Bloating is an unfortunate and untreatable symptom of pregnancy. The discomfort of bloating is more pronounced during pregnancy as the hormone progesterone slows down your digestion and relaxes your muscles causing burping and flatulence. This is natural and not completely avoidable, although there are a few things you can do to keep comfortable and ease the symptoms.
To help with bloating you can:
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Avoid foods which cause high levels of gas, these can include beans, onions, fried items and foods that you have found effect you in the past – these can vary from person to person.
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Try to eat slowly, this will prevent you from swallowing air and ensure you are chewing thoroughly to make digestion easier.
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Keep your meal sizes small but eat more meals. Six small meals are better for your digestive system than three big ones and can help prevent bloating.
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Avoid drinking carbonated beverages as they cause you to ingest excess air.
Bloating is unfortunately a very natural part of pregnancy as your hormones and body changes. While you can take measures to help prevent the issue it is important to remember and take comfort in the fact you are experiencing the same problems as the many other pregnant women going through the same thing.
