Heartburn is one of the oldest and also one of the most common conditions that affects millions of people every single day. Despite its name, heartburn is in no way related to the heart. In fact, this is a digestive condition where stomach acid comes in to contact with the esophagus causing irritation. The result is feeling a burning sensation that starts on the diaphragm all the way to the chest.
Usually, heartburn is accompanied by a sour or bitter taste, which is primarily the stomach acid you regurgitated and made its way to your mouth.
To make things worse, women who are pregnant are more susceptible to heartburn. It can really be frustrating experiencing this condition especially when the weather is hot or warm.
If you are pregnant, you have to be prepared to experience heartburn as this will be very common. Now, you need to keep in mind that although this condition is painful and extremely uncomfortable to experience, it is a condition that will not harm the baby inside your tummy.
But, it is still uncomfortable and you want to control or manage it or at least decrease its frequency. Here are ways on how you can prevent or at least manage heartburn during pregnancy.
Firstly, you have to realize that heartburn is caused by a backflow of stomach acid in to the esophagus. This happens because the muscles in your stomach relax because of the hormonal changes in your body during pregnancy. The best thing that you can do is to avoid eating large meals. Instead of eating 3 large meals a day, try to eat 6 smaller meals daily. This will help in decreasing the production of stomach acid. Also, you should try eating your food slowly as this will be able to help reduce the symptoms of heartburn.
Secondly, you need to avoid certain foods. If you love spicy food, such as Mexican food, then you may want to cut back on this type of food while you are pregnant. Spicy food can get your stomach to produce more acid, which will increase the likelihood of you experiencing heartburn. Fried and fatty foods should also be avoided as this type of food is hard to digest, which will force your stomach to produce more stomach acid.
You also need to drink plenty of water. However, avoid drinking plenty of water while you are eating. The excess fluids will result in increased acid reflux, which will lead to heartburn. Also, avoid caffeinated and carbonated beverages as these drinks are known to increase acid production and relax the LES or lower esophageal sphincter.
If you experience heartburn while sleeping, try to elevate your head using extra pillows. This way, you will let gravity do its job by keeping stomach acid inside the stomach.
If you want to take antacids, go for liquid antacids instead of tablets. But, you should always consult your doctor before taking any type of medications. This way, you will be able to know if the medicine you will take is safe for the baby.
Remember these tips and you can be sure that you will be able to control heartburn during pregnancy. Always remember to always consult your doctor before you take any medication even if it is over the counter.