• Contact us
• About us
• A-Z topics
• Symptom Checker
• Service Finder
• Linking to us
• Information partners
• Terms of use
• Privacy

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is funded by the Australian Government and operated by Healthdirect Australia.

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is provided on behalf of the Department of Health

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby’s information and advice are developed and managed within a rigorous clinical governance framework. This website is certified by the Health On The Net (HON) foundation, the standard for trustworthy health information.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

This information is for your general information and use only and is not intended to be used as medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes.

The information is not a substitute for independent professional advice and should not be used as an alternative to professional health care. If you have a particular medical problem, please consult a healthcare professional.

Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, this publication or any part of it may not be reproduced, altered, adapted, stored and/or distributed in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Healthdirect Australia.

Support this browser is being discontinued for Pregnancy, Birth and Baby

Support for this browser is being discontinued for this site

• Internet Explorer 11 and lower

We currently support Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Firefox and Safari. For more information, please visit the links below:

• Chrome by Google
• Firefox by Mozilla
• Microsoft Edge
• Safari by Apple

You are welcome to continue browsing this site with this browser. Some features, tools or interaction may not work correctly.

Indigestion, constipation, flatulence, heartburn

During the period of gestation, the vast majority of expectant mothers are faced with violations of the digestive organs. This is explained by the fact that during pregnancy all the forces of the body are aimed at maintaining the fetus, and the body itself is experiencing serious overload. Therefore, the work of the stomach can be disturbed. During pregnancy, in no case should you neglect your ailments and you should visit the consultations of a gastroenterologist in a timely manner. nine0003

Indigestion and discomfort can develop under the influence of various factors. But usually they overtake as a result of an illiterate diet, diet, an increase in acidity, the development of pathogenic microflora or an exacerbation of chronic ailments.

The expectant mother must understand that if she feels bad, then the fetus will definitely suffer. Malfunctions in digestion can provoke abnormal or inhibited development, premature birth, spontaneous abortion. If you experience frequent belching, sour taste, heartburn, or signs of poor stomach function, you should immediately visit a doctor. The examination will provide an opportunity to find the cause of the ailments. The doctor will prescribe drugs that are harmless to the fetus, which will help alleviate the condition of the mother. nine0003

Heartburn is one of the most common disorders of the stomach during pregnancy. It manifests itself in a burning sensation in the stomach. Heartburn develops with an increase in acidity, as well as splashing out the contents of the stomach into the esophagus. The inner lining of the esophagus is irritated and the woman experiences discomfort. Heartburn should not be considered a disease - it is just a sign of some disorder in the body. Eight out of ten pregnant women experience this unpleasant phenomenon. nine0003

Causes of heartburn

The reason for this, in the first place, is the relaxation of the abdominal muscles, which is provided by a high level of progesterone. The volume of the uterus does not allow the valve to close completely, which protects the esophagus from spilling semi-digested food masses into it. In addition, most expectant mothers constantly "allow themselves too much", overeating, eating foods that increase acid production.

It is interesting that the appearance of heartburn during pregnancy is usually combined with a deterioration in the emotional state, belching, pain behind the sternum. In addition, this phenomenon can cause other ailments of the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, if heartburn occurs, you should consult a doctor. This will help prevent possible complications. nine0003

Indigestion during pregnancy is usually due to the lack of a meal schedule, as well as the use of inappropriate foods. If digestion is disordered, the whole organism suffers. If abdominal pain, diarrhea and heartburn are the result of a single food poisoning, then they are not dangerous for the course of pregnancy. However, if these unpleasant phenomena are frequent, you should definitely visit a doctor. Indeed, with improper digestion, the body does not receive enough calories, proteins, fats, vitamins and carbohydrates, that is, it experiences a kind of starvation, and the body of the unborn child suffers along with the mother's body. nine0003

Prevention

To be honest, no tricks will help one hundred percent prevent heartburn, as well as other minor digestive disorders. They are an unpleasant addition to the joys of motherhood. But you can try to reduce their manifestations. For this:

• try not to overeat,
• eat more often, but reduce the single portion,
• grind food very well in your mouth,
• choose a comfortable wardrobe so that the stomach is not squeezed by rubber bands, belts or tight belts,
• try not to smoke, fast food, fried foods, alcohol, coffee;

Flatulence is called an excessive accumulation of gases in the intestines. This problem occurs in almost all women during pregnancy. Flatulence in pregnant women is an urgent issue due to the fact that it causes a lot of trouble and embarrassing moments for a woman who is expecting a baby. As a result of bloating, there is a feeling of fullness, rumbling and belching. nine0003

Causes of flatulence

The causes of flatulence in pregnant women are varied. There are specific factors for its appearance that occur during pregnancy. These include a change in the hormonal status in a woman's body and a change in the position of the internal organs of the abdominal cavity.

So, from the moment of fertilization (conception) in the body, the production of the pregnancy hormone (progesterone) increases, which helps to relax the muscles of the uterus. But, unfortunately, its action is not selective: under the influence of progesterone, the muscles of the stomach and intestines also relax. This contributes to the violation of intestinal motility (wave-like movement of the intestinal walls). As a result, there is a delay in bowel emptying and an increase in fermentation processes, which leads to increased gas formation and the development of flatulence. nine0003

In the second and third trimester, the development of flatulence in pregnant women is additionally promoted by an enlarged uterus. It compresses the intestines and exacerbates the problems described above, which usually already exist by this time.

