Why Do Pregnant Women Get Heartburn

Which Diet And Lifestyle Changes Relieve Heartburn During Pregnancy

The management of heartburn during pregnancy involves many of the same principles as management in the non-pregnant state. Lifestyle changes may include:

Heartburn Acid Reflux And Gerd During Pregnancy

• What to eat

Its called heartburn, although that burning feeling in your chest has nothing to do with the heart. Uncomfortable and frustrating, it bothers many women, particularly during pregnancy.

The first question you may have is how to make it stop. You may also wonder if treatments are safe for your baby. Learn what causes heartburn during pregnancy and what you can do about it.

How To Relieve Heartburn During Pregnancy

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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If You’re Taking Prescription Medicines

Speak to your GP if you’re taking medicine for another condition, such as antidepressants, and you think it may be making your indigestion worse. They may be able to prescribe an alternative medicine.

Never stop taking a prescribed medicine unless you’re advised to do so by your GP or another qualified healthcare professional who’s responsible for your care.

How Can I Deal With Heartburn During Pregnancy

I’m in my second trimester. No matter what I eat, I get heartburn. Is this normal? If so, what can I do to feel better? Cari

Heartburn, despite its name, has nothing to do with the heart. It’s a burning feeling in the throat and chest when the stomach’s contents move back up into the esophagus .

Heartburn is common during pregnancy. Pregnancy hormones can make the valve at the entrance to the stomach relax so that it doesn’t close as it should. This lets acidic stomach contents move up into the esophagus, a condition known as gastroesophageal reflux , or acid reflux. It can get worse later in pregnancy when the growing uterus presses up on the stomach.

To help ease heartburn pain:

• Skip foods and drinks that can make it worse, such as citrus spicy, fatty foods caffeine and carbonated drinks.
• Eat several small meals throughout the day.
• Take your time when eating.
• Drink liquids between not during meals.
• Avoid eating or drinking for 3 hours before bedtime.
• Resist the urge to lie down after meals.
• Raise your head when you sleep.
• Talk to your doctor about medicines that are safe to take for heartburn during pregnancy.

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How Do You Get Rid Of Heartburn When Your Pregnant

The following tips may help relieve your heartburn:

Why Does Water Give Me Heartburn

Heartburn occurs when stomach acid, and food mixture comes up into the esophagus, the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach. Ordinarily, the lower esophageal sphincter prevents the stomach contents from entering the esophagus from the stomach, so that the acidic contents do not irritate the esophagus. Note that the LES and the stomach are equipped to withstand the acid unlike the esophagus.

When swallowing, the LES opens to let food or drink into the stomach. It may also open briefly when pressure builds in the stomach due to trapped gas, as happens when you belch. It could also open if your stomach is too full, or there is excess pressure due to tight clothing around the waist. In such instances, the acidic content may get into the esophagus, and cause some pain or discomfort.

But why does water give me heartburn? This can happen due to the following:

The average human stomach is the size of a clenched fist, whose capacity is about 900 ml . However, the stomach stretches to accommodate more content, although this is not advisable because it leads to a stuffed feeling.

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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.

Heartburn Symptoms And Pre

If your heartburn symptoms don’t go away with medicine, it’s important to see your doctor as it may be a sign of something more serious, such as pre-eclampsia. A pregnant woman with pre-eclampsia usually has high blood pressure and problems with her kidneys. Pre-eclampsia could also seriously affect a woman’s liver, blood and brain. Any pregnant woman can experience pre-eclampsia â almost 1 in 20 Australian women will develop it.

Because pre-eclampsia is dangerous for both you and your baby, you should let your doctor know if your heartburn medicine is not working. This is especially important if you’re also feeling very unwell or you have:

• sudden swelling of your hands, feet or face
• a headache that doesn’t go away with simple painkillers
• problems with your eyesight such as blurring or seeing flashing lights or dots
• a strong pain below your ribs

Find out more about how pre-eclampsia is treated here.

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Does Heartburn During Pregnancy Mean My Baby Will Be Born With Hair

Suffering from severe heartburn? You may want to stock up on baby shampoo. Research has backed up the superstition that, on average, the more heartburn you have during pregnancy, the more likely your baby will be born with a full head of hair.

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

Why Heartburn In Pregnancy

The exact cause of heartburn during pregnancy is not well understood. It is believed that heartburn during pregnancy occurs due to the interplay between the pregnancy hormone, growing baby, and slow digestion of foods.

Pregnancy causes an imbalance of many hormones in your body. It elevates the levels of progesterone hormones which play a crucial role in pregnancy-induced heartburn.

Progesterone causes relaxation, including muscles involved in preventing the backflow of acid from the stomach . As a result, stomach acid and food reflux to your food pipe causing heartburn.

Progesterone also slows down the rate of digestion. As a result, food in your stomach stays for long, making it more likely to reflux to the esophagus.

The growth of your baby can also lead to heartburn. Your baby’s growth makes the womb squeeze the stomach, which leads to spilling its content to the esophagus. It is the reason why you are more likely to experience heartburn throughout your pregnancy.

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What Makes It Worse

Most spicy, greasy, fatty foods known for causing heartburn are also likely to cause problems for pregnant women. Food doesnt digest as well or move as quickly during pregnancy. So, eating large meals or overeating in general can also increase the risk for heartburn. Eating right before bedtime can cause problems, too. Smoking makes heartburn worse and is another reason to quit, especially while pregnant.

How Can Heartburn During Pregnancy Be Prevented

You can take steps to reduce heartburn symptoms without hurting your baby.

Dietary changes:

• Eat several small meals throughout the day instead of three large ones.
• Eat slowly.
• Drink between your meals, but not with meals.
• Avoid fried, spicy or fatty foods.
• Avoid citrus fruits and juices.
• Limit caffeine.
• Dont smoke and avoid alcohol. Besides causing heartburn, smoking and drinking during pregnancy can cause health problems for the baby.

