Is gas a sign of pregnancy?

Bloating and gas can be early signs of pregnancy. If you don’t usually have gas and suddenly you’re constantly chewing, pay attention (or at least take a pregnancy test). And be prepared: gas can last throughout pregnancy.

What causes gas and bloating in early pregnancy?

Chances are you’ve noticed bloating early in your pregnancy. You can thank the gas that enters your digestive tract when you swallow air or makes its presence known when bacteria in your colon break down undigested carbohydrates. (That’s why some foods and drinks can make you gassier than others.)

“This is going to be our fourth and I swear I’m so high by the end of the day I feel way further than I am,” he says BabyCenter Community member Kirstenmarie23. “I’ve already started wearing super baggy clothes because the shirts just hug my stomach now.”

Some people get a lot of gas from foods that others don’t bother at all. For example, people with lactose intolerance become bloated and gassy after eating dairy products such as milk or ice cream. This is because they do not produce enough lactase – the enzyme that breaks down the sugar (lactose) in dairy products.

The balance of bacteria in your colon, which varies from person to person, can also affect the amount of gas you produce.

Certain carbohydrates are the main culprits of gas. Protein and fat directly produce little gas, although fat can contribute to bloating by slowing down digestion.

Why do I have so much bloating and gas during pregnancy?

Gas during pregnancy is very common. When you’re pregnant, your body produces progesterone, a hormone that relaxes all your muscles, including those in your digestive tract. These relaxed muscles slow down digestion, which can lead to more gas than usual, bloating, belching and bloating, especially after a large meal.

People usually release gas by belching or farting about ten times a day. But when you’re pregnant, you might do it a lot more often. You may need to unbutton your pants during the day to relieve bloating, even weeks before the pregnancy shows.

After first trimester bloating, your expanding uterus begins to crowd your abdominal cavity, which can also slow down digestion and put pressure on your stomach, making you feel even more bloated after eating. This is why you may experience heartburn or constipation during pregnancy, even if you have never had these conditions before.

“With all this third-trimester gas, some nights I chase my husband right out of bed,” BabyCenter Community member KatNel. “At least I got a few nights with the bed to myself while he’s in the guest room!”

Foods to avoid to relieve bloating and gas during pregnancy

Some bloating and gas in pregnancy may be unavoidable, but cutting back on foods that are more likely to cause gas can be an effective way to reduce some of it. It is said that you cannot eliminate everything it could cause gas (like every single carb in the world, for example), otherwise you wouldn’t have a balanced pregnancy diet.

Start by cutting out some of the foods most likely to cause gas and bloating. If you notice relief, start adding these foods back into your diet one at a time, so you can try to determine what’s causing the problem. Keeping a food diary can help you figure out if certain foods make you more gassy than others.

Some common causes of gas include:

• Beans, whole grains and certain vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and asparagus. They all contain the sugar raffinose, which causes gas in many people.
• Fructose. This sugar is found naturally in certain foods, including leeks, onions, artichokes, dried fruit, ketchup, pears, apples, honey, wheat and fruit juice. High fructose corn syrup is fructose that is often added to processed foods and many sodas and fruit drinks. (Carbonation also contributes to bloating.)
• Certain starches like wheat and corn, but not rice. This is because many of us lack the enzyme needed to digest these complex carbohydrates. As a result, when they reach the large intestine, the bacteria living there feed on them, which leads to the formation of gas.
• Some foods rich in fiber such as oat bran, beans, peas and many fruits. These foods are normally broken down in the large intestine, leading to gas. Wheat bran, however, basically passes through your digestive system without breaking down, so it’s a good choice if you’re constipated and want to add fiber without the risk of bloating.
• Dairy products. People who are lactose intolerant get gas, diarrhea and stomach pains from eating dairy products. If you’re only mildly lactose intolerant, you may not have noticed any symptoms—until you increased your dairy consumption during pregnancy. If you suspect dairy is the problem, try lactose-free milk or calcium-fortified soy milk. (If you don’t drink any kind of milk, you’ll probably need to take a calcium supplement. Also, ask your doctor if you’re getting enough vitamin D from your prenatal vitamin.)
• Foods with a high fat content and fried foods. This type of card takes longer to digest, which means it’s more likely to stay in your colon and produce gas.

With all this gas in the third trimester, some nights I chase my husband right out of bed. At least I got a few nights with the bed to myself while he’s in the guest room!

– BabyCenter community member KatNel

Other ways to relieve gas during pregnancy

In addition to adjusting your diet, here are other ways to relieve gas during pregnancy:

If these tips don’t help, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter gas medicine that contains simethicone. (Do not take activated charcoal tablets without first talking to your doctor as they may not be safe during pregnancy.)

When to call your doctor about gas in pregnancy

Most gas is just a standard part of pregnancy, but call your doctor if:

• Your discomfort is more like abdominal pain or cramping.
• You have blood in your stool.
• You have severe diarrhea or constipation.

“It can be difficult to distinguish between severe bloating and uterine cramps or other warning signs of pregnancy,” says Kristin Cohen, DNP, WHNP-BC, a certified nurse-midwife and member of BabyCenter’s medical advisory board. “If you’re not sure what’s causing your discomfort, try changing positions and make sure you’re well hydrated. If your pain gets more intense or comes and goes more often, or if the quality of the pain changes (it starts to feel like pain, for example, or radiating), be sure to call your doctor or midwife.”

If you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), you may notice that your symptoms become more intense during pregnancy. This is likely due to changes in the production of estrogen and progesterone, as well as the physical pressure your growing baby puts on the bowel wall. Non-drug therapies – including relaxation techniques and dietary changes such as adding more fiber to your diet while reducing gas-causing foods – can help.