting down on gas causing foods, start by cutting out the most likely culprits. If that gives you relief, begin adding those foods back into your diet one by one to try to pinpoint what’s causing the problem for you “Keeping a food diary can help you see the relationship between eating certain foods and having more gas. Beans, whole grains and certain vegetables -such as cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and asparagus – are common gas offenders. They contain the sugar raffinose. which makes a lot of people gassy.“ Dr. Munyalo notes.

Besides carbohydrates, Dr. Munyalo says some people have a very high fructose intolerance, and this could also cause bloating Some of the culprits of relatively high fructose presence include leeks, onions, scallions, dried fruit, peers, apples, honey and fine wheat. He advises to avoid processed foods such as sodas and fruit drinks which are sweetened with a form of fructose called high fructose corn syrup which only contain empty calories.

He continues to note that for some people gas can be formed by certain starches such as wheat, corn, and potatoes. Gas can also be caused by certain fiber-rich foods such as oat bran, beans, peas, and many kinds of fruit because they’re normally broken down in the large intestine.

If you are intolerant to lactose, Dr. Munyalo warns that it could contribute to giving you excessive gas.

“Prior knowledge of lactose intolerance before you got pregnant will help you steer clear of dairy products because they may give you diarrhoea and abdominal pain. It is thus not advisable to take in dairy products in pregnancy. If you’re only somewhat lactose intolerant and haven’t been aware of dairy having any effect on you, a dramatic boost in your consumption of dairy products during pregnancy may cause you some distress. To avoid this problem, look for lactose-free milk or calcium-fortified soy milk.” He also discourages high intake of high-fat and fried foods.

Dr. Munyalo advices that wheat bran is a good ingredient to combat excessive bloating. “Wheat bran basically passes through the digestive system without getting broken down, making it a good choice if you have constipation and need more fibre but also suffer from flatulence ‘

The following may lessen levels of flatulence, though probably not completely eliminate it. Bear in mind that this will pass after the baby has been born and the discomfort is not permanent.

• Eat several small meals throughout the day as opposed to few big meals. This allows the digestive system ample time to break down food.

• Take your time and chew thoroughly and slowly. Avoid talking while you’re eating because you will swallow air.

• Limit how much you drink during meals. You can make up for it during the rest of the day. Avoid carbonated drinks, anything with artificial sweeteners.

• Drink from a cup or glass -not from a bottle or through a straw. Don’t gulp your beverages.

• Sit up while eating or drinking, even if you are just having a small snack.

• Wear loose, comfortable clothing, and avoid any tightness around your waist and tummy.

• Don’t chew gum or suck hard candies.

• Get moving. Even a brisk walk can help your sluggish digestive tract.

• Don’t smoke. In addition to contributing to a host of serious health problems, smoking boosts stomach acidity,

• Consider practicing yoga or a similar discipline to learn relaxation and good breathing techniques.  When they’re excited or anxious, hyperventilating prone people tend to swallow more air.

• If these relief measures don’t help, ask your medical care giver for further advice.

When to call a doctor

Dr. Munyalo finally advises;  see your doctor if your intestinal discomfort  feels more like abdominal pain or cramping. If your stool is accompanied by blood, if there is severe diarrhoea, constipation, or an increase in nausea and vomiting. They could be signs of a more serious problem.

END:PG46/14-15

.