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Burping rotten eggs during pregnancy - as a symptom of disease
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Belching is a fairly common occurrence that does not require treatment, but if it is accompanied by unpleasant symptoms, such as a specific odor, you need to consult a doctor.
An unpleasant smell appears when the gastrointestinal tract is not functioning properly. If you start to feel belched like rotten eggs during pregnancy, your digestion process may be disrupted.
Improper processing of food in the stomach and intestines can lead to the fact that stagnant remains begin to rot. When food decomposes, the breakdown of proteins is difficult, which causes the hydrogen sulfide smell (rotten eggs).
Digestive problems often occur during pregnancy. This is primarily due to hormonal changes in the body, as well as the pressure of the enlarged uterus on the internal organs, including the stomach and intestines. Improper nutrition, overeating, and chronic gastrointestinal diseases contribute to the development of digestive disorders.
Belching with rotten eggs during pregnancy is most often detected in the middle of the second trimester. This symptom can be replaced by heartburn, especially after eating the "wrong" food: too fatty, fried, fast food. Belching and the unpleasant sensations associated with it last from several minutes to 2-3 hours.
In the later stages, belching of rottenness, caused by stagnation of food in the stomach, appears as a result of mechanical compression of the digestive tract by the growing fetus. This symptom is especially pronounced when lying down for a long time, when the pressure on the stomach is especially strong.
Causes of rotten egg burps during pregnancy
One of the main reasons for belching with a characteristic odor is a malfunction of the digestive system, especially often observed in those who like to eat in large quantities.
Belching rotten eggs during pregnancy may also indicate the presence of a peptic ulcer, liver disorder, or inflammation of the gastrointestinal mucosa.
In pregnant women, this phenomenon may also be associated with toxicosis.
Low bends, lying down, and turning to the sides can provoke belching.
Pathogenesis
Belching is the release of air from the stomach into the oral cavity.
During pregnancy, many women are bothered by digestive problems, which manifest themselves as constipation, loose stools, heartburn, and belching.
Often belching is associated with physiological reasons that occur with a woman: hormonal changes, disruptions in the nervous system, an enlarged uterus that presses on the internal organs. But it is worth noting that in this case, belching begins to bother a woman only after the 2nd trimester.
During pregnancy, burping rotten eggs is most often associated with overeating, but can also indicate serious diseases, such as gastritis.
Symptoms
In addition to belching, a pregnant woman may be bothered by heaviness in the stomach, bloating, increased gas formation, and rumbling.
During pregnancy, burping rotten eggs is often accompanied by high fever and diarrhea.
First signs
The first signs of belching may be pain in the stomach area, a feeling of heaviness, especially after eating. As a result of putrefactive processes occurring in the stomach, gas with a characteristic odor is released, which is thrown into the oral cavity, causing discomfort. During pregnancy, belching rotten eggs requires special attention and emergency help from a specialist.
Consequences
Belching up rotten eggs during pregnancy can lead to severe intoxication of the body and cause disruption of the internal organs.
If belching is associated with a digestive disorder, then when food residues rot in the gastrointestinal tract, highly toxic compounds are formed, which, together with useful substances, are absorbed into the blood and poison the body, causing headaches, irritability, weakness, etc.
Complications
Belching with the smell of rotten eggs is not normal; if the cause of this condition is overeating, then in addition to the unpleasant smell, problems with excess weight may arise, which, in turn, leads to increased stress on all organs, primarily on the cardiovascular system.
In case of gastrointestinal diseases, belching rotten eggs during pregnancy can be a serious danger, since gastritis, inflammation of the intestinal mucosa without adequate treatment can lead to internal bleeding, impaired absorption of nutrients (which will affect not only the woman's condition, but also the health of her child).
Diagnosis of rotten egg burps during pregnancy
Belching with a rotten egg taste during pregnancy is diagnosed mainly based on the patient’s complaints.
First of all, the doctor finds out the woman's diet, and if it is dominated by fatty, fried foods, he adjusts the diet. The doctor also recommends reducing portions, since in some cases, an unpleasant odor when belching appears with putrefactive processes in the gastrointestinal tract caused by overeating.
If dietary adjustments do not help and the woman continues to be bothered by the characteristic smell when belching, a gastroscopy (popularly known as a “hose”), biopsy and gastric tests are prescribed, which will help determine the level of acidity and identify existing inflammation.
Tests
If an unpleasant odor appears when belching and there is a suspicion of gastrointestinal diseases, the doctor may prescribe a biopsy of the gastric mucosa and gastrointestinal tests.
