When Does Heartburn Start In Pregnancy
Initial symptoms of heartburn can appear quite early in pregnancy, even around the second month. As such, heartburn can be an early sign of pregnancy in many women.
However, the symptoms can worsen later in pregnancy, especially when you reach the third trimester. The reason for this is the growing uterus that puts more pressure on your stomach and organs.
As described earlier in the article, this can result in the stomach contents spilling out and up into the food pipe, and causing that unpleasant burning sensation.
Since almost a half of all pregnant women experience heartburn, which often lasts throughout the whole pregnancy, this unpleasant phenomenon is not only one of the earliest signs of pregnancy but also one of the most common.
During pregnancy, your body produces more of the progesterone hormone which relaxes smooth muscles including the ring of muscle in your lower esophagus that normally keeps food and acids down in your stomach. This muscle relaxation can lead to acid reflux, otherwise known as heartburn.
What Causes Heart Burn During Early Stage Of Pregnancy
There are different reasons for heartburn, which is also called as acid indigestion.
- The change in hormones creates a feeling of burning in the esophagus.
- While heartburn is frequent in the first trimester for few, the other set of women feels the trouble in the second and third trimester.
- The increase in the uterus size pushes the acids of the abdomen resulting in heartburn.
- If you are having issues with gallstones, then this could also cause heartburn. Get a doctors opinion and relieve yourself from heartburn.
- Pregnancy brings in massive changes. As a result, the valve amidst the stomach and esophagus relaxes, causing acids to splash back up.
Is It Normal To Have Nausea The First Few Weeks Of Pregnancy
But many first-time moms miss these signs because the very earliest symptoms of pregnancy arent necessarily the ones we associate with having a baby on the way. So, yes, while some women experience nausea or hypersensitivity to smells, these seven symptoms are among the most common during the first few weeks of pregnancy.
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Prevention Of Heartburn During Pregnancy
Some tips that may help you cut down on heartburn during your pregnancy include:
- Eat several small meals each day instead of three large ones.
- Eat slowly.
- Avoid fried, spicy, or rich foods or any foods that seem to cause relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter and increase the risk of heartburn.
- Donât smoke tobacco or drink alcohol, which can make heartburn symptoms worse.
- Drink less while eating. Drinking large amounts while eating may increase the risk of acid reflux and heartburn.
- Dont lie down directly after eating.
- Keep the head of your bed higher than the foot of your bed. Or place pillows under your shoulders to help prevent stomach acids from rising into your esophagus.
- Wear loose-fitting clothing. Tight-fitting clothes can increase the pressure on your stomach and abdomen.
- Try to avoid constipation.
Understanding The Oesophagus And Stomach
When we eat, food passes down the gullet into the stomach. Cells in the lining of the stomach make acid and other chemicals which help to digest food.
Stomach cells also make mucus which protects them from damage caused by the acid. The cells lining the oesophagus are different and have little protection from acid.
There is a circular band of muscle at the junction between the oesophagus and stomach. This relaxes to allow food down but normally tightens up and stops food and acid leaking back up into the oesophagus. In effect, the sphincter acts like a valve.
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Heartburn In Pregnancy: Acid Reflux Or Gerd
The terms heartburn, acid reflux and GERD are often used interchangeably, even though they actually mean different things.
Acid reflux is quite a common medical condition that comes with symptoms varying from mild to more serious. When acid reflux appears chronically and in a more severe form, we are talking about GERD. Heartburn is a symptom of both acid reflux as well as GERD.
This article focuses on heartburn during pregnancy and its various causes, which can be connected to both GERD and acid reflux.
Every woman is different, so its difficult to define all the early signs of pregnancy. However, heartburn is one of the common signs that something special is going on in your body in early pregnancy, especially if you cant think of any other triggering factors.
Medications For Heartburn During Pregnancy
Usually, antacids that are considered safe during pregnancy are suggested by doctors. Dont skip on your calcium tablets as they help relieve the symptoms of heartburn.
If your body is not responding well to antacids, its better to inform the doctor about it so they can suggest some other medicines.
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Can You Take Antacid During Pregnancy
Dealing with heartburn in pregnancy, especially in the last trimester when the feeling can really become unbearable, pushes many women to try over-the-counter antacids. As with any other medication, taking an antacid while pregnant should be discussed with your doctor, especially when it comes to defining the right dosage.
