How to relieve heartburn during pregnancy.

 

Among all the symptoms during pregnancy, one of them is the heartburn, or as it is medically known as Gastro-esophageal reflux or GER. In this post, I am going to give you  everything you need to know on how to relieve heartburn during pregnancy naturally. Ready? Let’s begin.

Let’s first review what heartburn is?

After meals, and even between meals, many women during pregnancy frequently burp, and may experience a sensation of burning or irritation just below the breastbone.

Causes of heartburn during pregnancy.

The increase in hormones during pregnancy, mainly progesterone is responsible for this symptom. Progesterone causes an overall slowdown of the intestines, relaxes the muscles in the stomach, and it creates a delay in the time it takes for food and gastric acids to travel through the stomach and reach the intestines. And because there is a relaxation of the muscles at the entrance of the stomach, that makes it easier for food and gastric acids to travel back to the lower portion of the esophagus when the stomach contracts during the process of digestion.

And finally, the second cause of heartburn occurs in the third trimester, when the pregnant uterus puts pressure on the stomach.

How to relieve heartburn during pregnancy.

1. Eat small and frequent meals.

When you eat small amounts more frequently, you avoid overfilling your stomach, which will allow your stomach to digest small amounts of food at a time and get empty for the next meal.

2. Avoid drinking a lot of fluid with the meals.

When you drink a large amount of water or other liquid during food, you are diluting the gastric acids, which slows down the digestion process. It is advisable to drink the fluids before or after eating the food.

3. Avoid fatty foods and keep track of all foods that give you heartburn.

Foods with a higher fat content take a long time to be digested. And therefore, it sits in your stomach for a longer time. Also, pay attention to the foods that give you heartburn, and keep a log of all of them.

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 4. Gravity is your best friend now. 

During pregnancy, after meals, avoid lying down. From being in an upright position, you are going to facilitate your stomach to work more efficiently in the digestion process.

5. Lie on your right side.

When you lie on the right side of your body, you are promoting a proper evacuation of food from the stomach to the small intestines.

The stomach is a muscular organ, it borders on the upper part with the esophagus, and on the lower part with the small intestines, the stomach is located in the upper abdomen (epigastrium) on the medial side to the left, but connects with the small intestine on the right side of the body. Therefore this position allows gravity to empty the stomach properly to the small intestines.

6. Eat dairy products before meals. 

Some dairy products such as milk, low-fat ice-cream or yogurt act as a natural coater in your stomach, by eating a small portion before meals you will promote a decrease or alleviate the burning sensation of gastric acids on the stomach walls.

And finally, try to take before meals a calcium-containing low-salt antacid tablet to help and alleviate heartburn before it starts. 

List of foods that can help you fighting heartburn during pregnancy.

Some of the best practices you can implement during pregnancy if you are suffering from frequent heartburn are dietary changes. After all, there is a saying that food can be our best medicine.

Some foods can naturally trigger heartburn, while others can be your best allies to feel better. Here is a reference to them.

Foods to avoid during pregnancy if you are suffering heartburn. 

• Acidic foods such as lime, coffee ( Increase acid in your stomach )
• High-fat foods such as fried food, burgers (They are difficult to digest, so it stays in the stomach longer )
• Spicy foods (They irritate the inner lining of the stomach walls )
• Coffee ( May decrease the pressure of the lower stomach sphincter, and is highly acidic)

Foods that eliminate heartburn.

• Vegetables ( Has natural anti-inflammatory properties )
• Ginger, not ginger ale ( Has natural anti-inflammatory properties as well )
• Whole grains ( like oatmeal, rice and breads can help absorb stomach acids and significantly reduce heartburn )
• Healthy fats ( Avocados, nuts, etc. )
• Dairy products ( Help to coat the inner lining of the stomach walls )

 

Related posts.

Pregnancy symptoms for the first trimester.

What to expect from your fetal anatomy scan and how to prepare.

Coronavirus, important information if you are pregnant.

Final thoughts about How to relieve heartburn during pregnancy.

The vast majority of women, after giving birth, report almost immediate improvement in heartburn. There are myths about the baby’s hair being related to heartburn. Not true, the amount of hair your baby will have has nothing to do with how much heartburn you are going to experience during pregnancy. As you can see, these are easy tips that you can implement to alleviate or eliminate heartburn discomfort.

I hope this information has been useful to you. Stay tuned for more posts like this one.

Until next time.

Zadi, xo

Disclaimer: The medical information on this post is for educational and entertainment use only. Under no circumstances, this information is to replace your doctor’s advice or to treat any disease. For proper care, always visit your doctor.