Bloating is common and can be painful for children and young people with pelvic pain.
Fast facts
- Bloating can feel like pressure, tightness, fullness or swelling in the abdomen.
- It’s not usually caused by eating too much food.
- Small changes like regular, slow eating and gentle stretching can help.
- If bloating is getting in the way of your young person’s daily life, there’s support available.
What is bloating?
Bloating doesn’t always mean something is wrong. It often reflects how the gut is moving, how much gas is being produced, how sensitive the nerves are, and how regularly someone is eating. Bloating is common, but it can be uncomfortable and painful, especially for those with pelvic pain. It can feel like pressure, tightness, fullness, or appear as visible swelling in the abdomen.
Relieving bloating won’t always reduce pelvic pain, but it can reduce pressure, calm irritated nerves, and help pelvic floor muscles relax.
Bloating isn’t usually caused by eating too much food. It’s more often related to how the gut moves, how it handles gas, and how sensitive the nervous system is.
There are usually multiple things happening at once that cause bloating. These include:
- Gas production from eating food
- Constipation
- Swallowing too much air
- Not chewing carefully
- Not eating regularly and skipping meals
- Food sensitivities.
What should you do if your young person feels bloated?
There are lots of things you can do to improve bloating. For example:
- Aim for three meals and one to three snacks each day – regular eating helps keep the digestive system moving and supports regular bowel movements.
- Slow down when eating and chew carefully – eating quickly can lead to swallowing extra air, which can increase bloating and discomfort.
- Try sipping peppermint tea or a herbal supplement.
- Encourage gentle stretches and deep breathing.
When to get help
Changes often take time and you might not notice a difference overnight. However, sometimes reducing stress or changing what your young person eats isn’t enough to relieve their symptoms.
If their symptoms are:
- Making their pelvic pain worse, or
- They struggle with certain textures, food, or eating.
It might help to get some extra support.
Support options
- A regular doctor (GP) can help.
- A dietitian (a specialist in food and nutrition) can help change eating habits and share advice around things like adding more fibre to their diet or suggest a supplement that can help.
- A pelvic floor physiotherapist can teach your young person exercises to relax their pelvic floor.
- An occupational therapist (OT) can help your young person overcome challenges to complete everyday activities – for example, teaching them techniques to relax their muscles when going to the toilet.
You can ask a GP for a referral to a dietitian, physiotherapist, or OT they recommend.