As a general rule, taking antacids made of calcium or magnesium is considered safe and effective if you want to alleviate heartburn. You can take an antacid when you start experiencing the symptoms, although your doctor could also advise you to actually take it before a meal or before going to bed as a preventative measure.
However, make sure you avoid taking antacids with aluminium for longer periods of time, as they can negatively impact the development of your babys nervous system. Another thing to bear in mind is that you should not take iron supplements at the same time as antacids, as they can prevent the absorption of iron. And lastly, when the big day is getting close it may be best to avoid antacids containing high doses of magnesium, as they can have a negative impact on uterine contractions during your labour. You dont have to completely cut them out, but dont take them too often and only when really needed.
How To Get Rid Of Heartburn During Pregnancy
Pregnancy can change your body in more than one way. During this phase, you will experience a multitude of things, all at once. One common and troublesome symptom experienced by expecting mothers is heartburn or acid indigestion.
Despite the severity of this symptom, most pregnant women are not willing to take any medications, fearing the side effects associated with them. Hence, if you are an expecting mother who has been on the lookout for natural ways to soothe heartburn during pregnancy, we are here to help.
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Causes Of Heartburn During Pregnancy
Heartburn in pregnancy may happen because of changing hormone levels, which can affect the muscles of the digestive tract and how your body handles different foods.
Pregnancy hormones can cause your lower esophageal sphincter to relax, allowing stomach acids to flow back up into your esophagus. Also, as your baby grows, your enlarged uterus can crowd the abdomen, pushing stomach acids upward. Although it’s rare, gallstones can also cause heartburn during pregnancy.
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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When Does Heartburn Start During Pregnancy
Heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux that results from the irritation of the esophagus or food pipe. This irritation is triggered by stomach acid that comes back up from the stomach. Heartburn is also referred to as acid indigestion.
Almost 50% of pregnant women are reported to exhibit severe symptoms of heartburn. This is especially apparent in the second and third trimester of pregnancy, which is when the growing uterus ends up exerting increased pressure on the stomach .
Let us now look at the potential triggers of heartburn in pregnancy.
Ginger And Acupressure Relieve Morning Sickness
Answer: Old Wives Tale
Bad news for the 70 percent of pregnant women who experience nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy: There is no truly reliable treatment for morning sickness. Authors of a Cochrane systematic review analyzed 27 studies involving more than 4,000 pregnant women and found that not a single commonly used remedy, including ginger, acupuncture, acupressure, vitamin B6 and anti-nausea drugs, could be deemed effective.
we found little evidence to support these popular therapies, says study co-author Dónal OMathúna, Ph.d., a senior lecturer at Dublin City University school of Nursing in ireland. But this doesnt mean you shouldnt try them . Some of these therapies might work for some women, OMathúna says. Plus, the placebo effect can be very powerful.
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What Are The Causes Of Heartburn In Pregnancy
In early stages of pregnancy, the body starts producing big quantities of progesterone which has a relaxing effect on muscles, which enables better absorption of nutrients that feed the baby. However, progesterone can also loosen the lower esophageal sphincter which separates the stomach from esophagus. However, if it is too relaxed, stomach acid might go back from the stomach into the esophagus which might cause a very uncomfortable burning sensation around the heart .
What Causes Heartburn In Pregnancy
But whyyyyyy you may be moaning, as you clutch your throat. Unfortunately, you cant point to just one causeexperts generally believe that its a combination of factors, including those pregnancy hormones that may decrease the pressure of the valve separating your stomach from your esophagus.
But you also have to consider that when youre pregnant, your body is expanding, most notably in your abdomen. As your baby grows, your uterus grows, too. And as your uterus swells, it pushes against your stomach, causing an increase in intraabdominal pressurethat causes reflux.
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Does Water Help Heartburn
Drinking water during the later stages of digestion can reduce acidity and GERD symptoms. Often, there are pockets of high acidity, between a pH or 1 and 2, just below the esophagus. By drinking tap or filtered water a little while after a meal, you can dilute the acid there, which can result in less heartburn.
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Is Heartburn A Sign Of Pregnancy
During pregnancy, there are so many changes Taking place in your body.
