Treatment of stomach pain during pregnancy
Not least because most medications are not approved for pregnant women, herbs are the remedy of choice for stomach pain during pregnancy. The herbs can be taken in any conceivable way and are widely available in drugstores or pharmacies. There are almost no limits to the selection of teas, lozenges, juices and droplets.
In addition to mucilages that cover the stomach lining, there are many well-known herbs, including caraway, fennel and sage, which are good for a very bloated stomach, as well as the soothing chamomile. Depending on the cause of the symptoms, different herbs are used. From the medicine chest, chamomile tea in particular has proven to be very effective in alleviating stomach cramps during pregnancy, as it has a very calming and anti-inflammatory effect on the stomach.
A cup of chamomile tea in combination with a lukewarm warming pad and relaxation exercises can often alleviate the pain sufficiently. The heat helps the body to relax the muscles. During pregnancy, however, care should be taken to ensure that the temperature is not too hot.
Other herbal teas such as nettle tea, fennel tea or peppermint tea can also be drunk without concern. The teas work best if several cups are drunk in small sips throughout the day. Licorice can also be added.
The substances contained in liquorice are excellent against flatulence, heartburn and cramps. Essential oils of mustard, garlic, caraway or ginger can also be used. They are particularly effective for complaints caused by increased acidity and kill any bacteria in the stomach.
Substances such as linseed, marshmallow root or mallow leaves leave a protective layer of mucus on the inside of the stomach and help the body’s own substances to stand up to the acidic gastric juices. Only the liquorice root should be taken with caution, as this substance has an influence on the crtisol balance. Aniseed milk has also almost fallen into oblivion.
Anise and caraway are mixed in milk and this mixture is heated. The milk is then strained again and the rest of the mixture is then drunk in sips. This recipe is also often used for children with stomach aches to calm the sensitive stomach of children.
Grandma’s home recipes also include potato wraps. The potatoes are boiled together with the skin and then crushed and wrapped in a kitchen towel and placed on the stomach. Instead of potatoes, vinegar wraps can also be made.
Here a towel is dipped in vinegar and placed on top. Another alternative are the horsetail wraps. Horsetail is effective against numerous diseases, including stomach cramps.
It is important not to put all the envelopes on your stomach when you are pregnant. Stomach massages can also be very pleasant and helpful. Here circular movements should be made, which are extended by additives such as almond or peppermint oil or also Swedish herbs.
In addition to the oils, Swedish herbs have proven themselves as herbal juices to take. This can either be prepared by yourself or bought as a ready-made preparation in the pharmacy. Also when eating, if you have stomach problems, you should pay attention to a few small things.A diet rich in protein, high in fiber and low in fat and carbohydrates is helpful.
Wholefood as well as fruit and vegetables should be on the menu. Potato soup or mashed potatoes are well suited. Salads and natural yogurt are considered particularly gentle on the stomach and intestinal tract.
Also, only small amounts should be eaten per meal, which should then be swallowed slowly and well chewed. A regular eating rhythm should be maintained and dinner should not be eaten too late in the evening. The food can also be refined with digestive spices like caraway, fennel or ginger.
Only a doctor should decide whether and which medication should be taken for stomach pain. Quite a few medications have dangerous effects on the unborn child and so the choice must be made very carefully. Thus the so-called proton pump inhibitors with their best-known active substances omeprazole and pantoprazole are the most effective medicines to effectively inhibit the production of gastric acid and thus protect the stomach lining from attack.
The two active ingredients are usually prescribed outside of pregnancy as a standard preparation and can very effectively relieve stomach pain caused by increased acid production, as they reduce acid production enormously. During pregnancy, the use of omeprazole and pantoprazole should be reserved for exceptional cases and the group of so-called antacids (anti= against azida = acids) should be given preference. This group of drugs is somewhat less effective because it does not prevent the production of stomach acid, but only binds already existing stomach acids somewhat and thus makes them harmless.
Magaldrat is the active ingredient of choice here, which can be used without any problems during pregnancy and lactation to stop stomach pain and heartburn. If the antacids such as Magaldrat are not sufficient, a group of acid blockers is used. Their effectiveness is between that of the antacids and that of the classic proton pump inhibitors omeprazole and pantoprazole.
During pregnancy, their use should also be carefully considered, but they may be considered if antacids do not provide sufficient relief. One of their main representatives is the active substance ranitidine. Depending on the reason for stomach pain during pregnancy, you should carefully consider a possible therapy.
Many medications cannot be used during pregnancy without concern, so they should be avoided if possible. So if stomach pain occurs during pregnancy, it should really only be treated with medication if it has a serious cause which, without appropriate treatment, would probably have serious consequences for the mother and/or children. Otherwise, it is often advisable to wait until the stomach pain disappears by itself or to use harmless home remedies to treat the pain.
