Feeling The Burn Tips To Manage Heartburn Gerd In Pregnancy
Heartburn is common in adults especiallyduring pregnancy. While some research suggests women who have moderateheartburn during pregnancy give birth to babies with fullerheads of hair, having symptoms more than twice a week might be asign of gastroesophageal reflux disease , or recurrent heartburn.
According to a study of 510 pregnant women, approximately 26% have GERD symptomsduring the first trimester. The rate jumps to 36% in the second trimester and51% during the third trimester. Thats substantial compared with the 20% of adults in the U.S. who experienceheartburn.
Why the increase in symptoms during pregnancy? Progesterone, a hormone that increases early in pregnancy, relaxessmooth muscle in the body. It helps your uterus stretch to accommodate thegrowing fetus, but also reduces the reliability of the esophageal sphincter aring-like structure that seals off stomach contents from the throat.
Increased pressure placed on the stomachexternally from the growing uterus, especially in the third trimester, can alsoworsen heartburn symptoms such as:
- Burning pain in the center of thechest, especially after eating
- Sour or bitter taste in the mouth
- Sore throat or cough
Thankfully, thereare several pregnancy-safe ways to deal with acute heartburn and ongoing casesof GERD.
What Are The Symptoms Of Heartburn During Pregnancy
The top way to identify heartburn during pregnancy is that burning sensation in your chest, thanks to the acid backup. But Dr. Gray says thats not the only sign of acid reflux.5 You could also experience:
- An acidic taste in your mouth or the back of your throat
- Slight cough or hoarseness due to acid affecting your vocal cords
- Worsening symptoms of burning or pain when lying down or bending over
- Painful or difficulty swallowing
Many pregnant people also report feeling nauseous, Dr. Gray adds, and some may even vomit as a result. Thats why heartburn can sometimes be mistaken for morning sickness, particularly in the first trimester.
Is It A Heart Attack
Heart attacks occur when the blood supply to the heart muscles becomes completely blocked. If a person does not receive immediate treatment, part of the heart muscle can die.
A common symptom of a heart attack is pain or discomfort that typically occurs in the center or left side of the chest. This pain may come and go, and its severity can range from mild to severe. It can also sometimes feel like heartburn or indigestion.
However, not everyone who has a heart attack experiences chest pain. The symptoms of a heart attack can vary considerably from person to person, and they may come on slowly or very suddenly.
Other symptoms of a heart attack might
- fatigue
- breaking out in a cold sweat
Anyone who suspects that they or someone else is having a heart attack should immediately call 911 or go to the emergency room.
When trying to distinguish between cardiac and noncardiac chest pain, a person needs to consider the following three factors:
- the location of the pain
- how the pain feels
We discuss each of these in more detail below:
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How Can Heartburn In Pregnancy Be Relieved
Although heartburn can last for the entire pregnancy, there are some things you can do to relieve the feelings.
Some suggestions are:
- Eat a high fiber diet
- Dont eat late at night
- Dont eat and then lie down
- Sleep propped up, not completely horizontal
- Eat a diet low in acidic and fatty foods.
Its best to try to treat heartburn during pregnancy naturally.
Although its unpleasant, heartburn isnt usually serious enough to take stronger measures.
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Symptoms Of Indigestion And Heartburn
Symptoms of indigestion and heartburn include:
- a burning sensation or pain in the chest
- feeling full, heavy or bloated
- burping or belching
- feeling or being sick
- bringing up food
Symptoms usually come on soon after eating or drinking, but there can sometimes be a delay between eating and developing indigestion.
You can get symptoms at any point during your pregnancy, but they are more common from 27 weeks onwards.
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Does Heartburn Mean Hairy Baby
MYTH OR TRUTH: Heartburn means a hairy baby. Answer: TRUTH!
Heartburn usually strikes in the third trimester and is due to estrogen causing the esophageal sphincter to relax, which allows stomach acid to splash up into the esophagus. Estrogen appears to be responsible for hair growth in the developing baby.
How To Relieve Heartburn During Pregnancy
If you are experiencing the symptoms of heartburn unexpectedly and more frequently, try minimizing consumption of spicy and acidic foods and beverages, avoid caffeine and alcohol as much as possible, and opt for dairy products high in calcium or probiotics to help alleviate discomfort. Most importantly, though, if the symptoms of heartburn do not subside or you believe you may be pregnant consult a primary care physician as soon as possible and consider the additional resources offered by Baptist Health for expecting mothers.
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Tingling And Numbness In Your Hands
Carpal tunnel syndrome tingling and numbness in your hands affects up to 60 per cent of women during pregnancy. It is caused by compression of the median nerve due to an increase in the tissue fluids during pregnancy.
Carpal tunnel syndrome may be mild, intermittently painful, or severe, which may cause partial paralysis of the thumb or loss of sensation. Symptoms usually resolve on their own soon after birth.
