Swollen belly during pregnancy: causes, methods of treatment and prevention, expert advice

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Swollen belly during pregnancy in almost every woman. Some try to see a doctor with this problem as soon as possible, and they do it right. If the stomach swells during pregnancy in the early stages, then most likely there is nothing to worry about, because with a change in the hormonal background, the work of the whole organism is rebuilt. It is impossible to pull with an appeal to a doctor, because a more serious reason can become the culprit of flatulence. If the stomach swells during pregnancy in the early stages, then this may also indicate hidden diseases that need to be identified as soon as possible so that the process of carrying a baby does not become dangerous for the mother and for the fetus itself. In any case, flatulence should not be ignored, and in this article we will consider the causes of its occurrence in expectant mothers, methods of treatment, medication and folk.

Progesterone

It is progesterone that appears in the body of a pregnant woman in large quantities, and it causes a change in hormonal levels. Progesterone is necessary to maintain pregnancy, because thanks to it, the smooth muscles of the uterus relax. But not only the muscles of the uterus are affected, the muscles of the intestines and stomach relax in the same way. The motility of organs slows down, which greatly changes digestion. If your stomach swells during early pregnancy, then this is normal, because progesterone is to blame!

But there are some other factors that can cause flatulence. To make sure that everything is normal with the body, in addition to changing the hormonal background, it is recommended to tell the doctor about the problem of flatulence. The specialist will ask several questions regarding nutrition and lifestyle, give advice and recommendations. Also, the doctor will have to give a referral for a more accurate examination to identify the causes of bloating.

Why does my stomach swell during pregnancy?

If at the beginning of pregnancy the stomach swells, then this indicates a normal restructuring of the internal organs. But there are other causes of flatulence that you should pay attention to:

1. Food is poorly digested, as there is a lack of digestive substances in the gastrointestinal tract.
2. A pregnant woman does not eat properly, the diet lacks useful and necessary components, but an excess of pregnant products that are completely unnecessary for the body. The belly can swell during pregnancy due to the following dishes: with highcarbohydrate content, fatty foods, smoked meats, an excess of fiber in the dish.
3. Expectant mothers simply need to eat soups daily, they should become the basis of the diet. Also, in addition to getting liquid from the soup, you need to drink more water, juices, fruit drinks, tea, compotes. If there is a lack of fluid in the body, then flatulence will definitely make itself felt.
4. Strongly swollen stomach during pregnancy and dysbacteriosis. The attending physician should prescribe drugs and products containing bifidus and lactobacilli. We must not forget to use fermented milk products, give preference to kefir, fermented baked milk, natural yogurt.
5. With diseases in the gastrointestinal tract, the stomach also begins to swell. Flatulence appears with ulcers, gastritis, pancreatitis, colitis, hepatitis, and so on.
6. In late pregnancy, the stomach can also swell. Gas during pregnancy is tormented by the constantly growing uterus, which, with its weight, presses on the intestines, restricting it and other organs of the digestive system.
7. Bloating may appear due to the high physical exertion of the expectant mother. Also, gases in large quantities appear during stress and overwork.
8. Infectious diseases and parasites can cause flatulence.
9. Ecology.
10. An elementary reason why the stomach swells during pregnancy is tight clothing. Not all women are in a hurry to buy things a few sizes larger, they try to wear those that were before pregnancy to the last! It's worth facing the truth: the stomach, hips and chest are getting bigger, and for comfortyour and the fetus just need to select the actual size.

As can be seen from the list, the main factors provoking flatulence are diseases that had and aggravated, or appeared during pregnancy.

There are some causes that a woman can eliminate on her own, and there are some that require the attention of doctors.

When is it urgent to see a doctor?

There are several symptoms of flatulence in which a pregnant woman should consult a specialist as soon as possible. These include:

• when the stomach literally breaks, the woman feels it puff up, growls;
• constant heaviness in the abdomen;
• gases leave profusely, practically without stopping to be produced;
• appetite disappears, this may be a psychological factor - a woman is just worried that if she eats something, she will start puffing up again;
• a constant feeling of mild nausea, when you turn back not only after eating, from smells, but also on an empty stomach - this is the first sign of toxicosis, a pathology dangerous for a pregnant woman and a baby;
• against the background of bloating, there are problems with the stool - constipation or diarrhea;
• bad breath begins;
• pregnant woman has frequent burping;
• pressure surges, pain in the head and abdomen, drowsiness, dizziness.

What causes bloating?

We figured out why the stomach swells during pregnancy, but we still don’t understand what it isfraught. There are several reasons to get rid of flatulence as soon as possible.

It is not the flatulence itself that is terrible, as the factors that caused it. The first is a violation of digestion, in which an insufficient amount of useful substances will enter the woman's body. This threatens with abnormal intrauterine development of the baby and the deterioration of the mother's immunity.

Due to disturbances in the work of the gastrointestinal tract, the organs are in constant stress, constraint, inflammation may appear. The intestinal loops increase in size, begin to put pressure on the walls of the uterus. In this situation, the uterus may become toned, which is fraught with premature birth.

Each expectant mother should remember that any, even the most minor, ailments while carrying a baby is a reason to contact your doctor.

Dangerous symptoms requiring immediate hospitalization

If your stomach swells and hurts during pregnancy, you need to urgently go to the hospital. In this case, the pain can be of absolutely any nature. If, in addition to pain, there are other symptoms, they are not accompanied by pain in the abdomen, then you should also urgently go to the hospital:

• if you suffer from severe diarrhea and/or vomiting, in which symptoms of dehydration are already beginning to appear;
• if the stomach is swollen, and at the same time the woman is accompanied by a high body temperature;
• constant nausea, lack of appetite throughout the day;
• if there are traces of blood or mucus in the bowel movement.