Of course, it is impossible not to note the effect of factors not related to pregnancy. These include functional bowel disorders (dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome), as well as organic diseases of the digestive system (gastritis, chronic colitis). nine0003

Symptoms

The main symptom of flatulence is bloating and pain in the abdomen. The pain is often cramping, it disappears after the discharge of gases, which occurs frequently during flatulence, more than 20 times a day. Flatulence in pregnant women may be accompanied by belching, hiccups, headaches, bad breath. This condition is dangerous because it can provoke an increase in the tone of the uterus and stimulate its contractions, which in turn can lead to the development of a threat of miscarriage. nine0003

Treatment and prevention

Following a few simple rules for eating will help reduce the risk of flatulence during pregnancy. In no case should you eat while standing or on the move, hastily eating, as in this case the swallowing of air increases, which creates an "air pocket" in the intestines, and is accompanied by characteristic pain.

It is necessary to exclude foods that cause flatulence, because the most affordable, simple and safe method of dealing with flatulence for a pregnant woman is to adjust the diet. From the diet, you need to remove foods that contribute to increased gas formation in the intestines (legumes, black bread, raw vegetables and fruits, whole milk, sweet, fried, spicy). It is recommended to use lactic acid products, stewed or baked vegetables. nine0003

Physical activity stimulates the intestines well: daily walks lasting at least 1 hour will help in the fight against flatulence. You can do self-massage of the abdomen - light strokes clockwise. Decoctions (teas) of medicinal herbs are also popular: chamomile, dill, mint, lemon balm and others.

But, unfortunately, with severe flatulence and in the presence of concomitant pathologies, it is often necessary to resort to the help of drugs.

Among the typical problems that pregnant women face is difficulty with bowel movements (in other words, constipation). Two-thirds of women complain of constipation during pregnancy and one in three after childbirth.

Causes:

• During pregnancy, especially in the second half, the intestines are compressed by the enlarging uterus. This leads to a violation of the outflow of blood and the occurrence of venous stasis in the vessels of the small pelvis. As a result, hemorrhoids can develop - an expansion of the veins of the rectum and, as a result, constipation. nine0037
• The human body produces special substances that stimulate intestinal contractions. During pregnancy, the susceptibility of the intestinal musculature to such stimulants is significantly reduced. Nature disposed very reasonably - after all, the intestines and the uterus have a common innervation, so any excessive activation of intestinal motility can stimulate the contractile activity of the uterus, causing a threat of abortion. Unfortunately, this positive defensive reaction also has undesirable consequences - constipation. nine0037
• The development of constipation is facilitated by hormonal changes that occur in pregnant women. In particular, the digestive process slows down under the influence of the pregnancy hormone, progesterone.
• It is no secret that pregnant women are often emotionally unstable, stressed, and suffer from unfounded fears. Modern medicine has come to the conclusion that constipation in general and - in particular - constipation in pregnant women are often caused by stress and other psychological factors. In the postpartum period, women are less likely to suffer from constipation - perhaps because their psycho-emotional state after childbirth improves quickly and significantly. nine0037
• Allergic and autoimmune processes also play a certain role in the development of constipation.

Symptoms

Constipation is the absence of a bowel movement for three days or more. In pregnant women, constipation may be accompanied by a feeling of incomplete release, pain in the abdomen (often in the left half). With hemorrhoids, streaks of blood may be present in the stool. Some women, along with abdominal pain, feel a burning sensation in the rectum and itching in the anus. With constipation, nausea, bitterness in the mouth, bloating, rumbling in the stomach can also disturb. nine0003

Treatment

Diet helps to cope with constipation. The intestines should receive as much fiber as possible. It is not digested, but only swells, increasing the volume of feces and promoting bowel movements. Therefore, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, beets, zucchini, pumpkin, apples, as well as wholemeal bread and dried fruits should be included in the diet. Often, fermented milk products give a good laxative effect: kefir, curdled milk, as well as kvass, sour cabbage soup. Vegetable fats are useful: when split, they form fatty acids that stimulate peristalsis. nine0003

Prunes are best used as an infusion: pour 100 g of fruits with two cups of boiling water, add a little sugar, cover with a lid and leave for 10-12 hours. It is better to do it in the evening. The next day, they drink half a glass of infusion before meals, and eat plums. Another remedy for constipation is to drink a glass of cold water on an empty stomach. You can add a spoonful of honey to it.

You should not get carried away with strong tea, black coffee, cocoa, chocolate, white bread, flour and slimy soups, semolina, blueberries. All these products, as well as dry food, have a fixing effect. nine0003

With severe bloating, it is allowed to take infusions of chamomile flowers, mint leaves, caraway seeds, dill, and carbolen (activated charcoal). But only in the amounts recommended by the doctor.

You should also try not to stand for a long time, not to lift weights, to do gymnastics to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor. By the way, exercise will help increase intestinal motility.

How not to treat constipation during pregnancy? nine0006