Flatulence
Accumulated gas in the intestine is accompanied by an increased feeling of pressure and fullness. In some cases, unpleasant intestinal cramps also occur. Flatulence develops in different ways.
A quick, hasty intake of food leads to air entering the gastrointestinal tract. Legumes and flatulent vegetables also cause flatulence. In addition, a kinked intestine can prevent the escape of air and causes the subsequent meteorism.
Cramps in the intestine often occur together with flatulence. The flatulence is caused by the digestion of food, for example by the digestion and utilization of fats. Therefore, an unbalanced diet can lead to increased occurrence of flatulence and intestinal cramps.
Often food intolerances are also responsible for both symptoms. For example, lactose intolerance means that milk products or products containing lactose cannot be consumed. If these are nevertheless consumed, the intestines react with cramps and flatulence.
Back pain
With the presence of cramps in the intestine it can come again and again additionally to back pain. The reason for this is usually the proximity of some parts of the intestine to the back. This can cause pain to radiate into the back due to the cramps.
Also over-stimulated and strained nerves caused by the intestinal cramps can lead to back pain. However, it should also be considered that both symptoms may occur independently of each other. Indications for this can be a temporally very independent occurrence of the symptoms or, if the back pain becomes worse, for example after certain exercise or physical activity.
How can I distinguish intestinal cramps from contractions?
It can happen that pregnant women are unsure whether intestinal cramps or contractions are involved when pain occurs in the abdomen and especially the lower abdomen. Unfortunately, in the end it cannot be simply ruled out that only one or the other is present. Therefore, attention should be paid to other signs of cramps in the bowel, such as bowel sounds or changes in bowel movements.
If anything is unclear, a doctor should be consulted to be on the safe side. Further advice can also be obtained from midwives.
