Life

Here's What You Need To Know About Popping Gas-X During Pregnancy

by Mishal Ali Zafar

From the outside, pregnancy may look like a magical fairy tale where women only glow and glisten and bask in the light of their maternity. But real life pregnancy doesn't look like a Beyoncé photo shoot with flowers and flowing laces. It's more like a soup of nausea, heartburn, and constipation. Don't forget to add a little gas. While you may find remedies for the other fun stuff, Gas-X seems to be the most popular solution for gas, but can you take Gas-X during pregnancy?

When it comes to taking medications during pregnancy, it's important to know what is safe for you and your little one. There are so many over-the- counter drugs available that may seem harmless, but can negatively affect your baby. So Romper spoke with Chicago pharmacist, Bineesh Moyeed, to find out whether or not it's safe to take Gas-X to cure that extra pregnancy gas.

She has a simple answer. “The active ingredient in Gas-X is simethicone,” says Moyeed, “which is considered safe to take while pregnant or breastfeeding, because it does not cross the placenta or go into breast milk.”

She explains that when you take Gas-X or similar drugs that contain simethicone, they go into your system and relieve gas by combining any separate gas bubbles together in your stomach. This eventually allows them to pass as a larger gas pocket, bringing down your bloat, and letting the gas out more easily. (So one big poot instead of several little ones — got it.)

Why are pregnant women so gassy anyway? According to the American Pregnancy Association (APA), you can blame it on your pregnancy hormones, specifically progesterone, which relaxes your intestinal muscles. When your intestinal muscles relax, the article further explained, it can slow down your digestion, causing gas to build up and make you feel gassy and bloated. This may make you feel like you need to either burp, belch, or — I’ll just say it — fart.

While it is safe to use Gas-X during pregnancy, there are some things that you can do to avoid getting too gassy in the first place. You've probably already noticed, but gas pain and pressure can get really bad, going all along your back and abdomen, so it’s smart to take some precautionary steps to prevent the discomfort.

For me, the biggest villain in the battle against gas is soda, which I’m admittedly addicted to, but suffer the consequences for later. The APA suggested that pregnant women avoid or try to reduce the amount of carbonated drinks they drink to prevent creating more gas bubbles in your belly. It's also suggested that you avoid gas-inducing foods such as asparagus, cabbage, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts. Too much fried food or things containing artificial sweeteners can also lead to bloating, so the APA recommended keeping those limited as well.

You should also try to sit up when you eat, explained Baby Center, and chew slowly while eating smaller meals throughout the day. Chewing too fast, chewing on gum, sucking on hard candy or a straw, will make you gulp air into your tummy, the article explained, and eating big meals can slow down your digestion further. It's also suggested that you try to prevent or treat any constipation you have, which could be adding to your gassy situation.

When I was pregnant, and suffering from vicious gas pain, I found that asking my husband to gently rub my back really helped. I also found that having hot drinks, like herbal teas and soups, would help alleviate the bloat. While these are all good remedies, you can still stick to Gas-X if you need it because it’s safe for pregnant women. So pop a pill and relieve some gas, preferably in your best pregnant Beyoncé pose.

Check out Romper's new video series, Romper's Doula Diaries:

Check out the entire Romper's Doula Diaries series and other videos on Facebook and the Bustle app across Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV.