Waiting for a baby to be born is a wonderful and long-awaited period in the life of any woman of childbearing age, although it is accompanied by such unpleasant moments as toxicosis, constipation, shortness of breath, back pain and swelling. Also, with the onset of pregnancy, spontaneous belching may appear, indicating certain problems in the digestive tract. This malaise is the release of gas from the stomach and esophagus through the oral cavity, which occurs as a result of the contraction of the diaphragm. Of course, belching during pregnancy gives a woman discomfort and a lot of emotions. Especially when this manifestation happens in a public place, because it is accompanied not only by sound, but sometimes by a certain smell. A nervous state in this regard can be the cause of any complications, therefore, factors aggravating belching during pregnancy should be excluded.
Causes of occurrence
Naturally, the provocateurs of such an aesthetically unpleasant phenomenon as belching are all those changes of a physiological nature that occur in the body of a woman carrying a baby. But, wanting to have a baby, you can overcome all the ailments. The main causes of burping:
- First of all, this is a change in the hormonal background of a woman who is in an interesting position. The main hormones responsible for the normal course of pregnancy are progesterone and estrogen. An increase in their level in the body (and the amount of progesterone increases by 10 times) has a beneficial effect on the psychoemotional state of a pregnant woman; reduces the tone of her uterus; improves tissue; positive effect on hair and skin. That is, the benefits from the production of these hormones are obvious, but their increase slows down the digestion process, which is the reason for burping.
- During pregnancy, there is a slowdown in intestinal motility due to a decrease in the tone of its smooth muscles. And this happens because the level of progesterone, which affects the pelvic organs, rises.
- Due to the stretching of the walls of the stomach due to the remnants of undigested food in it, which provokes belching after eating during pregnancy.
- A gradual increase in the size of the uterus, which presses on all the internal organs of a woman. As a result, increased pressure in the abdominal cavity and a slightly altered location of the stomach.
- During the period of gestation, an exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases occurs, which can also provoke belching.
- The body of a pregnant woman is fully aimed at extracting as many nutrients as possible from those products that the future mother consumes. As a result, the digestion process increases, constipation appears (due to poor intestinal motility), gas formation and belching (that is, the circle is closed).
Aggravating factors
A woman sometimes, without suspecting it, can create favorable conditions for the occurrence of belching. These are the following points:
- a rather sedentary lifestyle;
- significant overeating;
- eating spicy, oily, sweet, salty and spicy foods;
- physical activity in large volumes;
- sharp torso forward;
- wearing very tight clothing;
- snacking on the go;
- the use of gas-forming products;
- neurosis.
Note: if a woman is overcome by constant belching during pregnancy, then this is an occasion to seek medical advice. And do not delay going to a medical facility. Remember: you are responsible not only for yourself, but also for the baby you are bearing.
Belching during pregnancy in the early stages
Air inadvertently during pregnancy at an early stage indicates that fertilization of the egg has already taken place and that the restructuring of the body associated with the bearing of the fetus has begun. And then there is a long period of preparation for the birth of an infant. As a rule, belching begins at about 21-25th week, when the uterus already has a decent size and presses on the organs located in the abdominal cavity. What is quite natural at this stage of bearing a baby. If belching during pregnancy in the early stages makes itself felt, then you need to sound the alarm and seek the advice of a doctor, as this may be a pathology of the gastrointestinal tract.
In late pregnancy
If this uncomfortable phenomenon is observed in the later stages, then there is no particular reason to worry, as this is the norm. If belching is combined with other symptoms, then this is a “bell” about a possible pathology of the gastrointestinal tract. Only a physician can understand the situation and distinguish one state from another, having conducted a thorough examination.
Note: after 32-36 weeks, belching occurs less and less. And after giving birth, she disappears altogether. If this does not happen, then you should seek advice from a medical institution, in particular a gastroenterologist, who must determine the cause of belching during and after pregnancy.
The choice of treatment technique depends on several factors: the gestational age, the severity of the condition of the expectant mother, and the characteristic features of the pathology. As a rule, therapy is carried out on an outpatient basis. Hospitalization is carried out exclusively in severe cases of exacerbation of peptic ulcer, gastritis or tumors in the gastrointestinal tract.
What to do with belching during pregnancy
It is worthwhile to realize that sooner or later this unpleasant phenomenon will pass. What can be done to reduce the rate of air discharge in an involuntary manner? And you need to do this:
- You should not overeat (you need to eat in small portions and often), but you also can’t exhaust yourself by starvation.
