Heartburn and flatulence during pregnancy

Heartburn during pregnancy is often accompanied by flatulence. One of the reasons for this is the altered hormone balance. During pregnancy, the body produces more progesterone – this is important for the growth and maturation of the uterus.

One side effect, however, is the relaxation of the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract – this leads to the sphincter muscle between the stomach and the oesophagus no longer being completely tight. The consequence is the leakage of gastric acid into the esophagus, which leads to heartburn. On the other hand, digestion slows down because the intestine contracts less, which promotes flatulence.

Similarly, the growth in size of the uterus and the child has a similar effect. The increased pressure in the abdominal cavity also leads to increased leakage of stomach acid and hinders digestion. Heartburn and flatulence during pregnancy are nothing threatening but are often experienced as very stressful.

As a precautionary measure, it is important to eat small, easily digestible meals.Flatulence should not be suppressed, as this can lead to abdominal pain. Warm baths, a walk or drinking fennel and caraway tea are often perceived as helpful. Avoiding rather flatulent foods such as legumes, beans or broccoli can also have a preventive effect.

Heartburn and fullness during pregnancy

If a pregnant woman suffers from heartburn, this can often be accompanied by a feeling of fullness. This is a typical second symptom of heartburn. The feeling of fullness is often associated with the growth of the child and the accompanying increased pressure on the gastrointestinal tract.

The digestion is also hormonally slowed down considerably, which can also lead to flatulence and a feeling of fullness. Here, too, a change in diet to several smaller, easily digestible meals has proven to be helpful. Patients are encouraged to exercise after meals and to take a walk, for example. Teas such as caraway, fennel or peppermint tea also help with a feeling of fullness.

Causes of heartburn during pregnancy

Heartburn occurs more frequently during pregnancy than in non-pregnant women. About half of all pregnant women suffer from heartburn at least once during pregnancy. There are two hypotheses for the development of heartburn during pregnancy.

One is that the unborn child growing in the womb causes a slow increase in pressure in the lower abdomen. This increase in pressure leads to increased pressure in the area of the stomach. To separate the stomach from the esophagus, there is a sphincter between the stomach and the esophagus.

If the pressure in the abdominal cavity is increased, it closes less tightly. The pregnancy hormones estrogen and progesterone also cause this muscle to close less firmly. Even then, stomach acid can flow back into the esophagus and cause heartburn.

Nutrition also plays a not insignificant role in the development of heartburn, so the risk of developing heartburn is significantly increased when eating large, fatty or very spicy meals. General information on this topic can be found here: Causes of heartburnHeartburn can theoretically occur right at the beginning of pregnancy. This is experienced by women who may have previously suffered from heartburn from time to time.

If the sphincter muscle of the stomach is “pre-loaded”, even small amounts of progesterone are sufficient to loosen the muscle enough to trigger the symptoms of heartburn. Often heartburn then occurs in conjunction with rich, fatty food or stress. However, heartburn is more likely to occur in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy (4-9 months).

From this point on, the placenta no longer produces progesterone to maintain the pregnancy. As the pregnancy progresses, the amount of progesterone released by the placenta increases sharply. The probability of suffering from heartburn also increases.

Most women only experience heartburn during late pregnancy, i.e. in the last three months. The weight of the growing child, which can press on the stomach, also contributes to the backflow into the esophagus and the development of heartburn. The occurrence of heartburn often has a lot to do with diet.

This also means that a change in diet can often bring about a significant alleviation of the symptoms. Especially fatty and spicy foods are said to promote heartburn. Coffee also triggers heartburn in many people.

Furthermore, alcohol and nicotine should be avoided in the case of heartburn – both stimulants should, however, be generally avoided during pregnancy. Furthermore, carbonated beverages and acidic fruits should only be consumed in moderation, as they can promote the occurrence of heartburn. Heartburn and nausea with vomiting are two symptoms that often plague pregnant women.

The nausea and vomiting (hyperemesis gravidarum) occur mainly in the first weeks of pregnancy and disappear again in the further course of pregnancy. In contrast, heartburn tends to start in the last weeks of pregnancy. Since the pregnancy hormones reduce the strength of the lower esophageal muscle, a reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus can occur more quickly during pregnancy.This can lead to heartburn, but with additional nausea, it can also lead to vomiting.

Some women describe heartburn during pregnancy, which is so severe that it leads to vomiting. If this occurs more frequently, you should try to adjust your diet. It is better to eat many small meals and avoid fatty or spicy foods. Coffee also increases the risk of heartburn for many people and should then be avoided.