Indigestion and Gas

INDIGESTION AND GAS

INDIGESTION

                Indigestion, which most manifests itself as heartburn, in pregnant women is caused by food remaining longer than usual in the stomach. The good thing about this is that the nutrients in the food are absorbed better. But the bad thing is that you may feel awfully uncomfortable, especially toward the end of your pregnancy.

                Most pregnant woman get heartburn at some time or other usually in the final trimester. Don’t eat spicy or greasy foods, the most common cause of heartburn. Toward the end of their pregnancy many women find themselves eating nothing but plane rice and flavor gelatin. If the problem gets really uncomfortable, talk to your doctor or midwife about it.

                Try drinking milk with your meal, since it coasts your stomach. You could also try eating several small meals a day. Large meals will make you feel bloated and aggravate your indigestion.

GAS

                Gas (flatulence) is another embarrassing problem of pregnancy. You’ll notice you feel like an urpy, burpy, gassy lady almost as soon as you get pregnant.

                There is a very real reason for gas in pregnant women: your stomach and intestines are distended, so that bloated feeling is very real.

                There is unfortunately no cure for gas. Try to have a sense of humor about it. There are, however, several things you can do to try to lessen gas: have regular bowel movements, eat pureed vegetables to increase intestinal activity, and avoid foods that produce gas like beans, cabbage, fried foods, and so on.

”Pulses may aggravate a tendency toward flatulence and should be avoided if gas is a problem. Greasy foods, such as hamburger and French fries or fried eggs and bacon, are a common cause of heartburn.”