Most women will experience heartburn during pregnancy. In fact, reports revealed that more than half of those who get pregnant also get some symptoms of heartburn in its severe form, especially during the 2nd to 3rd trimesters.
Why Heartburn Strikes Pregnant Women
Heartburn occurs when some of the stomachs acid contents reflux or flow back up to the esophagus causing irritation or a burning sensation from the chest area to the throat while giving the mouth that acidic, sour taste.
Pregnancy triggers heartburn in most women. Even those who have never experienced it will have it for the first because of some pregnancy-related changes in the body such as:
Hormones
Womens hormonal level increases during pregnancy which in turn leads to the softening of the ligaments that keep the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES), a valve in between the esophagus and stomach, from tightly closing. With the LES frequently relaxing, some stomach contents such as acids can flow back into the esophagus easily.
Stomach Pressure
As the baby grows inside the body more pressure is exerted to the stomach which can force stomach contents to flow back to the LES.
Natural Heartburn Relief during Pregnancy
Its not easy to carry this painful condition especially when you are pregnant. So here are some useful things you can do to experience natural heartburn relief during pregnancy without hurting your baby:
Food & Drinks
Avoid eating foods that trigger heartburn such as:
citrus fruits
chocolates
coffee and other caffeine-rich drinks
alcohol
mustard
vinegar
spicy foods
fried and fatty foods
It is also important to eat several small meals throughout the day.
Eat your food slowly and drink less while eating.
When Sleeping
Avoid lying down immediately after eating. Wait for at least 3 hours since your last meal before going to bed.
Sleep with your head higher than your foot to help keep your stomach acids from flowing up to your esophagus.
Clothing
Another good
natural heartburn relief is to always wear loose and comfortable clothing to avoid tightness around your waist. Tight-fitting clothing can exert more pressure to your abdomen and stomach hence increases the likelihood of stomach acids to flow back up.
When Sitting & Bending
Try to always sit upright and avoid slouching.
When bending use your knees instead of your waist to avoid more pressure to the stomach.
Watch Your Weight
Consult your doctor on what weight range you should be on and try to stay within those limits. Too much weight may lead to obesity that will in turn create more pressure to your stomach.
Stop Smoking
During pregnancy your doctor will definitely urge you to stop smoking. Avoid smoking because not only will it harm your baby it will also increase your chances of experiencing heartburn.
Medications
While there may be useful medications against heartburn that are safe to use during pregnancy, you should always consult with your doctor on which medications you can use.
