Do You Get Heartburn If Your Pregnant

How To Prevent Heartburn

4 Steps to Relieve Heartburn in Pregnancy

Knowing how common heartburn during pregnancy is can be discouraging, however, there are some steps you can take to help prevent it!

Dietary changes

Making some changes to your diet and eating habits can go a long way in preventing heartburn. Instead of eating three large meals, try eating several smaller meals throughout the day. This helps reduce the work your digestive tract has to do and gives your body time to process. Try to avoid any spicy, fried, and fatty foods, as well as citrus fruits and juices.

You should try to eat slower than usual, as well as avoid drinking during meals, and only drink in between meals instead.

Lifestyle changes

Pay attention to your posture when youre eating always sit up straight and avoid laying down immediately after finishing meals. You should also avoid eating late at night and try to elevate your shoulders, neck, and head when you go to sleep.

Causes Of Heartburn In Pregnancy

Heartburn is commonly caused by eating spicy foods, which can irritate the stomach or esophagus or slow the rate of digestion. This can be true during pregnancy, too, but many of the causes of heartburn in pregnancy are simply natural parts of pregnancy, such as:

Hormonal changes

Experts believe that heartburn in pregnancy is caused by hormonal changes. Pregnant people have high levels of the hormone progesterone which causes muscles in the body to relax. One of these muscles is the lower esophageal sphincter, which seals the stomach off from the esophagus, the long tube connecting the throat with the stomach.

Usually when we swallow our food, the lower esophageal sphincter opens up to allow food to enter our stomachs, but the rest of the time, it’s squeezed shut. Because of the increased levels of hormones in pregnant people, the muscle relaxes, allowing stomach acids and partially digested food to move backward into the esophagus. The esophagus lining is more sensitive than stomach lining which is why it feels like it’s burning.

Hormonal changes also cause the digestive system to slow down, so the food moves more slowly through the body and stays in the stomach longer.

Growing uterus

As the baby grows, especially during the third trimester, the uterus pushes on the abdomen, adding pressure or blocking parts of the digestive tract. This sometimes pushes stomach acid up into the esophagus. It also adds to the slowing down of the digestive system.

Other Method Of Getting Rid Of Heartburn During Pregnancy

  • Increase your intake of low fat milk and other dairy products
  • Eat ice creams
  • Increase your intake of whole grain foods
  • Drink a lot of water and other fluids regularly
  • Avoid wearing skin tight clothes which will exert pressure on the stomach
  • Chew gum after food to increase saliva flow to the stomach
  • Eat food steadily and slowly when pregnant
  • Avoid smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol
  • Try to reduce the amount of baking soda in your diet
  • Try to bend at the knees level instead of bending at the waist level
  • Try to avoid stress to improve your health as well as health of your baby
  • Try to keep your weight at check. Maintaining the right weight will improve your health as well as the death of your baby.

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Morning Sickness Nausea And Vomiting During Early Pregnancy

Nausea and morning sickness usually develops around weeks 4 to 6. Although its called morning sickness, it can occur any time during the day or night. Its unclear exactly what causes nausea and morning sickness, but hormones may play a role.

During the first trimester of pregnancy, many women experience mild to severe morning sickness. It may become more intense toward the end of the first trimester, but often becomes less severe as you enter the second trimester.

When To Speak To A Doctor

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Pregnancy heartburn is really common and not easily avoidable. But sometimes, it may be cause for concern. If you have heartburn that prevents you from sleeping, comes back as soon as your antacid wears off or doesnt respond to OTC meds or remedies, or creates other symptoms like weight loss, difficult swallowing, coughing, or black stool, call your doctor. Those could be signs of gastroesophageal acid reflux disease, or GERD, and left untreated could cause damage to your esophagus. Also, if your heartburn is greatly affecting your quality of life, let your doctor know. There are stronger medications they can prescribe that may offer some relief .

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How To Get Rid Of Heartburn During Pregnancy Fast

You never know when or where heartburn may strike. Its a good idea to keep some emergency heartburn-relief remedies in your handbag in case youre caught off guard.

Keep a small stash of the following items on you at all times:

  • Oatmeal
  • A teabag of your favorite heartburn-relieving herbal tea
  • Milk.

Calcium-containing antacids such as Tums or Rolaids .

During pregnancy, the stomach has prolonged gastric emptying times and the gastroesophageal sphincter has decreased tone. Together, these changes lead to reflux and possibly combine with decreased esophageal tone to cause ptyalism, or spitting, during pregnancy as well as reflux and heartburn.

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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How Can I Prevent Heartburn During Pregnancy

They say prevention is the best medicine, so knowing common heartburn triggers can help you keep the acid at bay.

