Acid Reflux During Pregnancy: Causes Diets And Home Remedies
Acid reflux is a feeling that happens when acid from the stomach moves up toward the throat. It can cause regurgitation and a painful, burning sensation in the chest.
The technical name for acid reflux is gastroesophageal reflux, or GER. The main
- regurgitation, where stomach contents come back up the esophagus as far as the throat or mouth
- heartburn, which creates a burning sensation in the middle of the chest
Other possible symptoms can include:
- persistent cough
of pregnant people.
Most of the time, the condition ends soon after the baby is born.
This article considers the causes of acid reflux, what to do about it, and its relationship to pregnancy.
There are several reasons why pregnancy can induce acid reflux.
Hormone changes affect the pressure within the esophageal sphincter , which connects the esophagus to the stomach. This causes a series of processes that ultimately cause acid from the stomach to rise into the esophagus .
The uterus itself might cause acid reflux by putting pressure on the stomach, causing the contents to rise into the esophagus.
Other aspects of pregnancy, such as changes in bowel movements or medications that people take during pregnancy, can also play a role in causing acid reflux.
when the lower esophageal sphincter, which is a group of muscles at the bottom of the esophagus, becomes weak or relaxes.
Reasons behind the changes that cause acid reflux can include:
such as blood in their vomit or stool.
What Causes Heartburn In Pregnancy
Heartburn is caused by the valve between your stomach and the tube leading to it relaxing during pregnancy due to hormonal changes . This means stomach acid can pass into the tube and cause the burning feeling.
In later stages of pregnancy, your growing uterus can press on your stomach and make the problem worse.
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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When Can I Expect The Heartburn To End During Pregnancy
Unfortunately, heartburn is a symptom you’re likely to experience throughout your entire pregnancy if you have it at all.
In fact, even if you escaped indigestion early on in your pregnancy, there’s a good chance you’ll have a surge starting around the second or third trimesters, when your uterus takes over your abdominal cavity and forces your stomach upwards.
Fortunately, the burn should clear up as soon as you give birth.
Symptoms Of Heartburn During Pregnancy: What Does Heartburn Feel Like During Pregnancy
Youre likely to know if youre experiencing heartburn during pregnancy because the symptoms are frustratingly difficult to ignore.
According to Dr. Schrager, heartburn causes a burning sensation in the middle of the chest and sometimes a sour taste in the back of the throat. Occasionally, people will also have pain at the top of their abdomen.
Flos community of users has been candid about their symptoms and the different ways heartburn during pregnancy made them feel throughout all three trimesters. Theyve also shared some of their favorite heartburn-during-pregnancy remedies.
Below are some anonymous user comments describing what heartburn feels like during pregnancy.
- Im 11 weeks pregnant, and my heartburn is so bad it is now burning my throat.
- I get heartburn badly at night if I eat too close before I go to bed.
- Some users experience severe heartburn during pregnancy, with symptoms like vomiting.
- Have had heartburn from the get-go It causes me to throw up at very unexpected times.
- Ive had severe heartburn/acid reflux so bad I went to the twice!
But its not all bad news. Heartburn during pregnancy can also be nonexistent, relatively mild, and straightforward to manage, according to Flo app users, who have described some ways theyve dealt with heartburn during pregnancy below.
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S To Get Rid Of Heartburn During Pregnancy
1. Monitor your Food Intake
Doctors advise expectant mothers to eat less in one meal. Instead of consuming a huge chunk of food at one go, one should break up their meals into smaller portions and divide it evenly through the day. Basically, as an alternative to eating two square meals a day, patients are advised to consume four to six mini meals.
The stomach has lesser space to expand since the growing fetus takes up much room. Eating less solves the problem and prevents gaining additional pounds that only aggravate the condition further. Moreover, the meals around lunch time should be heavier while keeping the morning and night meals lighter. This allows the body to have more time to digest the heavy meal. Smaller and healthier meals will prevent heartburns throughout the course of pregnancy.
2. Avoid Foods that can Trigger a Heartburn
Several food items can increase the possibility of a heartburn episode. These food items should be strictly eliminated from the diet of the expectant mother. Some examples of such food substances include spicy food, foods that are high on acids like citrus fruits , tomatoes, chocolates, coffee, alcohol and oily or fried foods. Try and recognize your individual heartburn triggers.
