What are the causes of abdominal bloating in early pregnancy?

One of the most common phenomena during pregnancy is bloating. Bloating in the early pregnancy can be caused by multiple factors. The first is the uterine factor. Because the baby in the belly begins to slowly grow during pregnancy, the expanded uterus presses on the rectum, leading to constipation and slow peristalsis, so bloating will occur. In addition, a preference for eating too dry food may also cause symptoms of abdominal discomfort.

The most common causes of bloating during pregnancy:

Early pregnancy

It is mostly caused by changes in hormone secretion. For most pregnant women, bloating is most severe during the first three months of pregnancy, and is also accompanied by symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, which will gradually subside after this period of time.

If the pregnant woman already has gastrointestinal diseases, such as constipation, bloating, poor motility, or gastroenteritis, hyperacidity, or even gastric ulcers, the bloating during pregnancy will last longer, lasting until about four or five months of pregnancy.

Second and third trimester of pregnancy

The enlarged uterus presses on the intestines, making it difficult for the intestines to move.

Bloating during pregnancy can be dealt with in the following ways:

Eat small meals frequently

The first step to avoiding bloating is to start with your diet. When you have bloating, your stomach is already very bloated. If you eat a lot of food, the stomach will be overworked and bloating will become even worse. Therefore, you can eat 6 to 8 meals a day and don't eat too much food at once. In addition, don't just eat liquid food, because liquid food is not easy to digest for the stomach and intestines. It is best to choose semi-solid food.

Eat more fiber

You can eat more vegetables and fruits. During the first trimester, the baby needs a lot of protein, so the demand for foods such as starch, pasta, and beans, which are easy to produce gas and cause gastrointestinal discomfort, is relatively small and you don’t need to consume too much. In addition, you can get an appropriate amount of sugar and starch. Fruits and pears are good sources. You can also get starch and protein from meat. Meat and fish are good choices.