Pregnancy hormones especially the secretion of progesterone causes various changes in the body system including the digestive system. The hormonal changes occurring during pregnancy leads to several digestive system related problems and causes several troubles to the digestion process. But, it is possible to improve or aid digestion during
pregnancy through certain healthy practices.
Having Small Meals Frequently
Due to the hormonal changes and the growing foetus in the womb, it may be difficult for the pregnant women to take full meal at a time during pregnancy. So, it would be advisable to consume little quantities of food in frequent intervals so that the digestion would also improve and the related problems such as nausea, excessive hunger, and
heartburn also would not occur. When a balanced diet is taken at frequent intervals of time, it would be good for the mother and the baby to have a good sleep without any digestion related problems.
Drinking Adequate Amount of Water
It is advisable to take adequate amount of water daily as per the advice of the doctor during pregnancy. Drinking adequate amount of water is necessary for the stools to soften and the
constipation problem which is very closely connected with the
indigestion problem would not be seen. Taking plenty of water would help pass the stools easily. This would indirectly have a positive impact on the digestion process during pregnancy.
Exercising Regularly during Pregnancy
Antenatal exercises are suggested during pregnancy for the pregnant women to overcome with lot of problems occurring during pregnancy including indigestion problems, body flexibility or mobility problems, body or back- ache problems, oedema, numbness, constipation, etc.
Exercising during pregnancy regularizes the digestion process so that the pregnant women can deal with constipation, excessive hunger, sleeplessness, and heartburn problems which are highly related to the digestion process. However, pregnant women must do exercises only after consulting their doctor and under the supervision of a certified trainer.
Avoiding Spicy Foods
If the spicy or
junk food items are taken during pregnancy due to the usual craving towards the food that occurs during pregnancy, then it would further increase the problems of nausea, heartburn, gas, and other related digestive problems. So it is good to go for nutritious food with lot of fibre content including fresh vegetables, fruits, cereals, and whole grain food. This will not only provide the required nutrients to the baby and the mother, but also have a positive impact on the digestion process during pregnancy.
Intake of Dairy Products
Having a warm glass of milk before going to bed can help to aid digestion as well as promote good sleep during pregnancy. Adding a little ghee to a glass of milk and having it may also help in improving digestion and preventing constipation during pregnancy. Having buttermilk after the meals or having curd along with meals can also help in aiding the digestion during pregnancy. However, you must consult your doctor before following the above mentioned remedies.
There may be certain cases where the pregnant women may have severe nausea even after the first trimester of pregnancy and the constipation problem also would add up during the second and third trimester of pregnancy making the health still worse. So, it is extremely important to report these problems to the doctor so that he or she can suggest appropriate remedies.
Only if the digestion process is going on track all the other systems in the body would function perfectly. Any small change in the diet may also affect the digestion process during pregnancy. It is always better to prevent problems than to cure. So, it is always good to take balanced diet with the advice of the doctor and it is better not to make any alteration to the diet in any way without consulting the doctor.