Other tips to avoid heartburn during pregnancy:

• Sit up straight when you eat.
• Dont eat late at night.
• Dont lie down right after eating.
• Keep the head of your bed higher than the foot of the bed. Or try placing pillows under your shoulders. Doing so helps prevent stomach acids from rising into your chest.

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Does Pregnancy Cause Heartburn

Pregnancy increases your risk of heartburn or acid reflux. During the first trimester, muscles in your esophagus push food more slowly into the stomach and your stomach takes longer to empty.

This gives your body more time to absorb nutrients for the fetus, but it can also result in heartburn.

During the third trimester, the growth of your baby can push your stomach out of its normal position, which can lead to heartburn.

However, each woman is different. Being pregnant doesnt necessarily mean youll have heartburn. It depends on many factors, including your physiology, diet, daily habits, and your pregnancy.

Relieving heartburn during pregnancy typically involves some trial and error. Lifestyle habits that can reduce heartburn are often the safest methods for mother and baby. The following tips may help relieve your heartburn:

Alternative medicine options include acupuncture and relaxation techniques, such as progressive muscle relaxation, yoga, or guided imagery. Always check with your doctor before trying new treatments.

What Are The Symptoms Of Heartburn Or Acid Reflux

Heartburn feels like a strong burning sensation in the chest and can be extremely uncomfortable. It is also known as acid reflux and indigestion .

Heartburn can show itself as a discomfort , bloating, wind, burping and nausea. Youll be able to compare notes with a lot of other mum friends as up to eight out of ten pregnant women get heartburn .

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Is There Anything I Can Do To Relieve And Prevent Constipation During My Pregnancy

Constipation is very common in pregnancy. It happens for four reasons:

To help relieve and prevent constipation you should:

• Eat plenty of fibre this can be found in vegetables, fruit, whole grains and legumes . The recommendation for fibre during pregnancy is 28 g every day. Most Canadians do not meet their daily fibre requirements
• Bananas, applesauce and rice may be binding, so you may want to limit these foods if youre constipated
• Drink plenty of fluids water, milk and soup are all included. Pregnant women should aim to get about 10 cups of fluid every day
• Be as active as you can, as long as your doctor has not told you to avoid activity
• If you are still constipated after trying all of these tips, speak to your doctor before trying any laxatives

Why Does It Happen In Pregnancy

Many women who have heartburn during pregnancy have never had problems before. Unfortunately, if you had heartburn before becoming pregnant, youre more likely to have symptoms while you are pregnant. Although the exact reasons arent clear, most experts believe that pregnancy hormones, particularly progesterone, play a role. Hormones cause relaxation of the esophageal sphincter. This is a tight circular band of muscle at the top of the stomach. This allows partially digested food and stomach acids to backflow, or reflux, into the esophagus. In addition, progesterone also slows the digestive process. This keeps food in the stomach longer. The pregnancy itselfthe upward pressure of the growing uterusalso may play a role.

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How To Treat Pregnancy Heartburn Naturally

While you can’t completely prevent heartburn during pregnancy, there are ways you can minimize how often it happens and reduce the severity when it strikes.

Below are seven tips from Wellenstein, Sridhar, and experts from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Why Do Pregnant Women Get Heartburn And How To Treat It

With regards to perceiving early indications of pregnancy, each lady is unique and there will be different markers some time before any visual affirmation. One of these expected indications of early pregnancy is acid reflux and heartburn.

For what reason Do Pregnant Women Get Heartburn?

At the point when a lady becomes pregnant, the degrees of progesterone in her body rise and stay raised for the duration. These expanded degrees of progesterone bring about the unwinding of the stomach valve driving back to the throat, permitting an expanded measure of stomach corrosive to enter the throat and in this way creating that consuming uproar we as a whole partner with indigestion.

These extra chemicals because of pregnancy additionally cause a lady’s assimilation to ease back to permit her body and the child’s to retain more nutrients. This can likewise bring about food waiting in the stomach longer than ordinary, causing expanded stomach tumult and indigestion, a side effect that is just exacerbated by the developing belly swarming the mid-region.

Is Heartburn a Sign of Early Pregnancy?

There are numerous conceivable early indications of a fresh out of the box new pregnancy yet none are an assurance that a lady is presently anticipating. Notwithstanding, indigestion could be an indication of early pregnancy, particularly for a lady who is aware of no other contributing variables.

When Does Heartburn Start in Pregnancy?

What Does Heartburn Feel Like When Pregnant?

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Treating Heartburn During Pregnancy

Unfortunately, heartburn is one of those symptoms that can occur even when you take all the right steps to avoid it. When this happens, there are some doctor-approved at-home and over-the-counter options for relief. These include:

• Eating yogurt or drinking milk
• Nonprescription heartburn relievers
• Antacids
• H-2 blockers

Medicines For Indigestion And Heartburn

Medicines for indigestion and heartburn during pregnancy include:

• antacids to neutralise the acid in your stomach
• alginates to relieve indigestion caused by acid reflux by stopping the acid in your stomach coming back up your gullet

You may only need to take antacids and alginates when you start getting symptoms. However, your GP may recommend taking them before symptoms come on for example, before a meal or before bed.

If you’re taking iron supplements as well as antacids, do not take them at the same time. Antacids can stop iron from being absorbed by your body.

If antacids and alginates do not improve your symptoms, your GP may prescribe a medicine to reduce the amount of acid in your stomach. 2 that are widely used in pregnancy and not known to be harmful to an unborn baby are:

• ranitidine a tablet you take twice a day
• omeprazole a tablet you take once a day

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