Unfortunately, heartburn is a common symptom associated with pregnancy. Although it can be uncomfortable, there’s good news: Heartburn and acid reflux are both common conditions experienced by many women during pregnancy.
Heartburn is a serious problem and a common condition that affects millions of people every day. It’s named after the area of the body from which discomfort most commonly occurs, even though it has nothing to do with the heart.
Heartburn can be incredibly debilitating, making it difficult to concentrate or even enjoy daily activities. If you’re suffering from heartburn, it’s important to get help so that you can start feeling better and get back to your life.
Heartburn is a common digestive issue where stomach acid rises and irritates the esophagus, causing a burning sensation that begins in the stomach and chest.
Heartburn can sometimes progress into a condition known as acid reflux, when stomach acid is brought up into the throat and mouth. This can cause burning in the throat and a sour and bitter taste in the mouth.
During pregnancy, the placenta produces progesterone, a hormone that relaxes the smooth muscles of the uterus. Progesterone also relaxes the valve between the esophagus and stomach, which causes gastric acids to rise into the esophagus and results in acid reflux and heartburn.
Progesterone not only slows down your digestive processes, but it can also lead to discomfort due to pregnancy. This is just another hormonal change that your body must go through during pregnancy.
As your pregnancy progresses, your baby grows and takes up more space in your abdomen. This can push the stomach acids back up into the esophagus, causing heartburn. Heartburn during pregnancy is common and not something to be worried about.
Most women don’t experience heartburn and reflux problems until the second half of their pregnancy. This discomfort isn’t constantly present, but rather comes and goes, until your baby is born.
Dealing with heartburn during pregnancy is similar to how you’d deal with heartburn and reflux during pregnancy. As always, you should be careful with what you eat and drink to avoid exacerbating the problem. You should also check with your doctor before taking any medication, even over-the-counter drugs.
One of the best ways to keep heartburn at bay is to drink plenty of water. Water can help dilute stomach acid and flush it from your system.
You’ll find that it’s best to avoid large meals and instead stick to 6 smaller ones throughout the day. It’s also important to limit your intake of spicy or acidic foods as they can trigger heartburn. Caffeinated and carbonated drinks can also aggravate heartburn, so it’s best to avoid those while you’re pregnant. And finally, alcohol should be avoided not only because it can cause heartburn, but also because it’s not good for your developing baby.
Furthermore, it’s best to stay away from fried and fatty foods as they’re already difficult for the stomach to digest and pregnancy only makes digestion more complicated.
Stress can stimulate the production of stomach acid, which can be harmful to both you and your baby. While it’s natural to feel some stress during pregnancy, it’s important to avoid external stressors as much as possible.
Heartburn and reflux are common problems that often occur after you’ve already gone to bed for the night. To avoid this, try to consume your last meal of the day at least 2 to 3 hours before bedtime. If the problem persists, elevate your head with extra pillows so that gravity can work in your favor by keeping stomach acid in the stomach.
Heartburn during pregnancy is common but can be controlled with the help of your doctor. If you’re experiencing heartburn, make sure to discuss your concerns with your doctor, so they can help you find relief.