If you are experiencing tingling and numbness in your hands, inform your doctor or midwife. In very severe cases, your doctor may recommend corticosteroid injections or surgical treatment.
Heartburn Often Appears During The Second Trimester And It Can Get Worse As Your Belly Grows Learn More About What Causes Heartburn During Pregnancy With Five Expert Tips For Relieving The Pain
Like the name implies, heartburn is a burning sensation in your chest but it has nothing to do with your heart. It happens when the lower esophageal sphincter , a muscle responsible for keeping stomach contents in their place, begins to relax or leak. This allows stomach acids to flow upward into the esophagus, explains Suzanne Trupin, M.D., CEO of Women’s Health Practice of Champaign, Ill.
Unfortunately, “most women will experience some acid reflux , especially in the second half of their pregnancy,” says Shari Brasner, M.D., assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, in New York City. The uncomfortable sensation tends to get worse as your baby grows.
Heartburn usually appears after meals or at bedtime, and it can range from uncomfortable to agonizing. Understanding the causes and prevention strategies can provide relief to expectant moms. Heres what you need to know about heartburn in pregnancy.
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How To Avoid Heartburn During Pregnancy
Heartburn or indigestion may not be new for you. You may have had it during your first trimester and then it went away. But now, it’s back. And you’re likely wondering why.
Many pregnant women have heartburn at some point. The hormone progesterone relaxes the ring-like sphincter at the base of your esophagus. This normally closes off entry to the stomach. When it doesnt close, food mixed with digestive enzymes can back up into your esophagus. The result: irritation and a burning sensation in your chest. And in the third trimester, you can also feel full because your growing uterus is putting pressure on your stomach.
Spotting Heartburn Symptoms During Pregnancy
If you are experiencing heartburn for the first time during pregnancy, you might not recognize the symptoms. True to its name, heartburn is a painful, burning feeling located just below or behind the breastbone.5 Although some women experience heartburn symptoms in their first trimester, the issue tends to occur more often in the third trimester.4 During these final weeks, the expanding uterus puts pressure on the intestines and stomach, which can push contents back up into the esophagus, according to OB/GYNs.3
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What Is Heartburn During Pregnancy
Pregnancy heartburn can be a living nightmare for many. Although it’s common and not at all harmful to you or your baby, it’s painful all the same.
It occurs when the digestive acid from your stomach rises up into your gullet or oesophagus . This acid can come up as far as the back of your throat or into your mouth and it leaves a nasty, bitter taste behind. You’re more likely to get pregnancy heartburn if you have had indigestion before, or if you have been pregnant before.
Why Do Pregnant Women Especially Suffer From Heartburn
To make room for the growing baby and prepare the body for birth, certain hormones ensure that the muscles, ligaments, and tendons become softer. The pregnancy hormone progesterone also ensures that the sphincter between the stomach and the esophagus stretches and becomes softer. This means that the reflux of acid from the stomach into the esophagus is not reliably prevented. The problem is further exacerbated when lying down, as gastric juice cannot flow backward.
Pack the clinic bag pregnant women need to think about it
The aggressive stomach acid causes an uncomfortable burning sensation in the esophagus. And at the same time, as the pregnancy progresses, the expanding uterus presses against the stomach This is how the contents of the stomach are squeezed into the esophagus. Unfortunately, this effect is further intensified in the last trimester by increased movement of the baby.
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Good Posture Is One Of The Easiest Ways To Prevent Heartburn
Posture is another factor that can positively or negatively affect the lives of people with heartburn. Thus experts recommend straightening your back as much as possible. This is because, by adopting a hunched posture, the stomach area can compress and release acid, causing symptoms such as spitting up or unexpected vomiting.
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How Soon Can You Get Heartburn When Pregnant
The symptoms of heartburn, acid reflux and indigestion can come on at any time, but they are most common from 27 weeks of pregnancy onwards.
Many report it during the first trimester. This is because the muscles in your esophagus are pushing food into your stomach at a much slower rate than before, and so your stomach takes longer to empty. While this allows the fetus more time to absorb the foods nutrients, it also commonly causes heartburn.
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What Causes Heartburn During Pregnancy
Causes of heartburn during pregnancy include:
- Hormone levels changing: Your hormone levels change during pregnancy, affecting how you tolerate and digest foods. The hormones often slow down your digestive system. Food moves slower, causing bloating and heartburn.
- Esophageal sphincter relaxing: Progesterone, known as the pregnancy hormone, can cause the lower esophageal sphincter to relax. When it relaxes, stomach acid can move up into the esophagus.
- Uterus enlarging: As your baby grows, your uterus gets bigger. It can crowd your stomach and push stomach acids upward, into your esophagus. Thats why heartburn is more common during the third trimester, the last few months of pregnancy. The baby and uterus are biggest then, crowding your other organs.
