Heartburn during Pregnancy Cause Discomfort and Irritation.

The most common complaint among ladies during their third trimester of pregnancy is a pain in the gut. This awful experience typically occurs after eating, and a severe burning sensation usually accompanies the heartburn.

The heartburn is mostly predominant in the third trimester because of the compression force exerted by the developing fetus.

Although  the experience can be an unpleasant, moms shouldn’t panic because there are several effective ways to avoid heartburn.

What Causes Heartburn Pain during Pregnancy

The term heartburn basically refers to a burning sensation that occurs behind the breast and chest area and rises up the gullet. More specifically, the burning sensation arises because the valve between the esophagus and the stomach has loosened. Thus, the acids in the stomach rise to the gut.

Other symptoms that accompany heartburn during pregnancy include:

  • Bitterness in the mouth
  • Bloating
  • Recurrent burping
  • Strep in the throat
  • Increased dry coughs

Consuming spicy meals while you are pregnant can increase this feeling. Those who encounter this discomfort before pregnancy are likely to experience extreme levels when expecting a baby.

Below is a list of common causes of the heartburn sensation during pregnancy:

1. Hormonal Imbalance

During pregnancy, there is a fluctuation in the hormones’ production, which can cause the muscles that regulate the valve between the gut and stomach to loosen. Normally, the esophageal valve is closed to prevent the stomach acids from splashing upwards.

However, increased progesterone levels associated with pregnancy can force the esophageal valve to partially open. And this allows the consequent movement of stomach acid to the esophagus and even higher to the throat.

2. Size of the Fetus

Typically, the fetus’s size increases with age because development occurs continuously and thus varies at different stages of pregnancy. The greater the size of the fetus, the narrower the womb becomes. When this happens, the fetus exerts more pressure on the stomach and can force stomach acid to rise.

When an expectant mother’s stomach is almost entirely occupied in the third trimester, she is more susceptible to this condition.

3. A Slow digestion process

High levels of the hormone progesterone in pregnant women often lead to slow rates of digestion. When the digestion process is slower, the consumed foods take much longer in the stomach, and this may cause an irritating heat sensation.

Such manifestations can be severe and uncomfortable for the expectant moms, but it is very beneficial for the unborn. The slow digestion ensures maximum absorption of nutrients into the mother’s bloodstream through the placenta and eventually into the developing fetus.

Every mother desires to deliver a healthy baby, and this perception gives them a good reason to be in high spirits while coping with heartburns.

Nine Simple Ways of Coping with Heartburn during Pregnancy.

Millions of expectant mothers across the globe often wonder if they can prevent the heartburn sensation during pregnancy. The truth is, there are a few slim chances of having a completely heartburn-free pregnancy.

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Statistically speaking, about 45% of ladies encounter this experience at least once during pregnancy. But the good news is that you don’t have to panic because of pregnancy-induced indigestion.

Currently, many soothing and preventive strategies can ease pregnancy heartburn. Below are nine critical ways of preventing and alleviating heartburn during pregnancy.

1. Appropriate food choices

It would be best if pregnant women were more selective about their food choices to ensure they don’t consume anything that may aggravate this heartburn condition. It is advisable to avoid foods containing acids as well as spicy ones.

Spicy or acid-rich diets can trigger excessive production of digestive juices and stomach acids. Some of the foods you should probably eliminate from your diet include onions, tomatoes, chocolates, coffee, sodas, and fried or fatty foods.

The foods listed above have a slow digestion rate and can cause discomfort among expectant mothers.

2. Avoiding overloading your digestive system

Skip the three big squares and switch to eating smaller mini-meals and snacks as this helps to reduce acid reflux and bloating

Take it slowly. Chewing is the first step in the digestive process: The more you chew, the less work your stomach has to do. Plus, you often swallow air when you eat too quickly, which can form gas pockets in your belly. So even when you’re super hungry or in a hurry, make an effort to take small bites and chew well.

