The surge of hormones you experience during pregnancy can slow down your gastrointestinal tract, which causes excess gas and bloating in virtually every pregnant woman. And you might not be able to do much about it, because you don't have the same control over your muscles during pregnancy.
"It's not like non-pregnant gas, where most of the time you know it's coming and can keep it at bay until the coast is clear," says Michelle Smith, author of Taboo Secrets of Pregnancy: A Guide to Life with a Belly. "You'll think: 'Oh my gosh, did I really just fart in front of my in-laws? How can I show my face again?'"
Though you can't erase the problem, you can reduce your tendency toward gassiness with exercise and changes to your diet.
"Exercise helps increase the motility of the GI tract, allowing food to move through faster," Hakakha says. "The less time it has to sit around and ferment, the less gas is produced. Some foods are more likely to produce gas, so the best bet is to avoid them completely: carbonated drinks, beans, broccoli, cauliflower, and dried fruit."
Dairy products can also cause GI distress during pregnancy, leading to flatulence. "Many women start drinking milk every day during pregnancy and think it's good for them, but they can't tolerate milk as an adult," says Sonja Kinney, MD, associate professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine and medical director of the Olson Center for Women's Health at UNMC.
Lactose-intolerant women can still drink milk for a calcium boost, because Lactaid dairy products are safe during pregnancy, Hoover says.
(Source Webmd.com)
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