Of course, pregnancy itself is a major trigger for heartburn. As your growing uterus puts pressure on your stomach, this pushes stomach acid up your throat.

Those lovely hormones are no help either. They tend to relax the valve between your stomach and esophagus, which makes it easier for acid to make its way upward.

While theres nothing you can do to stop this entirely, there are a few things that can help prevent heartburn from flaring up during pregnancy:

Keep Your Head Elevated While Resting

How can I ease heartburn during pregnancy?

If you want to know how to get rid of acid reflux fast while pregnant, youve got to follow this tip.

Lying flat spurs the acid into the food pipe. This causes heartburn.

So, use recliner chairs to rest or lie with your head at an elevated surface. This helps you avoid acid reflux without any extra effort.

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Checklist Of Foods To Avoid In Your Daily Diet

I have mentioned earlier certain foods will alleviate the pregnancy symptoms indigestion and heartburn. The same sort of food which causes indigestion causes heartburn too.

Unfortunately, pregnancy heartburn is the worst in the last trimester. So, the best way is to completely staying away from those foods even if it is your favorite.

The list is as follows:

  • Chocolates
  • Caffeinated beverages like tea and coffee
  • Carbonated drinks
  • Tomato and store bought tomato products
  • Pickles
  • Large quantities of water while eating

Why Is Heartburn During Pregnancy A Common Problem

Dont worry if you get heartburn or indigestion during your pregnancy, youre not alone. In fact, up to 80% of your fellow mums-to-be are also similarly suffering, especially in the last three months of your pregnancy.1

If you feel a burning sensation or discomfort in the centre of your chest towards the lower end of your breastbone, thats heartburn .1,2 But what is it about being pregnant that triggers your heartburn symptoms?

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Treatment Of Heartburn During Pregnancy

If your heartburn wonât go away, see your doctor. They may prescribe or recommend OTC medications that are safe to take during pregnancy. Heartburn usually disappears following childbirth.

Medications may include:

Over-the-counter antacids such as calcium carbonate or magnesium hydroxide. These are generally safe to use during pregnancy. You may find that liquid heartburn relievers are more effective in treating heartburn, because they coat the esophagus.

H2 blockers. These medications block chemical signals that produce stomach acid. They include cimetidine and famotidine , and theyâre available in over the counter and prescription strengths.

Proton pump inhibitors . Like H2 blockers, these drugs help cut down on stomach acid. PPIs, which include lansoprazole and omeprazole , are available over the counter and by prescription.

If you take iron supplements, talk to your doctor before you take a PPI or H2 blocker. These medications can make the supplements less effective.

What Lifestyle Changes Relieve Heartburn

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There are several ways to treat and avoid heartburn with lifestyle changes .

Lose weight and maintain your ideal weight. Excess weight increases the pressure on the stomach, increasing the chance of acid reflux into the esophagus.

Quit smoking: Smoking interferes with the proper functioning of the lower esophageal sphincter.

Avoid foods that aggravate heartburn and replace them with healthy foods. Avoid foods that trigger heartburn . Consider keeping a food journal to alert you to foods that make your heartburn worse. Decrease the amount of food you eat.

Elevate the head of the bed: If you are experiencing heartburn at night, elevating the head of the bed will decrease reflux.

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What Else Does Indigestion Cause

Apart from heartburn, the following symptoms also occur in case of indigestion.

  • Burping release of gas from the stomach through mouth
  • Bloating stomach full feel after food
  • Flatulence release of gas from the stomach through anal sphincter
  • Abdominal pain pain in the stomach
  • Vomiting throwing up of stomach contents

All these symptoms appear habitually at the third trimester stage of pregnancy as you and your baby gets bigger. These symptoms generally go away with or without medications.

What Causes Heartburn In Pregnancy

Unfortunately, its extremely common to experience heartburn during pregnancy. And while morning sickness seems to get all the hype, many women find heartburn just as unpleasant a pregnancy symptom. In early pregnancy, heartburn is caused by the hormone progesterone, which relaxes the uterine muscles to fit your growing babyand also relaxes the valve between the esophagus and the stomach. In the final months of pregnancy, baby squashes your digestive organs and causes heartburn. The good news? Heartburn wont affect baby.

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Learn What Causes Heartburn For Youthen Avoid It

Fat, caffeine, chocolate, citruspregnant women with heartburn have been advised to avoid all of the above at one time or another. But what causes reflux in one woman might not be a trigger for another.

Rather than tell his pregnant patients to avoid a specific food, Dr. Richter says he advises them to stay away from foods that specifically aggravate them. Everybody’s different, Dr. Richter says. Some pregnant women can chow down on spicy Mexican food or a plate of spaghetti and meatballs with no ill effects.