During a biopsy, a small section of the gastric mucosa is taken for laboratory testing. This analysis allows one to determine atrophic changes and identify gastritis, stomach ulcers, indigestion, and tumors in the stomach.
A general blood and urine test are also prescribed.
Instrumental diagnostics
If belching with a rotten egg taste during pregnancy is caused by diseases of the digestive organs, the doctor prescribes a gastroscopy.
Examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract allows us to identify pathological changes (ulcers, inflammatory processes) in the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.
Today, gastroscopy is performed using a fibrogastroscope, a fairly thin and flexible tube equipped with a fiber-optic system. The movable end allows the specialist to examine the mucous membrane of the esophagus, duodenum, and stomach.
If the gastrointestinal tract is normal, the doctor may prescribe an ultrasound or radioisotope examination (after the second trimester) to detect diseases of other digestive organs (gallbladder, liver).
Differential diagnostics
This type of diagnostics can be called the most important in making the correct diagnosis, especially in the case of pregnant women.
During pregnancy, some diagnostic methods (for example, X-rays) are contraindicated.
But with the help of differential diagnostics, a doctor can distinguish one disease from another, because it is known that many diseases have similar symptoms, but are radically different in terms of treatment.
Belching rotten eggs during pregnancy, as already mentioned, can be associated with a woman's tendency to eat a lot, especially fatty, fried foods, and can also have more serious causes.
At the appointment, the specialist will study the patient’s complaints and what other symptoms are bothering her:
Pain, constipation, diarrhea, heaviness in the stomach (only after eating or all the time), increased gas formation, bloating, etc.
Based on general tests (blood, urine), the doctor can determine whether there is an inflammatory process in the body.
Gradually, excluding diseases that do not fit certain symptoms, the specialist will eventually make the only correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
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Treatment of burping with rotten eggs during pregnancy
Treatment of belching with the smell of rotten eggs begins with dietary adjustments and treatment of the disease of which it is a symptom.
If, in addition to belching, you are bothered by pain, nausea, or diarrhea, you should immediately consult a doctor, since the intoxication process that has begun can significantly harm the health of the unborn child and the woman herself.
If belching with a rotten egg taste during pregnancy is caused by gastritis, enzymes are prescribed (pancreatin, 150 thousand units per day).
A dietary diet is mandatory: exclude fried meat, sour, fatty and spicy dishes, add more liquid food (soups, broths, slimy porridges), products with bifidobacteria, cottage cheese and fermented milk products to the diet.
In some cases, to alleviate the condition (nausea, diarrhea), it is recommended to take absorbents (enterosgel, activated carbon).
In infectious processes, antibiotics are required, which are selected only by a specialist, taking into account the duration of pregnancy and the disease.
If a woman has slow digestion, food does not move through the digestive tract quickly enough, absorbents, enzyme preparations and medications to improve intestinal motility (festal, duphalac, fitomucil, regulux).
It is imperative to change your diet and completely exclude whole milk, legumes, cabbage, tomatoes, onions, cherries, heavy cream, sour cream, nuts, citrus fruits, apples, pears, and limit meat (beef, rabbit, pork, chicken), offal, canned food, and chicken eggs.
During pregnancy, it is recommended to eat small portions but often to avoid overeating. There are other useful recommendations:
- remove from the menu foods that can cause increased gas formation (white cabbage, legumes);
- do not drink carbonated drinks (both sweet and mineral water);
- It is recommended to bake or boil raw vegetables and fruits before eating them - in this form they are more easily digested;
- It is important to learn to take a comfortable position during sleep, and not to overeat at night (or better yet, just drink a cup of kefir).
It is necessary to have enough time to walk and rest, watch your diet, and then pregnancy will be easy and joyful for you. Do not forget that your future baby also feels your internal state.
Medicines
To normalize digestive function, enzyme preparations are prescribed, which contain substances that promote the breakdown of food.
During pregnancy, taking any medications should only be done as prescribed by a doctor.
Enzymes are prescribed after each meal:
- festal - 1 tablet during or immediately after each meal, wash down with a small amount of water
- pancreatin – 1-4 tablets (depending on the disease) after each meal.
- Mezim – 1-2 tablets after each meal.
Also, to improve intestinal peristalsis (in case of constipation), the doctor may prescribe laxatives:
- Duphalac - 1-3 sachets per day
- guttalax - 10-20 drops before bed or in the morning
- bisacodyl - 1-3 tablets before bedtime
- Regulax - 0.5-1 cube before bedtime
- phytomucil - 1 sachet up to 4 times a day
Folk remedies
Folk remedies for belching with an unpleasant odor should be used only after consulting a doctor, since during pregnancy some plants can have an abortive effect. In addition, treatment is possible only after the doctor has established the exact cause.