Don't rely on the fact that you just need to rest, lie down and everything will pass. By procrastination you put undera threat to the life and he alth of not only the unborn baby, but also their own.

Prevention

In order not to provoke bloating, and in order to get rid of it as soon as possible, first of all, you need to adjust your diet. To do this, you need to learn how to eat properly:

1. Unlearn to eat huge portions, but once or twice a day. It will be better to eat in small quantities, but every hour, accustom yourself to fractional meals.
2. Meals should be separate. That is, for lunch you eat porridge, you don’t need to immediately eat it with an apple, eat fruit later, after 30-60 minutes. Eat soup for lunch, salad later, a meat dish later, and so on.
3. Eating posture is also important. Pregnant women are advised to eat reclining.
4. You need to chew food well, you can not swallow it without chewing. Nutritionists recommend chewing each serving in the mouth about 30 times. Firstly, food will be digested better and faster. Secondly, this way you will fill up faster, do not eat too much - and this is a slight feeling of well-being, not a gram of excess weight.

What foods should I avoid?

There are products that are not recommended for pregnant women due to the fact that they provoke increased gas formation, and, as a result, bloating. Eliminate these foods from your diet altogether, during pregnancy, or use them carefully, in small quantities and rarely:

• cabbage - if you really want cabbage soup, or stewed cabbage, then choose broccoli, from raw cabbage of allspecies should be discarded;
• radish, eggplant, radish, pepper, daikon - in any form;
• all types of legumes;
• mushrooms;
• fresh fruits and berries, but they should be consumed in small quantities so that the body receives "live" vitamins;
• peanuts;
• corn;
• fresh milk, yogurt and kefir - you need to drink at least a little, if you already have bloating, or a woman is lactose intolerant, then the doctor will prescribe drugs with bifidus and lactobacilli;
• kvass;
• all carbonated drinks, including carbonated mineral water;
• smoked and fatty meat dishes;
• yeast dough bakery products;
• chocolate and other confectionery.

As already mentioned: do not give up these products completely! If there is no flatulence, then eat for he alth, but within the normal range. If your stomach is already puffy during pregnancy, then temporarily refuse these products, or use them in minimal quantities and only with the permission of your doctor.

What foods reduce bloating?

There are a number of foods that will not only help you stay full during your pregnancy diet, but also get rid of flatulence faster. If you have swelling in your stomach during pregnancy, just add the following foods to your diet:

• Eat whole grain instead of yeast bread;
• you can use any dietary meat: lean beef, any poultry, rabbit meat;
• buckwheat, rice;
• boiled beets and carrots;
• lean fish, seafood;
• cherry compote;
• green tea;
• egg omelet;
• oatmeal porridge with water;
• fresh herbs: dill, parsley, cilantro, fennel.

Mode and physical activity

The daily routine and physical activity of the expectant mother can also cause bloating. To feel comfortable, not to provoke threats to yourself and your baby, you need to adjust your regimen.

1. You need to rest at least 9 hours at night, but not more than 10, because you can just lie too long. During the day, be sure to take a nap for half an hour, if there is no desire, then just lie down with your legs up.
2. Do not run around the city, trying to walk yourself quickly, get some air! Slow and long walks are what you need! It is advisable to walk in the park, away from the roadway and its exhaust gases.
3. Special exercises and gymnastics will help keep the body in good shape.
4. High heels and slimming underwear leave for later, you still have time to vilify! All you need now is comfortable, well-fitting clothing, stable-soled shoes with slightly raised or completely flat heels.
5. After eating, you need to lie down, massage your stomach in a circular motion, but without pressing.
6. Special water aerobics is recommended for pregnant women for general well-being.

If you start to swell the stomach during pregnancy, what to do first? First you need to see a doctor, only he will prescribe treatment -medication or according to folk recipes. Any medicine, whether it is a pharmacy, or plucked in a clearing, must meet the safety of the pregnant woman and the fetus. We suggest that you first consider drugs approved for pregnant women, and then we will find out how you can get rid of flatulence according to the recipes of our grandmothers.

Medicines

Recall that you cannot self-medicate, the exact dosage, treatment period and the drug itself can only be prescribed by the attending physician, based on the general condition of the woman and the development of the fetus! The article provides a list of drugs for reference only:

1. "Espumizan" is a safe drug that, by destroying gas bubbles, relieves flatulence. Pregnant women are allowed to take this medicine, take two tablets at bedtime.
2. "Iberogast" is a carminative medicine that should be taken only under the supervision of your doctor. Pregnant women with flatulence are prescribed a dosage of twenty drops three times a day. Should be taken before meals.
3. "Meteospasmil" - three times a day, 1-2 tablets - as prescribed by a doctor!
4. "Simikop" - 0.5 ml before meals.

This is not the whole list of medicines that a doctor can prescribe. We have selected the most popular and effective reviews for review.

Folk remedies

Not only pharmaceutical drugs can harm, but also seemingly harmless herbs. There are plants that are contraindicated for pregnant women, so beforetaking any decoctions and infusions, consult a specialist. The safest for pregnant women are:

1. Melissa and chamomile - make tea.
2. Coriander seeds - prepare an infusion: grind a tablespoon of seeds and steam with boiling water. After cooling, strain, drink 10-15 minutes before meals three times a day in equal proportions.
3. Dill - spice up all dishes. Dill water can be prepared from seeds: brew a tablespoon in two glasses of boiling water, cool completely, drink half a glass before meals.
4. Ginger - Add a slice of fresh root to your morning tea. But you can drink it only after eating.