Heartburn During Pregnancy

Dealing With Heartburn During Pregnancy

Heartburn during pregnancy is a condition that effects around 25 –50% of expectant mothers. It may be present right through the full term of the pregnancy or but more usually will start in the first or second trimester. Typically the condition disappears after your child is born. Either way, it is an uncomfortable and unpleasant thing to deal with and you are probably going to want to take steps to alleviate it as quickly as possible.

The cause of heartburn during pregnancy is understood to be linked with the increased hormone levels in the bloodstream. In particular an increase in the hormone progesterone is thought to be responsible. This can cause the muscles controlling the esophagus sphincter to soften allowing acid reflux up into the chest and throat. The other more obvious cause of heartburn during pregnancy is the increased pressure placed on the stomach as the baby grows and occupies more and more space.

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While there’s not much you can do to change these factors there are other steps you can take to reduce or cancel this unpleasant condition. One way is to use a good resource such as Heart Burn No More or you can try to out some tactics that will reduce the problem that I will explain in more detail.

One of the simplest things to try is to eat smaller meal portions throughout the day. This way, you would consume five or six small meals instead of three large meals. If you are going to try this, cut the serving size roughly in half so that your total calorie intake for the day is not increased. You will get even better results from this strategy if you discipline yourself to eat more slowly. Eating fast will only make matters worse.

Changing the type of food you eat will also help to reduce acid reflux. Spicy foods, rich foods, tomato based products including ketchup, chocolate, alcohol, fatty food and citrus juices are all best avoided. Instead, consume more bland foods and try a little yogurt or milk to mitigate stomach acidity. A little honey mixed with milk may also help. Avoid drinking large amounts of fluids at meal times. Instead drink lots of water in between meals along with other fluids. Eight to ten glasses of water a day is recommended.  Drinks like alcohol, coffee, tea and cola are best avoided as they cause the lower esophagus sphincter to relax, contributing to unnecessary heartburn during pregnancy.

Reducing heartburn can be helped by minimizing pressure on your tummy. When sitting try to avoid slouching or leaning forward. If you are bending use your knees rather than pivoting at the waist. Doing this reduces pressure on the stomach. For the same reason avoid wearing tight clothing that can add extra pressure around your middle.

If you are experiencing acid reflux after going to bed try  to plan a two or three hour interval between eating your last meal and going in to bed.  Using a higher pillow or blocking up the height of the headboard end of your bed can also be beneficial. If you continue to have a lot of heartburn during pregnancy, even after following these tips you might want to consider a proper plan or consult with your doctor about taking over the counter medications such as Maalox or Tums. While these are generally safe for women who are pregnant, just make sure your doctor approves.