Ways To Get Rid Of Heartburn During Pregnancy Fast

How Can I Get Rid of Heartburn While Pregnant

When you are pregnant the hormone progesterone which is a muscle relaxant will increase in your body. The hormone is responsible in relaxing all muscles in the body as a way of preparing for child birth. Remember during pregnancy the uterus muscles will relax for easy child birth.

The esophagus muscles can as well relax this makes it easy for food to escape back hence causing heartburn. As the baby develops, he will occupy more space which will push the stomach upwards hence increasing chances of heartburn. Heartburn is felt as burning sensations just behind the breastbone.

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Symptoms Dwindle In The Second Trimester

Many of the body changes and symptoms of pregnancy you experience in the first trimester will start to fade once you reach the second trimester. Talk with your doctor about any symptoms that interfere with your daily life. Together, you can find relief and comfort for your pregnancy.

To receive week-by-week guidance about early pregnancy symptoms and more, sign up for our Im Expecting newsletter.

Foods You Can Have To Soothe Pregnancy Heartburn

If your heartburn and indigestion is not so severe, and you feel that you can relieve it by all going natural, here are few effective natural and safe remedies. Include these food items in your diet. It is healthy and its your third trimester both you and your baby will benefit from it!

If one remedy work effectively for a person, it doesnt mean it will work out for everyone. So, if one particular home remedy not giving you any relief try the other options.

#1. Apples An apple a day keeps your heartburn away!

The excess acidic environment created in your stomach can be neutralized by the natural enzymes present in apples.

Consume cold sweet red apples to get quick relief, if you suffer from heartburn. You can also drink fresh apple juice with honey before going to bed.

#2. Almonds

This is one of the good natural remedy for heartburn during pregnancy.

Try two or three organic almonds after a meal. Dont over eat this nuts.

#3. Avocado

Include avocados in your pregnancy diet to balance the acid in your body.

#4. Banana

Natural antacids are present abundantly in bananas that can neutralize the acidity in stomach. Consume well ripened bananas one daily after lunch.

#5. Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes are one of the highly alkalizing veggie. It helps to restore the pH in the stomach. Include this in your diet.

#6. Leafy vegetables

Leafy vegetables are also alkaline in nature and help to neutralize acids. Include leafy vegetables daily in your diet.

#7. Yellow Mustard

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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.

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Acid Reflux During Pregnancy: Symptoms Causes Treatment

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Your body goes through a lot of changes when youre pregnant. Youll get aches and pains. Youll have weird food cravings. You may have morning sickness and nausea. These are just some of the many changes your body will endure during pregnancy. But something else you might experience is acid reflux.

Acid reflux during pregnancy is quite common. Between 17% and 45% of women will experience heartburn and acid reflux at some point in their pregnancy. Acid reflux can happen at any point, but its most common to have acid reflux during pregnancy in the third trimester.

Acid reflux is typically caused by hormonal changes and the baby pressing up against your stomach. While having acid reflux during pregnancy isnt dangerous, its definitely annoying to deal with. Youll feel a burning sensation in your esophagus, and symptoms usually get worse after eating or lying down.

In this blog post, well be discussing acid reflux symptoms and causes and how you can go about treating it. Acid reflux and pregnancy do not mix, so continue reading to learn how you can alleviate your symptoms.

  • Sour or bitter taste in your mouth
  • Cough or sore throat

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How To Get Rid Of Heartburn While Pregnant

Here are some easy tips you can try at home to get rid of heartburn and indigestion:

  • Take light walks or sit down after you eat but dont lie down.
  • Stay away from spicy foods.
  • Get in H20 all through the day.
  • Lie down with your head rested at an elevated position.
  • Dont drink alcohol.
  • Try some medications to relieve acid reflux symptoms.
  • Try foods like ginger, bananas, oatmeal, and melons.
  • Well, the nights are difficult for new mums. From the acid flux sensation to the tiredness of the day, nights are no longer rest time.

    So, we gathered some changes you could incorporate into your routine.

    Right below, we explore how to get rid of acid reflux while pregnant.

    First on the list is the best way to get rid of heartburn at night while pregnant.

    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.

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    Tips On How To Avoid Heartburn During Pregnancy

    Why treat something when you can avoid it altogether? Heres some of the best tips on how to prevent heartburn during pregnancy. Note that, during the latest stages of pregnancy, and depending on your degree of heartburn, this might only help partially. You will still need to try some of the remedies for full relief.

    I also found that the list below can be very restrictive. We all love some junk food every now and then, particularly when pregnant. Giving up all of these things, every single day, can be impossible sometimes!

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