A gurgling stomach, especially during pregnancy, can be uncomfortable and sometimes embarrassing depending on how loud the noises are and the setting you are in.
So in this article, we’ve answered why your stomach might be making strange noises during pregnancy, and what you can do about it.
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Why Is My Stomach Making Gurgling Noises During Early Pregnancy?
When you are pregnant, your body produces a hormone called progesterone, which slows your digestive system down.
This is actually beneficial to your baby, because slower digestion leads to more nutrients being absorbed.
However, this process does come with some common side effects, including gas, feeling bloated, constipation and cramping, and any of these may cause your stomach to rumble, gurgle, growl or make some other strange noise.
While undoubtedly uncomfortable for mom-to-be, the good news is that these issues are not usually harmful to your little one.
As always however, if you feel like there’s something unusual going on and are concerned, it’s best to get piece of mind by speaking with a medical professional.
Are Gurgling Noise Normal During Pregnancy?
Yes, gurgling, rumbling and growling noises during pregnancy are very common among expectant women.
Some women experience this around the time they are 5 weeks pregnant, and while these noises tend to be more common during early pregnancy, they can happen at any time while you’re expecting.
Depending on your situation a loud stomach may sometimes cause you some mild embarrassment (think office setting or in a meeting), but it’s a very normal part of pregnancy.
How To Prevent Or Treat Your Gurgling Stomach During Pregnancy
There are certainly some things you can do that will help reduce the chances of your stomach making gurgling noises during pregnancy.
Here are our top 6 tips and hacks:
1. Eat Smaller Meals
Larger meals are harder to digest than smaller ones.
So if you are currently eating three large meals per day, you may find that your digestion improves by moving to smaller, more frequent meals.
Try eating 5 or 6 smaller meals per day to see if that helps prevent or cure any stomach issues you may be facing.
2. Drink Lots Of Water
If you don’t drink as much water as you know you should, then you’re certainly not alone, as most of use tend to be guilty of this at least from time to time.
However, pregnant women should drink up to 12 cups of water per day because staying hydrated is important for a healthy pregnancy.
Drinking water during or after your meal will help your body break down the food and absorb nutrients, all of which aids digestion and reduces the chances of feeling bloated, constipated or having gas.
3. Move After Eating
If your schedule and circumstances allow, you could try going for a walk after each meal, as research suggests light exercise is one of the best ways to aid digestion.
This works because moving your body stimulates your stomach and intestines, which causes food to move through the body more quickly.
4. Avoid Certain Foods
There are certain foods that are known to cause gain in babies as well as adults.
It could therefore be worth taking a look at whether any of the foods below might be causing your digestive issues and weird sounding gurgling noises:
- Eggs
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Lentils
- Onions
- Milk / Dairy
- Spicy Food
- Soda or other fizzy or carbonated soft drinks
5. Get Plenty Of Fiber
Foods that are high in fiber are proven to help with digestion and keep you regular.
So try eating more of the following foods:
- Raspberries
- Pears
- Prunes
- Apples
- Avocados
- Oats
- Popcorn
- Whole Grains
6. Keep A Journal
It’s hard to identify any patterns unless you keep track of what’s going on.
So it can be a good idea to keep a note of the following each day, and to write down how your stomach felt and sounded that day and / or the day afterwards.
Some things you may want to include in a pregnancy journal like the stylish example below include:
- What you ate and drank
- Portion size
- Amount of exercise
- Stress levels or anything that may have caused extra anxiety
- Quality and quantity of sleep
5 Tips For Dealing With A Gurgling Stomach During Pregnancy
- Avoid wearing clothing that is too tight around your stomach (constricting your stomach can make things worse).
- Don’t sleep or put pressure on your stomach.
- Take deep breaths before you start a meal, as research suggests this can reduce stress and aid digestion.
- Avoid eating too late, as our digestion and metabolism naturally slows later on in the day.
- Finally, just laugh off those gurgling or growling noises because sometimes laughter is the best medicine – both figuratively and literally!
Must Read: Your Complete Guide To A Happy & Healthy Pregnancy
