Flatulence in pregnancy

Flatulence during pregnancy - bloating with rumbling and often painful spasms - is a fairly common occurrence and is observed in almost seven out of every ten expectant mothers.

Flatulence is considered a symptom of excessive gas formation in the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, the "gas problem" manifests itself in belching air (aerophagia) and, of course, increased flatulence, that is, more frequent release of gases from the intestines.

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Causes of flatulence during pregnancy

The main causes of flatulence during pregnancy are related to the fact that a woman...is pregnant, and her body has rebuilt itself to perform the most important biological function - bearing and giving birth to a child.

The hormonal system is completely subordinate to the new physiological state of the woman, ensuring its stability and safety of the fetus. You have heard more than once about the hormone of the corpus luteum of the ovaries, progesterone, due to which the fertilized egg is implanted and fixed in the endometrium of the uterus. In addition, this hormone acts on the muscular wall of the uterus (more precisely, on the adrenergic receptors of its cells), and this leads to a weakening of the muscular tone of the uterus. And since the innervation of the uterus and intestines is common - through the vegetative hypogastric nerve plexuses - the smooth muscles of the intestine also relax. Ultimately, this prevents the timely removal of gases accumulating in the intestines, and pregnant women very often complain of bloating. And many even perceive flatulence as a sign of pregnancy.

In addition, the placenta also begins to produce progesterone from about the 10th week of pregnancy, so its content increases as the gestation period increases. Also added to this is the pressure on the intestines and all abdominal organs of the growing uterus: gradually it extends beyond the small pelvis and eventually occupies almost the entire abdominal cavity.

When listing the causes of flatulence during pregnancy, one should not forget about such a hormone as serotonin, the level of which also increases significantly in pregnant women. This activates the pancreas and stimulates the secretion of pepsin and bile. As a result, intestinal peristalsis increases, causing flatulence in the early stages of pregnancy.

Serotonin is a multifunctional hormone, and increasing its production during pregnancy is absolutely justified. On the one hand, it reduces the pain sensitivity of pregnant women, on the other hand, it increases the speed of blood clotting. Moreover, this most important hormone accumulates in the muscular wall of the uterus during pregnancy and coordinates and regulates its contractions directly during labor.

And finally, serotonin helps to enhance the metabolism of many symbiotic bacteria in the large intestine, in which food components undergo bacterial hydrolysis with the formation of gases. And this is another reason for flatulence in pregnant women.

It should be borne in mind that there are causes of flatulence during pregnancy that do not depend on the specifics of the woman's physiological condition. Thus, flatulence is caused by:

• nutritional characteristics (alimentary flatulence due to excess sweet, salty and fatty foods in the diet);
• insufficient production of digestive enzymes (digestive flatulence due to poor digestion of food, especially carbohydrates);
• pathologies of the digestive system, in particular, diseases of the stomach, gall bladder, small or large intestine (gastritis, cholecystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic colitis, etc.);
• dysbiosis or disruption of the normal microflora of the large intestine;
• neurotic conditions, stress (increased adrenaline production disrupts intestinal motility).

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Flatulence after childbirth

Briefly about why flatulence occurs after childbirth. In the postpartum period, which lasts from 6 to 10 weeks, hormonal changes also occur. The level of progesterone, estrogen, serotonin and some other hormones decreases. But this happens gradually, so the woman in labor may still feel bloating for some time.

Flatulence after a cesarean section is combined with atonic constipation, which occurs due to a violation of the evacuation function of the intestine due to the formation of adhesions. As is known, with any surgical intervention on the abdominal cavity (and a cesarean section is just that), seals from connective tissue in the area of its temporary damage are very common.

In addition, flatulence after a cesarean section may be associated with anesthesia during this operation. In both cases, certain changes in the functioning of the intestines occur, in particular, gas accumulation and spastic pain in the abdominal cavity.

Diagnosis of flatulence during pregnancy

Diagnosis of flatulence during pregnancy is based on somatic symptoms, that is, complaints of the pregnant woman, among which the most common are a feeling of abdominal distension, bloating and painful spasms in the abdomen, which pass after the next episode of flatulence.

Flatulence during pregnancy can cause hiccups or belching, dyspeptic symptoms, as well as loss of appetite and unpleasant taste sensations in the mouth. In addition, the obstetrician-gynecologist will definitely find out if the pregnant woman has any diseases of the digestive system and ask about her diet.

If there is a history of gastrointestinal disease, the patient will be referred to a gastroenterologist, who, based on the examination methods that are acceptable to use during pregnancy, will give appropriate recommendations.

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Treatment of flatulence during pregnancy

Treating flatulence during pregnancy is not an easy task. Conventional remedies for increased gas formation - foaming agents and carminatives - are contraindicated during pregnancy.

You may be advised to use baby drops for flatulence, for example, Bobotik, which is given even to newborns. But let's see what this product contains. The main ingredient is simethicone, which is a combination of methylated linear siloxane polymers stabilized by trimethylsiloxyl groups with silicon dioxide... Excipients: preservatives propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216) and methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218), as well as sodium carmellose - sodium carboxymethylcellulose (E466) - a thickener used in the production of... wallpaper glue. And the instructions for the drug say that "there is no data that simethicone has a teratogenic or embryotoxic effect. It is possible to use the drug during pregnancy and breastfeeding as prescribed by a doctor."

So, it is best to treat flatulence during pregnancy using “grandmother’s” methods: brew chamomile tea (a teaspoon of dried chamomile flowers per 200 ml of boiling water) or tea with lemon balm (lemon mint); make decoctions of dill, fennel, caraway or coriander seeds (in the same proportion) and drink half a glass 2-3 times a day.

And it is very important to take preventive measures to reduce the intensity of this symptom.

Prevention of flatulence during pregnancy

The main and practically the only point that includes the prevention of flatulence during pregnancy is proper nutrition.

Eat 5-6-7 times a day, but in small quantities and chew well. Don't forget to drink regular purified water to facilitate the digestion process.

Nutritionists advise, when flatulence occurs, to try not to eat anything that increases the formation of gases in the intestines. Such products include: animal fats, rye bread, whole and dry milk, ice cream, legumes (beans, peas, lentils, peanuts), all types of cabbage, potatoes, corn, radishes, horseradish, spinach, pumpkin, grapes (and raisins), dates.

Among cereals, the most "carbonated" are millet and oatmeal, among sweets - chocolate. You should drink mineral water only without gas, do not abuse the consumption of coarse fiber, which is rich in vegetables and fruits in fresh form.

And don't forget about daily walks, which are the most accessible form of physical activity.

Of the three main physiological ways for gases to enter the intestines during pregnancy, two are involved: the natural process of gas formation in the intestinal lumens, as well as the entry of gases from the bloodstream. Although, of course, swallowing air during meals is also possible (so eat slowly and do not chat while eating). But all this is a normal mechanism of gas formation.

And if bloating is not associated with a lack of digestive enzymes or pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, but is a consequence of a special physiological state of the body during this period, then doctors do not advise women to perceive flatulence during pregnancy as a disease.