If you are suffering from heartburn while expecting a baby, our article will help you find out the reasons for its occurrence. We will also talk about how to prevent its occurrence during pregnancy and what methods of heartburn treatment to choose if you still have it.
Pregnancy is an ordeal for many women. The state of health while carrying a long-awaited baby is often not the best: fatigue, nausea, headaches. During pregnancy, there are ailments that you did not even imagine before. Heartburn often becomes one of these unpleasant surprises.
It appears unexpectedly and for no apparent reason, but not only can and should be fought with it, but there is also a real opportunity to prevent its occurrence.
Causes of heartburn in pregnant women
The unpleasant sensations in the stomach and esophagus are aggravated as the gestation period increases. Heartburn occurs most often in the second trimester. To many women who have experienced the pangs of toxicosis, she seems to be its logical continuation. But this is far from the case, the reasons for these unpleasant symptoms are completely different.
The main cause of heartburn in all people is the ingestion of gastric juice into the esophagus. There is an obstacle in its path - a special valve called the "sphincter". In its normal state, this organ rarely allows acid to penetrate beyond it, but pregnancy is an unusual condition in all respects.
So, let's consider the causes of heartburn in expectant mothers:
- The hormonal background of a pregnant woman undergoes significant changes. In the body, the level of progesterone rises sharply, which contributes to a decrease in the tone of all smooth muscles, although its main target is the uterus. Relaxation of the muscles affects the function of the sphincter, which allows acid to enter the esophagus.
- Also, elevated progesterone levels interfere with the normal function of the muscles responsible for moving food from the stomach to the intestines. Because of this, the digestion process increases over time, which also contributes to the appearance of heartburn.
- The growth of the uterus shrinks the space in the abdomen, including shrinking the stomach and pushing acid up the esophagus.
- Changes in hormonal levels increase the acidity of gastric juice, which aggravates the discomfort with heartburn.
- In the last trimester of pregnancy, heartburn is often caused by the position of the fetus. The kid is already big and can not only cause heartburn with his movements, but do it abruptly and unexpectedly. In this case, not only unpleasant sensations in the esophagus are possible, but even nausea and vomiting.
Unfortunately, no one is immune from unpleasant surprises during pregnancy. Some women tolerate this period quite normally, but in most cases, after overcoming the middle of gestation, heartburn becomes a constant and unwanted companion.
Heartburn medications
Taking various medications during the gestation period should be minimized. But that doesn't mean you need to endure heartburn and not fight it. Today there are a lot of drugs that neutralize acid and at the same time will not harm your baby at all.
Such medicines for heartburn for pregnant women have a common name - non-absorbable antacids. The meaning of their action is to envelop the walls of the stomach, neutralize and partially absorb acid.
You can take medicines for heartburn during pregnancy only with a doctor's prescription! The doctor will help you choose the right drug and establish a safe dosage. The following medications are usually prescribed for pregnant women:
- Rennie. When calcium carbonate and magnesium, which are part of its composition, interact with hydrochloric acid, soluble salts are formed. But taking it in the last trimester is not worth it, like any medicine containing calcium, it can cause ossification in the fetus.
- Maalox. It is both a heartburn remedy and an absorbent. It will help to cope with unpleasant sensations for several hours.
- Almagel. This remedy will relieve heartburn for a long time by regulating the acidity of the stomach.
The modern choice of remedies for heartburn is huge, but not all of them are harmless for the development of an unborn baby. Even those medications that can be taken during pregnancy can lead to unpleasant consequences:
- In addition to eliminating hydrochloric acid, antacids can also remove beneficial substances. If you are taking vitamins or other medications, you should avoid taking heartburn medications.
- Often drugs in this group cause constipation, and during pregnancy they often occur without the effects of drugs, for natural reasons. This makes taking antacids extremely undesirable.
- Magnesium, which is often found in heartburn medications, can alleviate stool retention but has an undesirable effect on fetal development.
There are many reasons for refusing drugs. Therefore, it is better to resort to folk remedies or endure. Of course, as a last resort, you can use the help of antacids, but remember the most important thing is to keep the future child healthy.
READING: Medicines for heartburn for pregnant women - 10 drugs allowed for pregnant women
Folk remedies
After reading this heading, many will immediately think of baking soda. Indeed, soda neutralizes acid, but at the same time a large amount of carbon dioxide is produced, which in turn contributes to the abundant secretion of gastric juice. Concerning soda will only bring short-term relief, do not expect a stable effect from it. In addition, this dietary supplement can lead to increased puffiness.
READ IN DETAIL: Soda for heartburn for pregnant women - PROS and CONS
In cases where heartburn does not hurt much, a glass of water or not fried pumpkin seeds can bring relief. But, as a rule, during pregnancy, a burning sensation in the esophagus can torment a woman for several hours, especially before bedtime.
Also, with mild manifestations of heartburn, milk will help if you drink it often in small portions. The effect of this remedy can be enhanced by adding a few drops of fennel essential oil to your drink.
It is best to use medicinal plants to relieve unpleasant symptoms. A decoction of heather or centaury rather quickly and for a long time relieves the burning sensation in the esophagus. You can buy these herbs in dried form at any pharmacy.
Of course before using decoctions of medicinal herbs, it is also better to consult a doctor. In most cases, doctors allow their use, since herbs have practically no contraindications.
DETAILED: Folk remedies for heartburn during pregnancy
Heartburn prevention
As you know, the best medicine is prevention. Of course, pregnancy does not lend itself to any rules, but even while carrying a child, you can minimize the possibility of heartburn.
There are some universal tips to help you avoid an unpleasant symptom.:
- Try to avoid taking antispasmodics, they can further reduce the performance of the sphincter.
- Do not overeat, you need to eat in small portions 5 - 6 times a day.
- Dinner should be at least three hours before bedtime.
- Avoid fatty and fried foods. The diet should be dominated by fermented milk products, boiled vegetables, baked fruits, boiled meat and fish. Fresh bread should also be excluded from consumption, it must be pre-dried.
- Do not lie down for 15-20 minutes after eating.
- Include laxative foods such as beets and plums in your diet. They can help prevent constipation, which can lead to heartburn.
- Completely exclude heavy foods that require long digestion (mushrooms, nuts, chocolate) from your menu.
- Avoid movements that can lead to heartburn, such as bending over and squatting, especially after eating.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing and do not tighten your belly.
- Drink plenty of water between meals. You should not drink food while eating.
- Dinner should be as light as possible, not include meat dishes.
- It is best to sleep on high pillows, as lying down increases heartburn.
During pregnancy, heartburn - the phenomenon is common, so do not panic if neither medicines nor folk remedies save from it. Most often, only childbirth can relieve an unpleasant symptom during pregnancy 🙂
Heartburn by itself cannot harm the mother and the unborn baby. But if its manifestations are too strong and prolonged, then it is worth going to a gastroenterologist. The doctor will be able to find out the cause of the disease in case it occurs due to an exacerbation of gastritis or liver disease.
