Causes and Treatments of Heartburn during Pregnancy
Two of the primary causes of heartburn during pregnancy include the following:
* Increased Hormones – during the course of pregnancy, the levels of hormone increases and higher amount of progesterone is produced to assist the uterus to relax. However, progesterone can also soften and relax the ligaments on the LES or the lower esophageal sphincter. If the LES is softened at an unusual time, this can cause gastric juices to reflux back to the esophagus, thus causing symptoms like heartburn, indigestion and nausea.
* More Pressure on Stomach – as the child grows inside the mother's womb, more pressure is placed on the stomach, which pushes the acid back up to the esophageal tract. That is why more women experience the condition during the second up to the third trimester of pregnancy.
How to Reduce Heartburn?
Although no particular cure is available for heartburn, there are some heartburn natural remedies that can be opted for when experiencing the condition during pregnancy. These remedies can be helpful in reducing the discomfort and alleviating the symptoms of the condition.
* Eat Smaller Portions: Instead of eating three large meals in a day, it is advised to break the meals into six small meals. This should be done so that your stomach receives food at least every three hours and to eliminate hunger pangs. This can also reduce the pressure on your stomach, thus preventing acid reflux. As long as the stomach has food to work on, it will not cause any discomfort. Aside from that, small portions of foods will ensure that you are not consuming more calories than your body requires. When you eat, you also have to make sure that you eat slowly and that you chew the food properly.
* Avoid Fatty and Spicy Foods: various types of foods can also trigger heartburn and most of these are fatty and spicy foods. Even caffeine, peppermint, tomato sauce, chocolates and citrus fruits can induce heartburn attacks. However, the trigger foods may vary from one woman to another that is why it is necessary to be able to determine the foods that can trigger the condition and eliminate these foods from the diet.
* Avoid Ill-Fitting Clothes: donning ill-fitting clothes should be avoided as much as possible, as these can add pressure to the abdomen and result to the regurgitation of acid and food contents from the stomach. Aside from that, when in bed, make sure to add more pillows for your head so that your head is kept in an elevated position to reduce the risk of heartburn.
* Drink Less Water when Eating: it is necessary to have water in the body, but drinking too much water during a meal is prohibited for those who are suffering from heartburn. This is to prevent the stomach from distending after a meal and avoid indigestion.
* Avoid Lying Down after Eating: some people are tempted to lie down after eating. However, this can also increase the risk of having heartburn. Instead, it will be more beneficial to let an hour or two pass before hitting the sack or go for a walk outside.
If you can follow the tips mentioned above, then it would be a lot easier for you to prevent heartburn conditions. Aside from these, take note that an effective heartburn home remedy can also be opted for to deal with heartburn during pregnancy after consulting your physician.
* Increased Hormones – during the course of pregnancy, the levels of hormone increases and higher amount of progesterone is produced to assist the uterus to relax. However, progesterone can also soften and relax the ligaments on the LES or the lower esophageal sphincter. If the LES is softened at an unusual time, this can cause gastric juices to reflux back to the esophagus, thus causing symptoms like heartburn, indigestion and nausea.
* More Pressure on Stomach – as the child grows inside the mother's womb, more pressure is placed on the stomach, which pushes the acid back up to the esophageal tract. That is why more women experience the condition during the second up to the third trimester of pregnancy.
How to Reduce Heartburn?
Although no particular cure is available for heartburn, there are some heartburn natural remedies that can be opted for when experiencing the condition during pregnancy. These remedies can be helpful in reducing the discomfort and alleviating the symptoms of the condition.
* Eat Smaller Portions: Instead of eating three large meals in a day, it is advised to break the meals into six small meals. This should be done so that your stomach receives food at least every three hours and to eliminate hunger pangs. This can also reduce the pressure on your stomach, thus preventing acid reflux. As long as the stomach has food to work on, it will not cause any discomfort. Aside from that, small portions of foods will ensure that you are not consuming more calories than your body requires. When you eat, you also have to make sure that you eat slowly and that you chew the food properly.
* Avoid Fatty and Spicy Foods: various types of foods can also trigger heartburn and most of these are fatty and spicy foods. Even caffeine, peppermint, tomato sauce, chocolates and citrus fruits can induce heartburn attacks. However, the trigger foods may vary from one woman to another that is why it is necessary to be able to determine the foods that can trigger the condition and eliminate these foods from the diet.
* Avoid Ill-Fitting Clothes: donning ill-fitting clothes should be avoided as much as possible, as these can add pressure to the abdomen and result to the regurgitation of acid and food contents from the stomach. Aside from that, when in bed, make sure to add more pillows for your head so that your head is kept in an elevated position to reduce the risk of heartburn.
* Drink Less Water when Eating: it is necessary to have water in the body, but drinking too much water during a meal is prohibited for those who are suffering from heartburn. This is to prevent the stomach from distending after a meal and avoid indigestion.
* Avoid Lying Down after Eating: some people are tempted to lie down after eating. However, this can also increase the risk of having heartburn. Instead, it will be more beneficial to let an hour or two pass before hitting the sack or go for a walk outside.
If you can follow the tips mentioned above, then it would be a lot easier for you to prevent heartburn conditions. Aside from these, take note that an effective heartburn home remedy can also be opted for to deal with heartburn during pregnancy after consulting your physician.
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