Quit Smoking And Alcohol
It goes without saying that smoking and alcohol are bad for the foetus for many different reasons. One of them is the increased likelihood of experiencing acid reflux in pregnancy, as drinking alcohol and inhaling the chemicals in smoke can contribute to indigestion. Both work towards relaxing the lower oesophageal valve, which lets the acid escape from your stomach and go up into your throat.
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Avoiding Indigestion And Heartburn
If your symptoms are mild, it’s possible that changes to your diet or lifestyle may help prevent indigestion and heartburn. You could try:
- eating smaller meals, more often
- avoiding eating just before bed
- avoiding foods and drinks that you suspect give you heartburn
- not drinking a lot of coffee at the end of the day
- avoiding eating and drinking at the same time, which can make your stomach more full
- sitting up straight while eating, and not lying down after a meal
- chewing gum, which may cause you to produce more saliva to help neutralise the acid
- stop smoking
- raise the head of your bed by 10 to 15cm
- sleep on your left side
If your indigestion is not helped by diet and lifestyle changes, or your symptoms are more severe, your doctor or midwife may suggest that you take a medicine for indigestion that is safe to use during pregnancy. Medicines can neutralise the acid in your stomach, reduce the amount of acid produced by your stomach and stop the acid rising into your oesophagus.
How To Treat Heartburn
If you frequently experience signs of heartburn, there are several lifestyle changes you can make to get your life back on track.
Try focussing on the following natural remedies:
1.Optimal weight
Being overweight is one of the leading causes of heartburn. Overweight people are bound to experience heartburn more often since more pressure is put on their abdomen, and so stomach acid is more likely to backflow into the oesophagus. If youre overweight, losing a couple of kilograms will help you reduce the symptoms of heartburn.
2. Good posture
Do not slouch while you eat, as sitting upright will take the pressure off your stomach. Additionally, elevate the head of your bed when you go to sleep to prevent stomach acid from coming up your throat during the night.
3. Choosing healthy foods
Some foods can actually help you alleviate the problems that come with heartburn. Try adding alkaline fruits, such as bananas or melons, as well as green vegetables to your diet. Moreover, eat soothing dairy products like yoghurt and dont forget about whole grains that treat as well as prevent acid reflux.
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Choose To Use Proton Pump Inhibitors
If other types of drugs don`t help, you could turn to PPIs, like Prevacid. These medications have a stronger acid-suppressing effect than H2 blockers do, and you can find most of them as OTC drugs.
Although PPIs are generally allowed to use during pregnancy, there are some studies performed on animals that placed things in doubt regarding the fact that omeprazole could put in danger the future baby.
Experts say that patients should better try and avoid this one as there`re around 5 or 6 more on the market, together with the H2 blockers. These ones are safe to use while pregnant.
Very Early Signs Of Pregnancy
Think you might be pregnant? Check out these early symptoms of pregnancy that can show up one week before your missed period. If youve already experienced a few, it may be time to head to the drugstore to pick up a pregnancy test or schedule an appointment with your OB-GYN.
Your breasts may be extra tender as early as one or two weeks after conception. Youre making so much estrogen and progesterone in early pregnancy that the glands in the breasts start growing, explains Jasbir Singh, M.D., an OB-GYN at Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie in Texas. This hormone surge causes breasts to retain more fluids and feel heavy, sore, or more sensitive than normal PMS tenderness.
Many women mistake these early signs of pregnancy for PMS symptoms, but theyre actually caused by hormonal changes and the growth of the uterus. About 30 percent of women experience cramping after conception, which is triggered by implantationwhen the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall. Your uterus may be stretching a little now to prep for its massive expansion over the next nine months
When a fertilized egg implants into the plush lining of the uterus about six to 12 days after conception, light vaginal spotting may occur. You might mistake this implantation bleeding for your period, but its generally lighter than menstruation and brown or pink in color.
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How To Soothe Heartburn During Pregnancy
Heartburn is a real pain whenever it decides to appear, but unfortunately it’s even more likely to rear its ugly head during pregnancy.
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Heartburn is a real pain whenever it decides to appear, but unfortunately it’s even more likely to rear its ugly head during pregnancy.
Heartburn during pregnancy tends to happen as your body undergoes lots of hormonal changes and the growing baby often presses against your stomach. Unfortunately, this can cause some stomach pain – otherwise known as indigestion, heartburn or acid reflux.
But luckily, you can help ease the condition yourself and it’s rarely ever something to worry about. The NHS advises simple lifestyle changes to limit the change of heartburn throughout your pregnancy and suggests that medications such antacids and alginates could be beneficial for a short-term solution.
If you’re feeling that nasty burning sensation right after eating, you might need this complete guide to soothing heartburn during pregnancy, quickly and safely.
Can Heartburn Be A Early Sign Of Pregnancy
Asked By : Theresa Macumber
Another early pregnancy symptom of pregnancy may be a change in your digestion, like heartburn. If you start feeling heartburn or a burning sensation in your chest after eating lunch at your favorite deli, it might not be that they changed up their recipe. It could be heartburn that is pregnancy-related.
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