Heartburn is an unpleasant and even painful condition that not all expectant mothers face at the beginning and middle of pregnancy. But in the later stages, only a few do not experience it. The overwhelming majority of pregnant women in the third trimester complain of severe and frequent heartburn.
Is it dangerous?
Heartburn during pregnancy does not directly harm the child's condition for any period. But the discomfort that the expectant mother experiences is necessarily reflected in her mood and psychological state. And this is not too kid-friendly., because already from the second trimester he is susceptible to the mood of the mother, reacts vividly to the stress hormones that are produced in her if something goes wrong. This alone is a good reason to resist heartburn, prevent its occurrence and know how to defeat it if it was not possible to avoid an unpleasant symptom.
Frequent and painful heartburn can cause erosion of the walls of the esophagus, which can then turn into diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Why and how does it appear?
Heartburn is caused by the reflux of part of the gastric juice into the esophagus. Normally, gastric juice is reliably isolated by the sphincter, which opens only when a portion of food needs to be passed into the stomach. With heartburn, the sphincter cannot cope with its locking function.
The severity of discomfort depends on the level of sensitivity of each particular woman. Some experience mild discomfort, others suffer from excruciating burning sensation in the esophagus.
There are several reasons for heartburn in the later stages:
- the hormone progesterone, the level of which naturally begins to decrease only in the last weeks of gestation, relaxes not only the smooth muscles of the uterus, but also the muscles of the esophageal sphincter, which usually closes and prevents gastric juice from entering the esophagus;
- in the third trimester, the uterus occupies almost the entire space of the abdominal cavity, pushing aside and squeezing the internal organs, including the stomach, so the reflux of gastric juice into the esophagus is partially mechanical.
Heartburn is most intense in women who had gastrointestinal health problems before pregnancy, in those who are carrying a large fetus, and in multiple pregnancies. Women with polyhydramnios often complain of terrible heartburn - in this case, the uterus is also large, its walls are overstretched, and the pressure on the internal organs is stronger.
Violation of dietary rules contributes to heartburn, in particular, eating fried, smoked, salty, spicy foods and dishes, carbonated drinks, as well as a large amount of "dry water". The habit of lying down after meals or eating while lying down also increases the likelihood of heartburn.
Overeating contributes to the development of an unpleasant symptom if a woman, contrary to medical recommendations, tries to eat "for two".
Symptoms and signs
It is almost impossible to confuse heartburn with any other symptom. The sensation is too character when the acidic medium, which is gastric juice, is thrown into the esophagus. This burning sensation, increased salivation, an unpleasant taste in the mouth, and an unpleasant bile odor from the mouth may appear.
And also the condition is often accompanied by:
- cough;
- increased sweating;
- bloating;
- feeling of heaviness in the stomach, in the abdomen;
- constipation;
- diarrhea.
It is not necessary that all symptoms will occur in full. Some do not notice constipation and only complain of heartburn, and some argue that when heartburn occurs, they experience bouts of nausea. Therefore, the manifestations of heartburn in pregnant women are also largely individual.
What to do?
Unfortunately, pregnant women usually cannot completely get rid of heartburn. After all, such factors as the effect of progesterone and mechanical compression of the stomach by a pregnant uterus can only be eliminated by a completed birth. But this in no way means that the expectant mother has absolutely nothing to oppose to the unpleasant symptom.
Primarily you need to revise your diet. It excludes all foods and dishes that can cause heartburn. - fried, spicy, too sweet, sour, fatty, smoked, canned food, carbonated drinks, yeast baked goods. Food is boiled, stewed, baked, steamed. The daily diet should be divided into 5-6 meals., eat in small portions, but do not starve.
It is important to provide yourself with a correct and sufficient drinking regime.... If a woman suffers from preeclampsia with edematous manifestation, it is important to agree on the maximum allowable amount of fluid with a doctor.
They also drink water according to certain rules. It is advisable to drink a glass of water about half an hour before a meal, and after it do not drink for at least an hour.
Effectively relieves an attack of heartburn with a warm decoction of rose hips or green tea with the addition of pharmacy chamomile. But you should know that drinks should be warm, not hot.... Drinking hot drinks will only aggravate the discomfort.
A woman with excruciating heartburn in the last weeks of pregnancy it is very important to monitor your posture... This will not be easy, given the serious stress on the spine and back muscles. But trying to keep your back straight is the right decision, because in this position the pressure of the fundus of the uterus on the stomach is somewhat reduced.
For sleep, it is best to choose a position on the side with a raised head - the expectant mother can put a small roller or pillow under her head.
Often women also need the use of medicines that neutralize the acidity of gastric juice.
Consider what drugs can be used in the third trimester.
- "Almagel" - a preparation based on magnesium and aluminum. Its effect is not too strong, but it is enough for an hour and a half.
- Rennie - a remedy allowed for both pregnant and lactating women. It acts quickly and allows you to forget about an unpleasant painful symptom for a couple of hours.
- "Phosphalugel" - an effective remedy, but it cannot be used too often, since against the background of systematic intake, constipation and the rapid loss of minerals important for health can develop.
- "Rutacid" - an antacid in the form of chewable tablets, has the effect of a sorbent and at the same time helps to get rid of the feeling of bloating.
Despite the fact that all these drugs are acceptable for taking in an "interesting position", a woman should definitely consult with her doctor before taking it.
Folk ways
Heartburn in the late stages is not only a problem of modern pregnant women. Since ancient times, women have been looking for ways to alleviate their condition. Traditional medicine has many ways to reduce the manifestations of heartburn.
Milk is considered one of the most effective. It is recommended to drink it in small portions warm throughout the day for several sips. It is important not to overdo it with milk, because an excess amount of calcium in the last weeks of pregnancy can lead to excessive mineralization of the baby's skull bones, which can complicate the birth process.
For a long time, women in position drank thick jelly. It helps not only for heartburn, but also for constipation. It is important that the jelly is homemade, made independently from fruits, berries, milk, but not from a store briquette with a large amount of dye and aromatic additives.
For heartburn freshly squeezed cabbage, carrot or beet juice may help... It should be a single product, you should not use a mixture of vegetable juices. Such a remedy cannot be taken systematically, there are treatment courses that should not exceed two weeks. Then you definitely need a break.
There are no contraindications to the use of still mineral water... When choosing a drink, it is better to give preference to waters, the label of which indicates that they are table alkaline.
But it is not worth experimenting with herbal decoctions and infusions, teas while waiting for a child. Herbal remedies have a lot of side effects, and not always folk recipes for heartburn take into account the very fact of pregnancy. Therefore, it is better to refuse such treatment.
The most effective, according to reviews, is a combination of folk remedies with the intake of pharmacy drugs approved by a doctor.