3. Incorporate Fluids into your Meals
4. Calcium-containing Antacids
6. Dress Loose and Flowy
7. Plan your Sleep Schedule
8. Chew on Sugar-Free Gum
9. Consume Papaya
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Don’t Eat Right Before Bed
Having a hearty meal and then heading to bed is a recipe for heartburn, warns Joel Richter, MD, director of the division of gastroenterology and nutrition and the esophageal diseases center at the University of South Florida, in Tampa, who has studied heartburn during pregnancy. He recommends trying not to eat for at least three hours before you go to sleep. You should also try to avoid liquids starting a few hours before bedtime.
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Severe Heartburn Indigestion During Pregnancy
Indigestion during pregnancy is often caused by the same things that can cause indigestion at any other time: Fatty food Greasy food Spicy foods such as onions, peppers, or garlic Alcohol Eating too much too quickly Gallstones Ulcers Gastritis
2022 DALLAS Women with severe preeclampsia during pregnancy may be treated with extended-release nifedipine, a blood pressure-lowering medicine, daily during the labor.
Severe preeclampsia can raise the risk for.
When high blood pressure initially develops during pregnancy, we typically hold off on starting medication until blood pressure goes above 160/.
Some of the hormonal and physical changes in your body during pregnancy can cause heartburn .
If you have indigestion in the early stage of your pregnancy, this may be caused by changes in your hormone levels. In the second or third trimester,
Heartburn, sometimes called acid indigestion, is a painful, burning feeling in the middle of your chest or the upper part of your stomach.The pain, which can also spread to your neck, jaw, or arms.
The reality star will be welcoming her first child in the coming weeks and, in a new interview with ET, is revealing who has been her biggest supporter during pregnancy. But its not who you might.
symptoms such as severe.
that Pepto Bismol causes harmful side effects during pregnancy, though.
May 20, 2021.
The increased production of certain hormones throughout pregnancy.
May 9, 2022.
Unrelenting acid reflux.
Was It Something I Ate
You expected the swollen ankles, the morning sickness, and the burgeoning breasts. But this burning indigestion? Whered that come from?
As the name implies, heartburn feels like a fiery churning that starts behind your breastbone and travels up your esophagus, a tube connecting your throat to your stomach. These acids can even make it all the way up your throat.
In addition to feeling a burning sensation which can last several minutes to several hours you may also:
- have a sour taste in your mouth
- have a sore throat
- cough frequently
While the burrito you ate for dinner probably didnt help matters , the burning feeling you have has more to do with hormones than jalapenos.
45 percent of moms-to-be experience heartburn. And if you had heartburn before pregnancy, youre even more likely to have it during.
Heartburn can fire up, so to speak, at any point in pregnancy, but its most common during the second and third trimesters. Experts arent exactly sure what causes the smoldering, but they suspect its a three-pronged problem.
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Dont Lie Down Straight After Eating
Giving your body time to digest the food while being up-right might also help with heartburn. I remember I used to miss so much being able to watch TV lying down on the couch after dinner. But sitting up instead of lying down really helps keeping that dinner down, with no burning throat.
I dont think theres a set rule of how long you should wait. It really depends on how much or what youve eaten. Or on how your baby is behaving tonight in your belly You will know when you are ready to lie down again. And if you are really tired and want to go to bed, try the following tip #5.
What Is Indigestion
Indigestion , a bloated and gassy feeling that happens when the digestion process takes place slowly, is a common occurrence in pregnancy. It manifests in the form of pain or discomfort felt in the stomach or below the ribs. As mentioned above, increased production of progesterone is responsible for indigestion in early pregnancy, and the growing womb pressing on your stomach causes discomfort in later pregnancy.
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When Will It End
Heartburn symptoms are usually mild and manageable. Tell your healthcare provider if your heartburn is severe, if you spit up blood, or have dark-colored bowel movements. This is a sign of blood in your digestive tract. Fortunately, heartburn usually ends with the birth of your baby and your body goes back to its nonpregnant state.
Heartburn During Pregnancy And Your Babys Hair
If you heard that heartburn during pregnancy means your baby will be born with a full head of hair, you may have wondered if its true or its simply an old wives tale.
While some experts say this is another pregnancy myth, a December 2006 study in the journal Birth found there may some truth to it.
Of 28 pregnant women in the study, 23 who had moderate or severe heartburn gave birth to babies with average or above average amounts of hair.
Whats more, 10 out of 12 of the women who had no heartburn during pregnancy had babies with less than average or no hair at all.
Whether heartburn has something to do with the amount of hair your baby will have or not doesnt really matter but its still fun to imagine what your baby will look like when you finally get to meet him.
