Belching during pregnancy: the main causes and methods of struggle

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

Waiting for the birth of a baby is a wonderful and long-awaited period in the life of any woman of childbearing age, although accompanied by such unpleasant moments as toxicosis, constipation, shortness of breath, back pain and swelling. Also, with the onset of pregnancy, spontaneous belching may appear, indicating certain problems in the gastrointestinal tract. This malaise is the release of gas from the stomach and esophagus through the mouth, which occurs as a result of the contraction of the diaphragm. Of course, belching during pregnancy gives a woman discomfort and a lot of worries. Especially when this manifestation happens in a public place, because it is accompanied not only by sound, but sometimes by a certain smell. A nervous state about this can cause any complications, so factors that exacerbate belching during pregnancy should be excluded.

Causes of occurrence

Naturally, the provocateurs of such an aesthetically unpleasant phenomenon as belching are all those physiological changes that occur in the body of a woman carrying a baby. But, wishing to give birth to a child, you can overcome all ailments. Main causes of burping:

First of all, this is a change in the hormonal background of a woman in an interesting position. The main hormones responsible for the normal course of pregnancy are progesterone and estrogen. An increase in their level in the body (and the amount of progesterone increases 10 times) has a beneficial effect on the psycho-emotional state of a pregnant woman; reduces the tone of her uterus; improves tissues; has a positive effect on hair and skin. That is, there are benefits from the production of these hormones, but their increase slows down the digestion process, which is the cause of belching

• During pregnancy, there is a slowdown in intestinal peristalsis due to a decrease in the tone of its smooth muscles. And this happens because the level of progesterone, which affects the pelvic organs, rises.
• Due to the stretching of the walls of the stomach due to the remnants of undigested food in it, which provokes belching after eating during pregnancy.
• Gradual increase in the size of the uterus, which puts pressure on all the internal organs of a woman. The result is increased abdominal pressure and a slightly altered position of the stomach.
• During the period of gestation, there is an exacerbation of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract,which can also provoke belching.
• The body of a pregnant woman is fully focused on extracting as much nutrients as possible from the foods that the expectant mother consumes. As a result, the digestion process increases, constipation appears (due to poor intestinal motility), gas formation and belching (that is, the circle is closed).

Contributing factors

A woman sometimes, without knowing it, can create favorable conditions for the occurrence of belching. These are the points:

quite sedentary;

• significant overeating;
• eating spicy, fatty, sweet, s alty and spicy foods;
• physical activity in large volumes;
• sharp torso forward;
• wearing very tight clothes;
• snacking on the go;
• use of gas-producing foods;
• neuroses.

Note: if a woman is overcome by constant belching during pregnancy, then this is a reason to seek medical advice. And do not delay the trip to the medical facility. Remember: you are responsible not only for yourself, but also for the baby you are carrying.

Early Pregnancy Belching

The departure of air involuntarily during pregnancy at an early stage indicates that the fertilization of the egg has already occurred and the restructuring of the body associated with the bearing of the fetus has begun. And then there is a long period of preparation for birthbaby. As a rule, belching begins around the 21-25th week, when the uterus is already of decent size and presses on the organs in the abdominal cavity. Which is quite natural at this stage of bearing a baby. If belching during pregnancy in the early stages makes itself felt, then you need to sound the alarm and seek the advice of a doctor, as this may be a pathology of the gastrointestinal tract.

In late pregnancy

If this uncomfortable phenomenon is observed in the later stages, then there is no reason to worry especially, since this is the norm. If the belching is combined with other symptoms, then this is a “bell” about a possible pathology of the gastrointestinal tract. Only a doctor can understand the situation and distinguish one condition from another by conducting a thorough examination.

Note: after 32-36 weeks, burping occurs less and less. And after giving birth, she generally disappears. If this does not happen, then you should seek advice from a medical institution, in particular a gastroenterologist, who should determine the cause of belching during and after pregnancy.

The choice of treatment method depends on several factors: the duration of pregnancy, the severity of the condition of the expectant mother and the characteristic features of the pathology. As a rule, therapy is carried out on an outpatient basis. Hospitalization is carried out only in severe cases of exacerbation of peptic ulcer, gastritis or tumors in the gastrointestinal tract.

