Even very early in your pregnancy you might be surprised to notice that you produce a lot more wind than usual, and it might cause you some discomfort or even keep you awake at night. Later, in your third trimester you may also notice that you have an increase of wind. Don't worry, this is a very common pregnancy complaint, particularly in the first trimester, although that might not be much comfort when you're trying to get to sleep in the early hours or trying to go unnoticed in the office!

Why does it happen?
Wind is caused in two main ways: the slowing of the intestine and swallowing air.

During pregnancy the hormone progesterone is produced in sufficient quantities to slow down the passage of food through the gut. As food stays in the intestine longer, bacteria have more time to work on undigested food there, producing a build up of wind. Some foods are generally more prone than others to produce wind in this way, such as pulses, onions, cabbage, sprouts, cauliflower, bran (but not wheat bran), certain fruits and spices. Many people also find they are sensitive to certain foods that they find difficult to digest, but may not notice this until pregnancy. Common culprits include lactose in milk and dairy products and refined carbohydrates. If you already suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome then unfortunately this is likely to be exacerbated by pregnancy.

Additionally, in your third trimester your growing womb puts pressure on the rest of your abdomen and can often lead to both indigestion and more wind.

Trapped wind is often caused by swallowing air as you eat of drink, which is more likely to happen if you eat quickly, drink while you eat, talk while you eat, chew gum or drink fizzy drinks. This is the easiest kind of wind to prevent.

What can you do about it?

  • Be careful with fluid intake - To cut down on trapped wind making you burp avoid fizzy drinks, eat slowly and carefully to avoid swallowing air, and limit the amount you drink with meals (but do get plenty of fluids outside of meal times).
  • Moderate your diet - If you keep a food diary the causes might become quickly obvious, or it might seem like everything gives you bad wind. To to help see the wood from the trees try avoiding the most likely sources and then reintroduce them one by one to judge their effect. It's important though that you continue to get a balanced diet, so don't sacrifice that to the pursuit of eliminating your wind.
  • Give your gut a break - You're far more likely to get wind if you eat big meals, with lots of different food types that overload your digestive system. Try eating smaller meals, more often, and keeping the meals more simple so that your digestive tract can produce the right enzymes to effectively digest the food.
  • Get your gut going through exercise - Have you ever noticed when you've gone for a run that you need the loo? That's because exercise gets your intestines working faster. A brisk walk is enough to have an effect on your digestion, so if you spend most of your day stuck in front of a computer, try getting off your bum and getting out for a walk.
  • Get your gut going through food - Wheat bran isn't digested by the body at all, so it's very effective at stimulating the intestines without being broken down into wind. You might want to consider incorporating wheat bran into your breakfast to promote digestion, particularly if you're also constipated (which is also common in pregnancy).
  • Start the day well - It's a good idea to get your digestive system active in the morning before you confront it with food. Starting the day with a cup of warm water, or better, warm water with lemon juice twenty minutes before you eat breakfast will help wake your system up - as will a little morning exercise.
  • Give your body room - If you're bloated and windy then relieve the pressure by loosening your clothing, rather than trying to belt it all up.
  • Natural digestive aids - Sipping a cup of warm water, warm water with lemon, peppermint tea or fennel tea can help relieve wind and promote digestion.
  • Wind at night - If you're being kept awake with uncomfortable wind at night then try getting up and walking around to release the wind. Slowly sipping warm water or peppermint tea may help. If you wear pajamas then try loosening them or wear a nightie instead to take pressure off your abdomen.
If nothing seems to help reduce wind and indigestion then you could talk to your doctor about a suitable medication. Several indigestion tablets are safe for use during pregnancy, but you'll need to check first rather than assuming.

Could it be something more serious?
It's most likely that your wind is just one of the less appealing sides of pregnancy, however, if along with the wind you feel pain in your abdomen, start feeling nauseous and vomiting or see blood when you pass a bowel movement, then you should tell your doctor.