Simethicone, the active ingredient in Gas-X and Mylicon, is the most widely recommended gas medicine during pregnancy. It works by breaking up gas bubbles in your digestive tract and is not absorbed into your bloodstream, meaning it doesn’t reach your baby. It’s considered safe at standard doses throughout all three trimesters.
Why Pregnancy Causes So Much Gas
Progesterone, the hormone that rises sharply during pregnancy, relaxes smooth muscle throughout your body. That includes the muscles lining your stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. The result is slower digestion at every stage: food sits longer, ferments more, and produces more gas. Your gallbladder also empties more slowly, which can add to bloating and discomfort.
As your uterus grows, it physically compresses your intestines and further slows things down. This is why many pregnant people notice gas worsening in the second and third trimesters, even if their diet hasn’t changed.
Simethicone: The Go-To Option
Simethicone (sold as Gas-X, Mylicon, and store-brand equivalents) is the gas medication most OB-GYN practices list as safe during pregnancy. It’s an anti-foaming agent, not a drug that your body absorbs. It simply collapses gas bubbles so they’re easier to pass. Because it stays in your digestive tract and exits with stool, there’s no known risk of fetal harm.
The standard dose is 80 mg per tablet. Stick to the recommended amount on the label and use the smallest dose that gives you relief. Most OB providers approve it for use throughout your entire pregnancy, but if you find yourself reaching for it daily for weeks, it’s worth mentioning at your next appointment to rule out other digestive issues.
Combination Antacids With Simethicone
Products like Mylanta and Maalox combine simethicone with aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide to treat both gas and heartburn. Simethicone in these products carries no known fetal risk. However, the aluminum hydroxide component requires more caution. High doses of aluminum-containing antacids should be avoided during pregnancy due to insufficient human safety data and some concerning results in animal studies.
If you’re dealing with gas alone (not heartburn), plain simethicone is the simpler, safer choice. If you need an antacid too, calcium-based options like Tums are generally preferred over aluminum-containing ones. Use combination products occasionally rather than as a daily habit.
Digestive Enzyme Supplements
Enzyme-based products like Beano (which contains alpha-galactosidase) help break down the complex sugars in beans, broccoli, and other gassy foods before they can ferment in your gut. Lactaid works similarly for people who are lactose intolerant. These supplements are generally considered safe, but they aren’t regulated by the FDA the way medications are, and there’s limited pregnancy-specific research on them. Harvard Health recommends that pregnant and breastfeeding women check with their doctor before using lactase products like Lactaid, and the same caution applies to Beano.
What to Avoid
Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) is the most important one to skip. When it breaks down in your body, it releases a compound related to aspirin. That raises concerns about fetal toxicity, particularly in the second and third trimesters. The American Academy of Family Physicians advises avoiding it during pregnancy.
Activated charcoal is sometimes marketed for gas and bloating. While it’s considered safe when used for poisoning treatment during pregnancy, it’s not well studied as a routine gas remedy for pregnant people, and it can interfere with the absorption of prenatal vitamins and other medications. It’s not a first-line choice.
Lifestyle Changes That Reduce Gas
Medication isn’t always necessary. Research from UCLA Health shows that walking for just 10 minutes or about 1,000 steps after a meal reduces gas and bloating more effectively than some medications. Even a short stroll after dinner can make a noticeable difference.
Eating smaller, more frequent meals helps because your slowed-down digestive system handles smaller volumes better. Common gas-producing foods to watch for include broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, beans, onions, and asparagus. These contain natural sugars like raffinose and fructose that your body struggles to break down, producing gas in the process. Sugar-free foods sweetened with sorbitol are another frequent culprit.
Three habits that increase swallowed air and worsen bloating: chewing gum, drinking carbonated beverages, and using straws. Cutting even one of these can help. Fiber is important during pregnancy for preventing constipation, but increasing it too quickly backfires. If you’re adding more fiber to your diet, do it gradually and pair high-fiber foods with carbohydrates rather than protein. Research shows you’re 40% more likely to experience bloating on a high-fiber, high-protein diet compared to a high-fiber, high-carbohydrate one. Staying well hydrated helps fiber do its job without creating more gas.
When Gas Pain May Be Something Else
Normal pregnancy gas is uncomfortable but manageable. It comes and goes, responds to position changes or passing gas, and doesn’t escalate. Sharp or stabbing abdominal pain that doesn’t go away, pain that starts suddenly and gets worse over time, or belly pain paired with a fever of 100.4°F or higher are different. These are maternal warning signs flagged by the CDC that need prompt medical evaluation, as they can indicate complications unrelated to digestion.