- You need to chew food thoroughly, and during a meal it is better not to have active discussions (to avoid excessive air entrainment).
- Spicy, fried, salty, sweet and spicy dishes are contraindicated.
- It is necessary to adjust your diet and eat only food that does not cause burping.
- Give preference to vegetable food and steamed, as well as lean meat, sour cream, cottage cheese, butter or vegetable oil.
- It is not recommended to eat fruits and vegetables raw, preferably baked.
- You can’t include foods such as broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts, artichokes, pears, onions, pasta, legumes, potatoes and a variety of cereals in your diet.
- We must forget about the existence of carbonated drinks.
- If there is an individual intolerance to lactose, then do not include dairy products in the diet.
- It is necessary to exclude eating while lying down.
- If there are no problems with the kidneys, it is advisable to drink about 1.5-2 liters of water (clean, filtered) during the day.
- After eating, it will not be superfluous to take a little walk on foot.
- Wear loose (non-squeezing stomach) comfortable clothing.
- Try to avoid stressful situations whenever possible or abstract from them.
- Do not exclude physical activity such as swimming, yoga, regular walks in the fresh air or gymnastics for pregnant women.
- You can use the recipes of traditional medicine (of course, only after consulting a doctor): drink ginger tea (after eating) or a drink with mint.
Belching classification
By the smell coming from the mouth, involuntary discharge of air can be:
- sour;
- bitter;
- rotten;
- without smell.
Based on the variety, you can make certain assumptions about the causes of burping and treatment methods (depending on the term).
Belch with a sour smell
How does the digestive process in the human body? Food from the pharynx through the esophagus enters the stomach, is digested in it and penetrates further into the initial section of the small intestine (or it is also called the duodenum). In order for the transition from one organ to another to take place, a special valve device (sphincter) must be open. If it does not work, then the entire contents of the stomach are thrown back into the esophagus. It is this phenomenon that occurs in some pregnant women. What is signaled by a sour breath during belching.
What could aggravate the situation:
- eating at one meal more than the body needs;
- fruits that significantly increase the production of gastric juice;
- chocolate, coffee, tea, juices, fresh fruits and sour berries;
- eating in a horizontal position (i.e. lying down);
- little physical activity;
- alcohol and cigarettes;
- taking medications.
In order to diagnose a similar pathology, it is necessary to do an ultrasound and FGDS. Next, the doctor prescribes a certain therapy, guided by the state of the mother and the period of bearing the baby.
Bitter-smelling burp
An indisposition with similar characteristic symptoms indicates the presence of a certain amount of bile in the stomach. Belching with a bitter smell caused by overeating or an unadjusted diet does not pose a particular danger to the health of the future mother.
Important: examination by a gastroenterologist is necessary if burping has become more frequent, pain in the abdomen or other alarming symptoms have appeared.
Burp with the smell of rotten eggs
This is nothing more than a discharge from the digestive system into the oral cavity of a gas having the smell of hydrogen sulfide. A very unpleasant condition, indicating a significant decrease in the acidity of the stomach and a disturbance in the digestive process, which can cause diseases such as gastroduodenitis, gastritis, gastric cancer, duodenal ulcer, and many others. Therefore, in the first cases of burping with rotten eggs during pregnancy, you should definitely consult a doctor.
Important: belching with the smell of hydrogen sulfide is a very serious symptom, which in no case should be neglected. Refusal of the help of specialists can even threaten the termination of pregnancy.
Without smell
Unintentional outflow of air without any smell can be observed not only in a pregnant woman, but also in any person. Moreover, this phenomenon occurs completely painlessly and, in principle, does not cause much discomfort. Belching of air during pregnancy, as a rule, is observed in the middle of the period of bearing a baby.
Is burping dangerous for a future mother and her baby
This is the question most often asked by many women carrying babies. The answer is unequivocal - belching during pregnancy is not at all dangerous for a future mother and her baby. There is no need to treat it with medications. Belching stops immediately after birth or after 2-3 weeks. Moreover, only the mother suffers from this unpleasant phenomenon (in terms of discomfort), and she does not affect the fetus in any way. If a pregnant woman follows certain simple guidelines, she may not have to deal with this problem.
Another thing is burping, which is directly related to the pathology of the gastrointestinal tract. In this case, you can’t do without the help of a gastroenterologist.
Finally
Frequent belching during pregnancy is an occasion to think and consult a specialist. Be vigilant and do not exacerbate the situation. Moreover, you do not burp forever. Just gather your strength and be patient.