During pregnancy you expect swollen ankles, morning sickness and breast engorgement, but what about heartburn? What causes it?
As the name suggests, heartburn is characterized by a burning sensation that starts behind the breastbone and can rise up to the esophagus, which connects your throat to the stomach. Acids in the stomach can reach your throat.
In addition to the burning sensation, which can last from a few minutes to several hours, you may also feel
- feeling bloated
- frequent belching
- a sour taste in your mouth
- occurrence of sore throat
- frequent coughing
The hot and spicy foods you ate probably made things worse, but this burning is more related to hormones than spices.
If Not Meals, What’s the Reason?
If you feel like your chest and stomach are on fire, you are not alone. According to a study, 45% of expectant mothers experience heartburn. If you have had heartburn before pregnancy, it is even more likely to occur during pregnancy.
Heartburn can occur at any time during pregnancy but is more common in the second and third trimesters. Experts are not sure of the exact cause of this discomfort, but they think there are three main causes.
Hormones
The hormone progesterone, also known as the pregnancy hormone, plays a role in nourishing the baby and uterus and is one of the biggest suspects for pregnancy-induced heartburn.
Progesterone acts as a muscle relaxant. This hormone can cause the muscles that close the entrance to the stomach and prevent stomach contents from escaping into the esophagus to relax.
When you eat and drink, this muscle opens to take your food into the stomach but then closes tightly. During pregnancy, when progesterone increases, the muscle can relax and stomach acids can reach the esophagus or even your throat.
Growing Baby
As your uterus expands with the baby, it competes for space with your other organs. Like the squeezing of toothpaste, the growing uterus puts pressure on the stomach and allows stomach acids to escape, especially when the stomach is full.
As the uterus grows, the stomach is more likely to get stuck. This is why heartburn becomes more frequent as the pregnancy progresses.
Slow Digestion
Thanks to progesterone, stomach contents stay in the stomach longer than usual. As digestion slows down, the stomach stays full longer, which increases the chance of heartburn.
Proven Ways to Relieve the Stomach
Heartburn can be uncomfortable, but here are some ways to fight it:
Watch What You Eat
Acidic and spicy foods cause more stomach acid production than bland foods. Avoid lemons, tomatoes, onions, garlic, caffeine, chocolate, soda and other acidic foods. Also avoid fried and fatty foods because they slow down digestion.
Eat Small and Frequent Meals Instead of Three Times a Day
Thus, you can prevent the stomach from overfilling and allow it to empty faster.
Sit Upright When Eating
Gravity helps keep food in the right position, so sitting upright while eating can help with heartburn.
Stop Eating Three Hours Before Bedtime
Stop eating three hours before bedtime to help digestion. This is because going to bed slows digestion and the stomach takes longer to empty, which can cause heartburn.
Do Not Smoke
There are already many reasons not to smoke during pregnancy, but heartburn is one of them. The chemicals in cigarettes cause the muscles that keep stomach contents in the stomach to relax. This causes acids and undigested food to escape upwards.
Keep your head elevated while sleeping
The best way to achieve this is to put a pillow under your shoulders or something under the foot of your bed to elevate it. There are also special materials made for this purpose. Keeping the head slightly elevated and sleeping this way will allow gravity to help you.
Wear Comfortable Clothes
Wear comfortable clothes instead of clothes that tighten the waist, stomach and abdomen.
Drink Something After Meals
Unfortunately, having a drink with your meal will cause your stomach to overfill, which can lead to heartburn. Instead, consume your drinks after your meal.
Try Acupuncture
According to a 2015 study, there was not much difference in symptoms between women who received acupuncture treatment and women who did not, but women who received acupuncture saw improvements in their ability to sleep and eat.
Do Not Drink Alcohol
Alcohol can already cause major problems for your developing baby, including low birth weight and learning disabilities. But it can also relax the muscles that keep stomach contents there.
Talk to your doctor
Some over-the-counter medicines are considered safe to take during pregnancy.
Antacids neutralize stomach acids and can reduce the burning sensation. If you are unable to soothe your heartburn with lifestyle changes, your doctor may prescribe some medicines.
Do not do the following
When you are pregnant you have to be very careful about everything you take into your body. Some stomach medicines may be suitable for non-pregnant people but not for you:
- Antacids containing sodium bicarbonate may increase bloating.
- Antacids containing aspirin can be toxic to your baby. Aspirin use during pregnancy has been linked to pregnancy loss, heart defects and brain bleeding.
- Antacids containing magnesium trisilicate are not approved for safe use during pregnancy.
Conclusion
Although heartburn and discomfort is common during pregnancy, it usually goes away after delivery when hormones return to normal levels.
It can be almost impossible to prevent heartburn when you are pregnant, especially if you are prone to it even when you are not pregnant. However, some lifestyle changes, such as eating smaller meals, avoiding spicy and fatty foods and sleeping with your head elevated, can help.
If these solutions do not help enough, consult your doctor about medicines that are safe to use during pregnancy.
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