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Foods That Help With Heartburn During Pregnancy
There are lots of foods that are rumored to get rid of heartburn during pregnancy, but there is no evidence to support their efficacy .
Your best bet is to avoid those trigger foods known to exacerbate symptoms, as well as eating smaller meals throughout the day and finishing your evening meal earlier.
Video: Indigestion During Pregnancy Causes Signs & Remedies
But indigestion and pregnancy go hand-in-hand. Pregnancy brings about changes in the bodys digestive system which can lead to discomfort. The increased production of progesterone hormone during pregnancy slows down the digestive process in the early stages of pregnancy. And in the later stages, the growing size of the uterus adds to the discomfort as it presses on the internal organs. These changes become a cause of indigestion throughout pregnancy. Read on to know more about indigestion during pregnancy and how it can be tackled.
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What Can I Eat That Wont Give Me Heartburn While Pregnant
The good news is you can eat a lot of things that wont cause heartburn symptoms while pregnant. The important question really is, says Dr. Johnson, what should you not eat if you have GERD? There is actually a relatively short list of foods to avoid, including alcohol, chocolate, citrus juices, tomato-based products, peppermint, coffee, and fatty foods.
When To Talk To Your Doctor About Heartburn During Pregnancy
Thankfully, if heartburn wasnt an issue for you before pregnancy, it tends to resolve after childbirth. But even so, that doesnt mean you need to ride it out until delivery.
Even if your heartburn is simply annoying and not intense, dont hesitate to tell your doctor about it, says Dr. Gray. Thats because it can become more serious if its left untreated, so what starts as mildly uncomfortable pain might cause you to eventually avoid eating enough because you dont want to deal with the heartburn, she notes. Thats not great for you or for your baby.
I wish women would stop struggling at home and saying they dont want to bug their doctors or midwives with something minor like this, she says. Were here to help. More than that, its easier to treat heartburn when its not much of a problem than it is when it becomes severe. So bring it up and get some relief.
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How Do I Treat Heartburn During Pregnancy
When youre growing a human being, you dont have time for that yucky acid reflux. But your usual go-to methods for treating it may not be safe for your unborn baby.
Instead, here are some of the safest and best ways to get rid of heartburn when youre pregnant:
Home Remedies For Tackling Indigestion During Pregnancy
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How to Fix 6 Common Digestive Problems. AARP.
On the one hand, you are so hungry that you could eat a horse every two hours. On the other, you feel like there is a little fireplace burning constantly in your chest, flaring up with everything you eat. Your tummy is bloated and nausea and stomach cramps strike from time to time. If indigestion and heartburn have reduced you to a bundle of nerves even as you eagerly await your bundle of joy, you are certainly not alone. Up to 80% of pregnant women suffer from indigestion at some point. And whats more, it seems to get worse as your pregnancy progresses and is a common complaint from the 27th week onward.
A constant pain in the upper abdomen, similar to the one caused by indigestion but which cannot be tackled by lifestyle changes or antacids may be a symptom of pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy complication with high blood pressure. Its vital that you see a doctor and get this checked.Headaches and indigestion during pregnancy. Healthdirect, Australia.
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When Can I Expect Heartburn To End
Someday, scientists may very well invent a miracle medication that promises permanent pregnancy heartburn relief. Unfortunately, that hasnt happened yet.
So, if youre wondering how long you can expect to deal with heartburn while youre pregnant, it will probably be throughout your entire pregnancy.
However, just because theres no cure, that doesnt mean you cant find some relief in the meantime.
What Causes Heartburn During Pregnancy
During normal digestion, food travels down the esophagus , through a muscular valve called the lower esophageal sphincter , and into the stomach.
The LES is part of the doorway between your esophagus and your stomach. It opens to allow food through and closes to stop stomach acids from coming back up.
When you have heartburn, or acid reflux, the LES relaxes enough to allow stomach acid to rise up into the esophagus. This can cause pain and burning in the chest area.
During pregnancy, hormone changes can allow the muscles in the esophagus, including the LES, to relax more frequently. The result is that more acids may seep back up, particularly when youre lying down or after youve eaten a large meal.
In addition, as your fetus grows during the second and third trimesters and your uterus expands to accommodate that growth, your stomach is under more pressure. This can also result in food and acid being pushed back up into your esophagus.
Heartburn is a common occurrence for most people at one time or another, but it doesnt necessarily mean youre pregnant. However, if you also experience other symptoms, such as a missed period or nausea, these could be signs that you need to take a pregnancy test.
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