In Fact it's a Gas

Rude Shock

A lot of us go into our pregnancies expecting to be radiant and joyous with maybe just a touch of morning sickness that passes after a short time. Maybe we know that labor and delivery is going to be no picnic but we think the rest is going to be all hearts and flowers. That's how some of us end up getting a rude shock when all kinds of weird symptoms begin to rear their ugly heads.

Take gas, for instance. The expulsion of intestinal gas and pregnancy go together like bees and honey. It's not only uncomfortable, it's downright embarrassing, what with the noise and the smell.

So, you're wondering: what is it about pregnancy that causes all this gas?? There are a few factors at play. First of all, right at the beginning of your pregnancy, your body begins to produce large amounts of the hormones known as relaxin and progesterone. The effect of these hormones is to relax your muscles—all of them—including those of your gastrointestinal tract. This relaxation of the muscles causes the food to move at a slower pace through your digestive tract. This is beneficial to your developing fetus, but may lead to pregnancy symptoms such as indigestion and flatulence.

Expansion and Urgency

During pregnancy, your uterus expands and as it does so, places more and more pressure on your rectum. This can make it hard for you to exert control on the muscles in this area, and this also leads to your urgent need to expel gas.

There are steps you can take to minimize flatulence and its attendant discomfort:

1) Constipation can aggravate flatulence, so drink a lot of water to soften stools and make them easier to pass.

2) Don't eat three square meals a day. This is just too much for your system right now. It's better to aim for eating six, much smaller meals a day, so as not to overtax your digestive system.

3) Take your time at meals. Eating quickly causes you to swallow air, leading to pockets of gas in your tummy.

4) Avoid stress. Believe it or not, tension causes you to swallow air. Try to relax. Do something to make you feel good. Listen to music, take a nap, or read a good book.

5) Avoid gas-producing foods such as onions, cabbage, broccoli, beans, and fried foods. If you know of particular foods that tend to make you gassy, add them to the list.

6) Try to keep your weight gain gradual and appropriate to your stage of pregnancy. This helps keep the pressure on your digestive tract to a minimum.