Another way to reduce heartburn during pregnancy is eating small amounts of foods often rather than a few large portions. Ingesting meals in bits reduces the likelihood of your tummy feeling too full, hence lowers incidents of heartburn.

3. Have a good sitting posture when eating

Be sure that to sit up straight when having meals because body posture affects the digestion. Consuming meals while sitting straight enables the gravitational force to stop stomach acids from entering the esophagus.

It is advisable to not to lay down and resist the urge to lay within half or an hour after taking your meals.

4. Raising  Your  head while sleeping

In case you feel heartburn pain during pregnancy, it is advisable to have your head and chest raised by adding pillows. Placing your head in a higher position relative to your torso enables the force of gravity to support the process of digestion optimally.

5. Wearing loose clothing

Donning tight clothing around the waist may constrict your tummy and add extra pressure, both of which fan the flames of indigestion. It would be best to loosen up your abdominal and chest area free by avoiding tight attires.

6. Avoid too much fluid consumption

Proper hydration during pregnancy is an essential part of the diet, but it is advisable for expectant mothers to drink a little less when eating. You can have a glass of water, juice, or milk after your meals, but in case you feel too full, you don’t need to drink up immediately. Additionally, it would help if you hydrate in between mealtimes rather than during meals.

7. Be the early bird

No matter the eating location, be it out or at home, kindly ensure you eat early enough before bedtime. Have your meals at least 120 minutes before hitting the sack. You can have some before-bed snacks which are easy to digest, in case you feel famished.

8.Take your time

Eat slowly and ensure you properly masticate the food because chewing is the first step to successful digestion. When you chew thoroughly, your digestive tract will have less to do.

Remember, when you eat quickly, you end up swallowing a lot of air that leads to the formation of gas pockets in your belly. Ensure you have small bites and chew well.

9. Lastly, Avoid Stress

Avoiding worries during pregnancy and maternity is an excellent way to prevent heartburn. Always try to be relaxed and composed because stress compounds can predispose you to gastric upsets.

Quick Remedies to Heartburn during Pregnancy

Expectant mothers can rely on the several proven techniques to control and treat heartburn during pregnancy. Below are four fundamentals to deal with heartburn pain during pregnancy without medication or hospitalization:

 

  • Chewing sugarless gum. Chewing for thirty minutes after your meals helps increase saliva production, which helps in neutralizing the acidity in your gastrointestinal tract. Since the sugar in the gum can lower PH and adversely increase acidity, it would be best if you chewed sugarless alternatives.

 

  • After consuming your meal, try to eat a few almonds nuts. These tasty nuts assist in neutralizing your stomach’s juices and acidity, hence relieving heartburn manifestations.

 

  • Drink milk. Have a glass of milk after eating or when the heartburn affects you to soothe it.

A tablespoon of honey or warm milk can be a good reliever for this type of discomfort.

 

  • Try papaya. Freshly dried or frozen papaya is not only a good reliever for acid reflux, but it also provides vitamins A and C to expectant mothers.

What Medications Help Remedy Heartburn during Pregnancy?

If  heartburn gets severe or unbearable, it’s advisable to seek medical help from your doctor. Your medical consultant can provide you with a prescription of meds to help manage the ailment.

For instance, keeping a supply of Tums and Rolaids in your medication counter can come in handy. Additionally, a healthy dose of calcium can be administered to help curb the heartburn.

Some of the commonly prescribed heartburn drugs by health practitioners are Maalox and Mylanta.

Other OTC drugs that control acid production, which you can receive from a medical practitioner, include Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) or H2 blockers, which are highly recommended for women with severe heartburn during pregnancy.

Conclusion

Pregnant women are among the leading people who feel the brunt of heartburn. If you begin encountering this discomforting sensation during your second or third semester, don’t worry since you’re not alone.

Almost 50% of expectant mothers have heartburn, and with the given preventive and therapeutic measures mentioned above, you can avoid and overcome it.