How to fight digestion issues during pregnancy?

Congratulations! You are undoubtedly both anxious and thrilled on being pregnant, aren’t you? Well, you might be feeling a little nauseous all the time, but that is natural. Moreover, morning sickness, as you may call it, is extremely common that can happen to you during pregnancy. Another common thing like morning sickness is a digestion problem, which surely gives you quite a lot of troubles.

Already you have so many restrictions regarding your diet and lifestyle. When digestion issues top that all, it can actually be very frustrating. You think, “okay, what else do I need to alter in the diet now? Aren’t the existing ones enough?”

On the other hand, the good news is that the nausea signs usually go away within 3 months of pregnancy. However, the bad news is these 3 months can be extremely traumatic and frustrating. You may get nausea due to a lot of factors like gassiness, constipation, and acid reflux or heartburn. These symptoms tend to become worse, as your pregnancy ascends. Well, you can actually get rid of these digestion problems and in turn, fight nausea with these simple small steps.

Digestion problems during pregnancy

 

Check out easy ways to fight digestion problems when you’re expecting:

  1. Constipation

In normal conditions, your bowel pushes out stool through a process called peristalsis. During this time, the muscle linings in your bowel start contracting and relaxing in an undulating motion.

When you are pregnant, your progesterone level goes very high. This makes it hard for your bowel muscles to continue the motion of contraction and relaxations. Thus, you literally struggle to pass your stool comfortably by peristalsis.

Generally, when you do not have enough supply of dietary fiber in your foods, you get constipation. However, you should keep in mind that constipation during pregnancy is not exactly because of the dietary fiber deficit. It is the progesterone hormone elevation that is actually making you suffer.

 

  1. Heartburn

It is actually acid reflux, which means you are having extreme acidity that is causing a burning sensation in your chest. It is also a very common problem that you face during pregnancy, caused by your very own progesterone hormone.

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This sweet friend of yours can land you up in a lot of troubles during pregnancy. However, you should always learn to seek solutions for such issues rather than getting frustrated. During this condition, progesterone poses an effect on your sphincter muscles lining the esophagus above your stomach. This muscles normally restricts acids formed in your stomach within your stomach itself. However, due to progesterone impact, these sphincter muscles relax and releases the acid upwards reaching your esophagus. Thus, you feel a painful burning sensation on your chest.

 

  1. Food Aversions

You mostly feel nauseous towards food items in your initial trimester, and it is manageable too. During this time, you feel irritated and pukish with the smell of certain foods that you’re normally very fond of. It is absolutely normal to feel this way while being pregnant.

You mostly feel nauseous when your blood glucose level goes down. At the time of pregnancy, this is exactly what happens. From nausea, you develop a sense of food abhorrence that makes you feel like vomiting all the time.

How to cure digestion issues during pregnancy?

 

To combat constipation, the first and foremost thing that you should do is drink lots of water all day. If you keep your body hydrated throughout the day, a lot of problems related to your flushing system resolves.

Eat foods that are rich in vitamin C and magnesium. These nutrients help in supplying water to your bowels, in order to ease out the process of peristalsis. Are you eating supplements containing lots of iron? If you are anemic, consult with your doctor to give you other alternatives. Iron promotes constipation to a great extent. So, you better check your diet schedule.

To get rid of heartburn, go for small meals that have high calories and nutrient content. Always eat at a slower pace, and chew the food properly before swallowing. Do not drink a lot of water while having your meals, since it fills up your appetite faster. You may sip herbal tea, ginger tea, peppermint tea or water in between your meals to ease the digestion process. Never lie down on a bed or couch after you eat meals. Always sit up straight to complete your digestion properly. Wear clothes that are loose to feel comfortable while eating.

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When you are feeling nauseous, it means you and your baby is out of energy (glucose). To overcome nausea, you need to eat foods rich in carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are excellent sources of glucose. You may also have a cup of ginger tea due to vitamin B6 supplements, to ward off nausea.

Now coming to food aversion, try out some variations that you think might work for you. Go for baked yams with ample clarified butter or have bone broth. Have meals supplemented with cottage cheese, yogurt or tofu. If you are not a dairy person, try out cottage cheese with a coconut milk base. Have fermented cod liver oil in your foods, along with scrambled eggs (more the yolk, better the results).

Additional tips to improve digestion

To keep your body healthy and active, remember to exercise every day for at least half an hour. It will help you intensify digestion process and also ease bowel motions, thereby eliminating chances of constipation. Go for a nice morning or evening walk, or stroll down the park to keep your body active and flexible.

Remember to consume at least 28 grams of dietary fiber each day to facilitate better digestion. Among fruits, go for bananas, oranges, apples, mangoes, and strawberries. Eat green and leafy vegetables and whole grains for proper good fiber supply.

Whenever you are changing your diet routine, always consult your dietician. If you feel any sort of discomfort in the diet, talk to your doctor and ask for suggestions. Do not alter anything on