Youll feel all kinds of things youve never felt before some good and some bad.
When youre trying to conceive, youll probably analyse everything you feel every month.
It can be difficult to tell whether symptoms you have are pregnancy symptoms or not.
Some symptoms are more obvious than others.
In this article, were focusing on heartburn as a pregnancy symptom.
Is heartburn a sign of pregnancy?
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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
What Medications Can I Take For Heartburn During Pregnancy
Its important to be extremely careful about the medications you take when pregnant.
For heartburn relief, over-the-counter antacids are all considered safe medications to use during pregnancy.
As always, consult with your provider about any medications youre taking even if theyre considered safe.
If you experience any unusual symptoms while taking an over-the-counter medication, call your doctor immediately.
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Pregnancy Sign: Lower Pelvic Cramping
Pelvic cramping as an early pregnancy sign? Yep, it can be, according to Nordahl. That might seem counterintuitive, as cramps are super-typical symptoms of Aunt Flow. You were probably hoping that being pregnant meant you could kiss cramps goodbye, but sadly thats not the case. Light cramps can be caused by early pregnancy hormonal shifts and implantation of the fertilized egg on your uterine lining.
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What Causes Acid Reflux During Pregnancy
Acid reflux occurs when some acid leaks up into the gullet . The lining of the oesophagus can cope with a certain amount of acid. However, if more than the usual amount of acid refluxes, it may cause some inflammation on the lining of the oesophagus, which can cause symptoms.
The sphincter at the bottom of the oesophagus normally prevents acid reflux. It is thought that when you are pregnant:
- The increased level of certain hormones that occurs has a relaxing effect on the sphincter muscle. That is, the tightness of the sphincter is reduced during pregnancy.
- The size of the baby in the tummy causes an increased pressure on the stomach.
One or both of the above increase the chance that acid will reflux into the oesophagus. The dyspepsia usually goes away after the birth of your baby when your hormones change back to their non-pregnant state and the baby is no longer causing increased pressure on your stomach.
You are more likely to develop dyspepsia in pregnancy if you have previously had gastro-oesophageal reflux before you were pregnant.
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How Do I Know If My Pregnancy Is Healthy
The first way to make sure that your pregnancy is healthy is by keeping your blood pressure and blood sugar levels in check. In fact, the decision to get pregnant should be immediately followed by checking your blood pressure and the levels of sugar in your blood. You should follow up on these in all the trimesters.
When To Call The Doctor
If heartburn symptoms are associated withheadaches or swelling of the hands and face, talk with your provider beforetrying these remedies, especially if the symptoms are new and present in thelast trimester of pregnancy.
Heartburn-like paincan be a symptom of preeclampsia, or dangerously high bloodpressure during pregnancy. Preeclampsia puts mothers and babies at risk, andfurther evaluation may be necessary.
As mentioned,heartburn is very common in pregnancy. If your symptoms dont resolve with dietchanges or medication, let your provider know so you can find an effectivetreatment.
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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.
Be Aware Of Your Triggers
Citrus, fat, chocolate or caffeine these are all things that expecting mothers who experience heartburn have been recommended not to consume them. But leads to acid reflux in a certain woman may not be a triggering cause for another woman.
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Rather than tell their patients to avoid a particular type of food, some doctors advise them to stay from some foods which tend to worsen them in particular. We are all different from one another. If some of the pregnant women out there are able to chow down when it comes to spaghetti or Mexican food, other ones cannot.
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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.
Cramping And Spotting During Early Pregnancy
From week 1 to week 4, everything is still happening on a cellular level. The fertilized egg creates a blastocyst that will develop into the babys organs and body parts.
About 10 to 14 days after conception, the blastocyst will implant in the endometrium, the lining of the uterus. This can cause implantation bleeding, which may be mistaken for a light period.
Here are some signs of implantation bleeding:
- Color: The color of each episode may be pink, red, or brown.
- Bleeding: Bleeding is usually compared to your regular menstrual period. Spotting is defined by blood present only when wiping.
- Pain: Pain may be mild, moderate, or severe. According to a , 28 percent of women associated their spotting and light bleeding with pain.
- Episodes: Implantation bleeding is likely to last less than three days and doesnt require treatment.
Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, or using illicit drugs, which are associated with heavy bleeding.
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