If this condition is caused by chronic gastritis with high acidity, it is recommended to drink blackberry tea, mint or lemon balm infusion.
Flax, fennel, linden and mint seeds have a mild effect.
A mixture of these components helps to normalize the production of gastric juice.
To prepare the infusion, take 2 tablespoons of each component and pour 200 ml of boiling water, close well and let it brew until it cools, when the infusion cools, strain and drink 1/4 cup in the morning and evening (course of treatment until the symptoms disappear completely).
A mixture of rowan berries and flowers (3 tablespoons) with calamus root (1 tablespoon) will help reduce acidity. Mix all the ingredients, take 1 tablespoon and pour 200 ml of cold water, let it brew for about an hour, then bring to a boil and cool. Drink the strained infusion 1/2 cup 2-3 times a day (heat before use).
Mix equal amounts of aloe and cranberry juice, dilute with a glass of warm boiled water, stir in 1 tbsp. of honey. Drink the resulting mixture 3 times a day, 1 tbsp. for 7 days. After a month, the treatment can be repeated if necessary (this recipe has a mild laxative effect).
To improve digestion and reduce inflammation, it is recommended to drink half a glass of carrot and potato juice (100 ml of each component) before meals.
If burping with rotten eggs bothers you quite a lot during pregnancy, a fresh apple or carrot will help.
Goat milk also helps well – 2-3 glasses after meals 3 times a day.
If the unpleasant smell after belching appears only after eating certain foods, you need to exclude them from your diet. Most often, the cause of the unpleasant smell is eggs, chocolate, soy products.
Aloe juice helps well with ulcers at the very beginning of the disease. You can prepare a medicinal tincture yourself, following some recommendations. Before cutting the leaves, the plant should not be watered for 10-14 days, then take several leaves (400-500 g), rinse, dry, leave in a cool dark place for 5 days.
Then grind the leaves (in a meat grinder, blender), add 500 ml of honey melted in a water bath, 500 ml of red wine (preferably natural), close the container with the tincture well and let it stand in a dark, cool place for 7-10 days.
If acidity is low, you can drink sea buckthorn juice, rosehip infusion, or eat a few apricots before eating.
Herbal treatment
15g peppermint, 5g St. John's wort, 2g bogbean leaves, 15g yarrow.
Pour 400-500 ml of boiling water over 2 tablespoons of dry herbal mixture and leave for about 2 hours.
The strained decoction should be drunk in portions throughout the day - 2 tablespoons.
This recipe is for patients with high acidity, in addition, belching during pregnancy with rotten eggs requires a doctor's consultation.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy during pregnancy is considered the safest method of treatment, however, you should not prescribe such drugs on your own, as they can have a negative effect on the development of the child or provoke a miscarriage.
Homeopathic treatment is prescribed by a specialist taking into account the duration of pregnancy, concomitant diseases, the woman’s condition and the cause of the unpleasant odor when belching.
Belching with rotten eggs during pregnancy in homeopathy is treated only with natural preparations based on medicinal plants and herbs.
The most common homeopathic remedy is Arnica montana, used for various diseases (depending on the form: ointments, creams, granules, tincture, medicinal teas).
In case of weak digestive function, gastritis, homeopathic doctors can prescribe tea or granules of this plant, which have a wide range of effects and have a beneficial effect not only on digestion, but also on the functioning of the heart, blood vessels, have a mild analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and other effects.
This drug should only be taken under the supervision of a specialist, especially by pregnant women.
Prevention
The basis for preventing belching with an unpleasant odor is proper nutrition, giving up bad habits (alcohol, smoking) and a healthy lifestyle (walks in the fresh air, physical activity, adequate sleep).
An important point is to prevent infection from getting into the stomach, which often happens when swimming in bodies of water (when swallowing water, the Helicobacter bacteria can get into the stomach and cause digestive problems, gastritis, etc.).
Forecast
Belching rotten eggs during pregnancy most often has a favorable prognosis, as it is associated with overeating. This condition goes away with dietary adjustments (reducing portions, eliminating fatty, fried foods, etc.).
If the cause of belching is gastrointestinal diseases (ulcers, gastritis, liver dysfunction, inflammation of the mucous membrane), then the prognosis depends on the disease and timely treatment of the underlying disease.
Belching rotten eggs during pregnancy is a rather unpleasant condition that can cause discomfort not only to the woman, but also to those around her.
If such symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor to identify possible diseases that cause an unpleasant odor in the gastrointestinal tract.
ICD-10 code
Belching with rotten eggs during pregnancy is classified in ICD 10 under class R14 Flatulence and related conditions.