What to do with burping during pregnancy

It is worth realizing that sooner or later thisthe unpleasant event will pass. What can be done to achieve a reduction in the frequency of air discharge in an involuntary manner? Here's what you need to do:

• Don't overeat (you need to eat in small portions and often), but you can't exhaust yourself with starvation either.
• Food should be chewed thoroughly, and while eating it is better not to have active discussions (to avoid excessive air trapping).
• Spicy, fried, s alty, sweet and spicy foods are contraindicated.
• It is worth adjusting your diet and eating only food that does not cause burping.
• Favour plant-based and steamed foods, as well as lean meat, sour cream, cottage cheese, butter or vegetable oil.

• It is not recommended to eat raw fruits and vegetables, better baked.
• Foods such as broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, artichokes, pears, onions, pasta, legumes, potatoes and a variety of cereals should not be included in your diet.
• Forget the existence of carbonated drinks.
• If there is an individual lactose intolerance, then you should not include dairy products in the diet.
• It is necessary to exclude eating lying down.
• If there are no problems with the kidneys, it is advisable to drink about 1.5-2 liters of water (clean, filtered) during the day.
• After eating, it's not out of place to take a little walk.
• Wear loose (not squeezing the stomach), comfortableclothes.
• Try to avoid or disengage from stressful situations whenever possible.
• Do not rule out physical activity such as swimming, yoga, regular outdoor walks or prenatal gymnastics.

You can use traditional medicine recipes (naturally, only after consulting a doctor): drink ginger tea (after a meal) or a mint drink

Classification of burps

According to the smell coming from the mouth, involuntary discharge of air can be:

• sour;
• bitter;
• rotten;
• odorless.

Based on the variety, certain assumptions can be made about the causes of burping and treatment methods (depending on the duration).

Belching with a sour smell

How is the digestive process in the human body? Food from the pharynx through the esophagus enters the stomach, is digested in it and penetrates further into the initial section of the small intestine (or it is also called the duodenum). In order to make the transition from one organ to another, a special valve device (sphincter) must be opened. If it does not work, then the entire contents of the stomach are thrown back into the esophagus. This phenomenon occurs in some pregnant women. What does the sour smell from the mouth during a burp signal.

What can make things worse:

• eating more than the body needs at one meal;
• fruits that enhance significantlyproduction of gastric juice;
• chocolate, coffee, tea, juices, fresh fruits and sour berries;
• eating in a horizontal position (that is, lying down);
• a little physical activity;
• alcohol and cigarettes;
• taking medication.

To diagnose such a pathology, it is necessary to do ultrasound and FGDS. Further, the doctor prescribes a certain therapy, guided by the condition of the mother and the term of bearing the baby.

Bitter-smelling belching

The malaise, which has such characteristic signs, signals the presence of a certain amount of bile in the stomach. A bitter-smelling burp caused by overeating or an unadjusted diet is not particularly dangerous for the he alth of the expectant mother.

Important: an examination by a gastroenterologist is necessary if belching has become more frequent, pain in the abdomen or other warning symptoms have appeared.

Rotten egg burps

This is nothing more than a release from the digestive system into the oral cavity of a gas that smells like hydrogen sulfide. A very unpleasant condition, signaling a significant decrease in the acidity of the stomach and a violation of the digestive process, which can cause diseases such as gastroduodenitis, gastritis, stomach cancer, duodenal ulcer and many others. Therefore, at the first cases of burping with rotten eggs during pregnancy, it is imperative to seek the advice of a doctor.

Important: Belching with the smell of hydrogen sulfide is a very serious symptom that should never be neglected. Refusing the help of specialists can even threaten to terminate the pregnancy.

Odorless

Involuntary discharge of air without any smell can be observed not only in a pregnant woman, but in any person. Moreover, this phenomenon occurs completely painlessly and, in principle, does not cause much discomfort. Belching of air during pregnancy is usually observed in the middle of the gestation period.

Is burping dangerous for the expectant mother and her baby

This is the question most often asked by many pregnant women. The answer is unequivocal - belching during pregnancy is absolutely not dangerous for the expectant mother and her baby. There is no need to treat her with medications. Belching stops immediately after childbirth or after 2-3 weeks. Moreover, only the mother suffers from this unpleasant phenomenon (in terms of discomfort), and it does not affect the fetus in any way. If a pregnant woman follows certain simple guidelines, then she may not have to face this problem.

Another thing is belching, which is directly related to the pathology of the gastrointestinal tract. In this case, you can't do without the help of a gastroenterologist.

In closing

Frequent belching during pregnancy is a reason to think and consult a specialist. Be vigilant and do not aggravate the situation. Moreover, burping is not forever. Just get together withstrength and be patient.